LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 129

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PROGRAM AND FINANCE
(e) The Support Program of the Synod is a program of
financial assistance to those eligible ordained ministers,
commissioned ministers, and other professional church
workers and their eligible dependents who are in financial
need. This aid is in the form of a gift from the budget funds
of the Synod. Eligibility standards shall be determined by
the Board of Managers.
(e) The Concordia Retirement Savings Plan is the taxsheltered annuity retirement savings plan adopted by the
Board of Directors in August 2003, effective October 1,
2005, as such plan has been heretofore or may hereafter
be amended. The text of the plan, as amended from time
to time, shall be published in booklet form under the supervision of the Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans.
(f) The lists of ordained and commissioned ministers appearing in the on the official roster of the Synod current
records of the Department of Human Resources of the
Synod shall be the official lists for the purpose of the Board
of ManagersTrustees—Concordia Plans.
(g) National inter-Lutheran entities will be eligible to
be “employers” under the various Worker Benefit Plans
Concordia Plans of the Synod unless the policies of such a
plan preclude such organization as an eligible employer.
3.7.1.2 Concordia Plan Services is also responsible for managing other ancillary programs, including various supplemental insurance and administration services programs and the
Support Program.

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other than the Board of Managers and select agents and
actuaries, in accordance with the Synod’s policies governing the investment of trust funds.
(d) It shall design for the Board of Directors of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s approval benefit
plans which compare favorably with other similar plans
while meeting the unique needs of full-time church workers in the Synod.
(e) It shall provide copies of all audit reports to the
Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod for information, advice, and counsel.
(f) It shall settle disputes which arise in enrollment in
the plans and the payment of claims and benefits.
6.1.4 Being a recognized auxiliary of the Synod offers the
following privileges:
(a) Eligibility of ordained and commissioned ministers
of the Synod serving such organizations to remain on the
membership rosters of the Synod as “active members,” if
otherwise eligible.
(b) Eligibility for obtaining church extension loans from
the Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri Synod
(LCEF), unless the policies of LCEF preclude such organization as an eligible borrower.
(c) Eligibility to be an “employer” under the various
Worker Benefit Plans Concordia Plans of the Synod unless
the policies of such a plan preclude such organization as
an eligible employer.

(ea) The Support Program of the Synod is not a trust
but rather a program of financial assistance to those eligible ordained ministers, commissioned ministers, and other
professional church workers and their eligible dependents
who are in financial need. This aid is in the form of a gift
from the budgeted funds of the Synod. Eligibility standards
shall be determined by the Board of ManagersDirectors—
Concordia Plan Services.

(As the resolution was introduced, the committee noted four
instances in the proposed bylaw changes where words should
have been underscored to designate new wording: (5) the Concordia Plans under Bylaw 3.3.5.6; and Trustees—Concordia Plans
at the end of Bylaw 3.7.1.1 paragraphs (b), (c), and (d). The resolution was adopted as presented after brief discussion [Yes: 1,133;
No: 17].)

(b) There exists and may be added in the future various ancillary supplemental insurance and administration
services that will be made available to member organizations and their employees. These programs are not trusts
and will be under the supervision of the Board of Directors—Concordia Plan Services.

To Amend Bylaw 3.7.1.2 re Membership
of Board of Directors—Concordia Plan
Services and Board of Trustees—
Concordia Plans

3.7.1.32 (Revisions to this Bylaw have been submitted
under separate cover.)
3.7.1.43 The Board of ManagersTrustees—Concordia Plans
and the Board of Directors—Concordia Plan Services shall
have all general and incidental powers and duties appropriate for the performance of its their functions., In addition, the
Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans will have including the
powers and duties set forth in the respective plans, as
amended from time to time. It may create or amend any plan
within limits established by the Board of Directors of the
Synod so long as such changes are reported to the Synod’s
Board of Directors, since such power is finally vested in the
Synod’s Board of Directors.
(a) When the Board of Managers Trustees—Concordia
Plans is carrying out its functions with respect to any such
separate plan, it may be designated as the Board of ManagersTrustees of such separate plan.
(b) When the board is carrying out its functions generally, it may be designated as the “Board of Managers—
Worker Benefit Plans Trustees—Concordia Plans of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.”
(c) The board shall make investment decisions at its
own discretion or select and utilize investment counsel

Action: Adopted (4)

RESOLUTION 4-07
Overture 4-02 (CW, pp. 190–191)
WHEREAS, The Board of Directors of Concordia Plan Services and the Board of Managers of Worker Benefit Plans
(the latter’s name to be changed to Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans per Res. 4-06) consist of the same appointed
board members, currently ten voting members (two parish
pastors, one teacher, and seven laypersons) and one nonvoting member. At present, at least three of the laypersons
must be experienced in the design of employee benefit plans
and the remaining in the management of benefit plan investments; and
WHEREAS, With the growth of the Concordia Plans over
the past decade ($3 billion in assets, nearly $400 million
annual benefit payments, and a $12.5 million administrative budget), increasingly complex decisions are required
that affect investments, employee benefit design, and financial oversight. In addition, general corporate governance has changed in recent years as a result of financial
problems in the corporate world, requiring greater financial oversight by audit committees of boards, resulting in
2007 Convention Proceedings