LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 109

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 109

more than 100 Web sites, including: www.lcms.org, www.cph.org,
www .lIcef.org, www.lhm.org, and www.|fnd.org.

Technological innovation continues to rapidly reshape how soci-
ety and the church make use of an ever-growing number of informa-
tion technology tools and systems. These new technologies, especially
the Internet, provide the LCMS with powerful communication tools to
support the Synod’s One Mission—Ablaze! initiative through the de-
livery and exchange of information resources to support professional
church workers, staff, lay leaders, and the public at large.

Over the past three years, Concordia Technologies has sup-
ported the following information technology initiatives:
¢ Selection and implementation of Concordia Publishing House’s

new eCPH publishing system.

Implementation of the LCMS Foundation’s new trust manage-
ment system.

Development of LCMS Corporate Synod’s new www.lcms.org
Web site and eNews applications.

¢ Implementation of LCEF’s Web-based loan management system.

¢ Development and ongoing enhancement of the Concordia Pub-
lishing House eCommerce Web site (www.cph.org).

* Upgrades for the District Office Peachtree Accounting System.

* Development of Web-based secured access for church workers
to update Rosters information via the Internet.

* Implementation and integration of LCEF’s new banking systems.

¢ Development of Lutheran Hour Ministries’ volunteer and mem-
ber Web site.

¢ Development of the LCMS Foundation’s Web-based electronic
mission and ministry catalog.

* Development of a Web-based contact management system for
the LCMS Foundation.

Alan Meyer, Executive Director

R7-04-03
Department of Human Resources

The Department of Human Resources has a direct relationship
to the Synod Board of Directors. It provides leadership to the
human-resources function in service to church workers throughout
the Synod. It coordinates the development and administration of
personnel policies, procedures, and supporting systems within and
between all Synodwide corporations, boards, commissions, depart-
ments, and agencies. In addition to the concern for attracting and
retaining high-quality people for service within all units, it strives
to create an environment that is caring and supportive in order to
enhance effective service to the Lord and the Synod. The depart-
ment, guided by the Board for Human Resources, which includes
the chief executive officer of the corporate Synod, the Lutheran
Church Extension Fund, The Lutheran Church—-Missouri Synod
Foundation, the Worker Benefit Plans, Concordia Publishing
House, Concordia Historical Institute, Concordia University Sys-
tem, and the President, First Vice-President, Secretary of the
Synod, Vice-President-Finance—Treasurer, administers uniform
personnel policies and salary administration.

The department administers compliance with the Synod Bylaws
on behalf of the Board of Directors as they relate to the human-re-
sources function. Such activities include annually obtaining the ap-
propriate conflict-of-interest statements, publishing the salaries of
elected Synod officers, coordinating the President’s role in the ap-
pointment and calling of staff, working with the Secretary of the
Synod and the chairman of the Synod Nominating Committee to
identify a list of candidates from which to fill board vacancies, and
assisting the boards in conducting both the annual and comprehen-
sive reviews of their chief executive.

During the last triennium the Department of Human Resources
assisted in the calling or appointing of chief executives to the
Worker Benefit Plans, Concordia Historical Institute, and the Board
for Mission Services. It is currently working with the Board for
Black Ministry Services and the Boards of Directors of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod Foundation in filling vacancies in their chief ex-
ecutive positions.

The department developed and offered a voluntary early-retire-
ment incentive program to employees of the International Center,
implemented a reduction in health-benefits premiums paid for em-
ployees to assist in controlling the costs of health insurance to the
organizations while at the same time striving for fairness to em-
ployees, worked with the Council on Human Resources to update
and revise the Congregational Personnel Manual, and developed
an Employers’ Resource Guide to assist congregations in meeting
their human-resources obligations, participated in the Concordia
University System’s Annual Human Resources Conference, and
served as a presenter at the Joint Business Administrators’ Confer-
ence in 2001 and 2003.

Barbara Ryan, Executive Director

R7-05-01
Atlantic District

The Atlantic District is composed of the eastern portion of New
York State including Long Island, New York City—the capital of
the world, the northern suburbs of New York City, the Hudson Val-
ley, the state capital region around Albany and Schenectady, and
points north to the Canadian border. It is one of the most beautiful
geographical regions of the United States—and one of the most
densely populated. As Iowa is to corn, so New York is to people.

Mission outreach has been the main focus of the Atlantic Dis-
trict endeavor even and especially after the tragic events of Sept.
11, 2001. The Atlantic District theme is “Engaging the World with
the Gospel of Hope.” This thematic was developed by the Presi-
dent of the Atlantic District for presentation on Sept. 11, 2001. The
world’s eyes have been on New York ever since as the struggle to
rebuild from the ashes of despair and devastation takes place. At-
lantic District parishioners were killed in the terrorist attack. All
parishes were impacted. Atlantic District pastors and people were
there to pray, to work, to comfort the mourning, to witness the
power of God’s love. The rebuilding process has been immeasur-
ably assisted by the presence and strength of Lutheran Disaster Re-
sponse of New York, an inter-Lutheran effort co-chaired by the
President of the Atlantic District and called the “finest faith-based
disaster effort ever assembled” by the head of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Assistance. The resources gathered by Luther-
ans from around the country have been put to work in marvelous
ways by LDRNY so that truly “no one is left behind.” LDRNY of-
fices are directly across the street from Ground Zero. LDRNY is a
source of hope and healing for thousands.

The efforts of LDRNY in deeds of love and compassion, com-
fort and renewal, have been matched by the efforts of pastors, mis-
sionaries, and lay leaders in bringing the Word of God to the neigh-
borhoods and communities of the Atlantic District. Congregational
and missional growth patterns have continued even after the
tragedy of Sept. 11. During the past triennium, the Mission Train-
ing Center headquartered at Concordia, Bronxville, has been initi-
ated under Atlantic District auspices as a full-training center up to
pastoral ordination for workers from nine Missouri Synod Districts.
DELTO and District rostered diaconal students participate in the
life of the church in every appropriate way, and are joined by ethnic
missionaries from around the globe in learning the dynamics of the
means of grace through “on the job training.”

2004 Convention Workbook