LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 200

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200 PROGRAM AND FINANCE

broadcasting the Gospel where traditional church evangelism ef-
forts cannot reach and blessed with the opportunity to communi-
cate that Gospel through the unique settings of the world’s most
beautiful music; and

WHEREAS, KFUO radio is therefore an asset of far greater value
and potential than its monetary value in the radio marketplace, an
irreplaceable asset for communication of the Gospel and Christian

virtues and one with potential and value that has in recent months
dramatically increased with the initiation of broadcasting world-
wide via the Internet; and

WHEREAS, Early reports already make clear that this Internet po-
tential has and will continue to increase exponentially, for which
reason KFUO radio has begun to evaluate its AM and FM pro-
gramming with a worldwide audience in mind; therefore be it

Resolved, That by singing the Common Doxology the 2007
LCMS convention pause to give thanks to God for the wonderful
opportunities provided by the combined ministry of KFUO AM
and FM for the broadcasting of the Gospel (Luke 13:3-9) and the
promotion of “whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is lovely” (Phil. 4:8);
and be it further

Resolved, That KFUO radio be encouraged to take full advan-
tage of the opportunities provided by radio and Internet broadcast-
ing, thereby to make full use of this priceless asset provided by our
Lord to His church, with the same vision for the proclamation of
the Gospel that prompted our Synod’s forefathers to pioneer the
radio broadcast ministry of KFUO nearly a century ago, a vision
that has motivated the listening community of KFUO radio to pro-
vide for its support for these many years.

Zion
St. Louis, MO

4-26

To Continue to Support KFUO AM and FM
as a Mission Outreach to Entire World

WHEREAS, KFUO radio, AM and FM, has faithfully served the
LCMS for many years. KFUO AM is the oldest continuously
broadcasting religious radio station in the United States, and KFUO
FM has been broadcasting since 1948; and

WHEREAS, KFUO radio is a mission outreach of the LCMS,
using modern technology to reach to the far corners of the earth,
with both the AM and FM stations broadcasting on the Internet.
Evidence for this is the many messages received each month from
people throughout the world, including servicemen and service-
women serving around the world; and

WHEREAS, The radio stations survived a legal challenge that
would have removed the stations from the Synod, and in doing so
spent its surplus funds of $900,000 plus over $1,000,000 donated
by a supporter. This expenditure of $2,000,000 not only saved the
legal and religious rights of our Synod but also those of other
Christian church bodies; and

WHEREAS, The current financial difficulties are the result of a
number of happenings, such as the above legal challenge, the
changed financial policies of the Synod, the downturn in advertis-
ing revenues after 9/11, and a change in fund-raising policies of the
Synod, but are a small cost in relation to the number of people
being reached throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, Many people throughout the church have an owner-
ship in the stations, secured by their generous and continuing gifts
to the stations. Practices have been put into place to overcome the
current financial difficulties, and such practices will continue to
improve the financial picture; and

Wuereas, The dollar loss being published is an accumulation
of losses covering the last triennium, the only mission outreach of
the Synod that is forced to show an accumulated loss, while losses
are being forgiven at the end of each fiscal year for other mission
efforts; and

WHEREAS, The AM and FM stations function as a unit, and the
loss of one would shift many of the day-to-day operational expenses
to the other station and thus cause the loss of both stations; and

WHEREAS, The loss of the radio stations, AM and FM, would
be a loss that could never be replaced, as the loss of the licenses
and radio frequencies once gone are not replaceable, thus losing
any chance to use new and improved technology that is continu-
ously being developed; and

WHEREAS, The sale of hard assets is not an acceptable way to
provide operational money, as there will come a time when there
are no more hard assets to sell; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod maintain KFUO AM and FM as a
mission outreach to the world, the nation, and the local area, pro-
claiming the Word of God, the message of Christ crucified, with
both current and new technology; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention uphold and applaud
the past and present faithful mission efforts of KFUO radio and
continue to support it into the future as it grows to reach the gener-
ations yet to come; and be it finally

Resolved, That the convention direct the Synod’s Board of
Directors to continue any additional support needed to maintain
and preserve the radio stations.

St. John
Dieterich, IL

4-27

To Support KFUO Radio

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has long
been a pioneer in the use of radio and other communications tech-
nology for the dissemination of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and

WHEREAS, KFUO radio has been broadcasting the Gospel mes-
sage of salvation via its AM transmission for more than 80 years
and via its FM transmission for the past 60 years; and

WHEREAS, KFUO-AM Bible studies and talk programs such
as Issues, Etc. have provided spiritual nurture to listeners in the
greater St. Louis area throughout those 80 years; and

WHEREAS, KFUO-FM classical and special holiday programming
have offered witness to the Christian Gospel while supporting fine
arts in the St. Louis community throughout the past 60 years; and

WHEREAS, Through the miracle of modern technology, KFUO
AM and FM programming is now made available to listeners world-
wide via the Internet; and

WHEREAS, Such advances in technology offer great promise and
an opportunity for a new pioneer spirit in our day, still using radio
for the sharing of the Gospel in places and to audiences that other
means of sharing the Gospel cannot reach; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod give
thanks to God for this treasure handed down by our forefathers of
our Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod pray
that God will continue to open doors to make the best use of mod-
em communications technology for the sharing of the Gospel
worldwide; and be in finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod con-
tinue to provide the support necessary for KFUO AM and FM
radio to continue to carry out its unique Gospel ministry around
the world.

Trinity
St. Louis, MO

4-28

To Retain KFUO AM and FM Licenses

WHEREAS, KFUO AM is the oldest continuous broadcast Chris-
tian radio station in the world; and