LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 111

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SYNOD REPORTS
and the total working budget is about $64 million, considerably less
than it was just 10 years ago. Together with many other cutbacks
in program, the number of employees of corporate Synod at the
International Center has been greatly reduced.
There has been, and may continue to be, a misunderstanding
among members of many congregations. While each congregation
supports the work of the church-at-large either through a budgeted
amount or through a designated part of member offering envelopes,
that amount in its entirety does not come to national Synod for its budget. Congregational treasurers forward “Synod” or perhaps “mission”
offerings to their respective district, and each district determines the
amount of that offering that will be retained for the district work and
the amount forwarded to national Synod.
National Office Compensation

The Board of Directors is responsible for determining the compensation of the employees of corporate Synod. All positions are
reviewed and placed into a position classification grid. While the
base can or may change from one year to the next, personnel are
compensated according to the place on the grid where their position
and responsibility are determined. As the base changes, increases,
decreases, or remains the same, so the salary can or may change. Since
2006, the following compensation philosophy has been followed: “At
the International Center of the LCMS, our compensation philosophy
is simple: In striving to be good stewards of the dollars entrusted to
us, we shall pay fair salaries in a fashion which rewards performance
in order to be able to attract, motivate, and retain employees.”
Concordia University—Wisconsin and Concordia University—
Ann Arbor

During the past triennium, much attention was given to and
effort put into the ultimate affiliation of Concordia University—Ann
Arbor (CUAA) with Concordia University—Wisconsin (CUW). This
involved persons from both of the universities (staff and boards of
regents), the Concordia University System, the Board of Directors,
and others. Governance, leadership, financial responsibility, faculty,
student bodies, and such were all part of the discussion and ultimate
decision. All involved and in any way responsible are grateful to the
Lord for the final outcome. CUAA continues to serve the church today
as Concordia University.
Recognition of Thrivent

It should be noted that during each of the fiscal years 2011–12
and 2012–13 the Synod received generous churchwide grants from
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in excess of $1 million. Thrivent has
been a financial supporter of the Synod since its beginning. These
grants are used to support specific ministry projects and programs
of the Synod.
Minutes of the Board of Directors

The minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors are available on the Synod’s Web site. The BOD does hold open meetings,
although parts of each meeting are conducted in “executive session.”
Some items of business (e.g., legal, personnel) are, for obvious reasons, conducted with only the members of the board involved. Thus,
the minutes of these executive sessions are not open to the general
public.
The members of the Board of Directors express their sincere
thanks to the Synod for the special
Robert T. Kuhn, Chairman

111
Chief Administrative Officer

Most business, legal, and administrative responsibilities of the
Board of Directors are carried out by the Chief Administrative Officer
(CAO) of the Synod, who serves as the board’s Chief Operating
Officer. During this past triennium, in addition to day-to-day operations and other administrative responsibilities, the CAO has spent
focused time in four specific areas:
Meetings with District Boards of Directors: The LCMS Board of
Directors desires that the CAO work to enhance relationships with
the districts and the church-at-large by informing and educating them
regarding the board’s activities and responsibilities and by providing
a forum to assist the board in understanding the needs of the districts
and other Synod constituents. To that end, the Board of Directors
encouraged the CAO to visit each district board of directors. At these
meetings, time is dedicated to topics and issues determined by the
district. The CAO’s participation includes (1) responding to district
board of directors’ questions about the LCMS national office operations, including business, legal, and governance questions; and (2)
recording and carrying back to the LCMS Board of Directors any
thoughts, comments and questions. The goal is for the district board
to speak freely about the issues important to them and having those
comments carried back to the LCMS board.
Review and Revision of Administrative Policies for Agencies and
Corporate Synod: In conjunction with the Board of Directors’ Policy
and Audit Committees, administrative policies for corporate Synod
and certain policies for agencies of the Synod have been updated during the triennium. All administrative policies for corporate Synod are
now electronically available to the national office staff in a searchable,
consistent format. Board policies for agencies, as required by Synod
bylaws, have also been revised and reissued with distribution to all
agency leaders and business managers. These policies are available
via the Board of Directors Web page at www.lcms.org/bod.
Establishment of Foreign Entities: In order to execute the Synod’s
global mission strategy, it is increasingly necessary to register the
LCMS in foreign countries or create separate legal entities in foreign countries to carry out our ministries. This work is coordinated by
the CAO’s office, working with the Office of International Mission,
LCMS legal counsel, and local counsel as necessary. This strategy is
designed to support the work of our international missionaries and to
protect the interests of the LCMS.
Operations Team: The 2010 convention established an Operations
Team at the national office. Bylaw 3.5.2 states, “The Operations Team
shall assist the President and the Board of Directors of the Synod in
carrying out their respective responsibilities for oversight, supervision, management, and coordination of the operations of the national
office and according to the triennial emphases adopted by conventions
of the Synod.” Bylaw 3.5.2.1 adds, “The Operations Team shall consist of the Chief Mission Officer, the Chief Administrative Officer,
and the Chief Financial Officer and shall be convened by the Chief
Administrative Officer.” Throughout the triennium, this team has met
monthly with a standard agenda that brings together the three leaders of the program, administrative, and financial units of the LCMS
national office to coordinate and support the ministries of the Synod.
This has resulted in coordinated initiatives, streamlined processes,
and growing cross-unit support within the national office.
The CAO is administratively responsible for several service units
operating under the authority of the Board of Directors. These units
are comprised of dedicated individuals whose service to the Synod is
more often measured in decades rather than years. A brief overview
of their responsibilities and activities follows.
Ronald P. Schultz, Chief Administrative Officer

2013 Convention Workbook