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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 98

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

releases on missions, the two kingdoms, and transgenderism offer a
picture of what we hope that series will become.
CPH is unequivocally committed to publishing doctrinally
pure resources. The main pillar of this commitment is evaluation
of scriptural and confessional fidelity through the Synod’s established Doctrinal Review (DR) process. In isolated cases, historically significant works of Lutheran theology have been translated into
English and published by CPH without going through DR. These
include Luther’s Works, Walther’s Works, Chemnitz’s Works, and
Johann Gerhard’s Theological Commonplaces. While we do not
suggest that these authors are incapable of error, we share with the
respective seminary professors and Synod entities with whom we
partner on these projects the view that the faithful contribution of
these works justifies their publication. In the very rare case of modern works of this sort (like Albrecht Peters’s Commentary on Luther’s Catechisms and Hellmut Lieberg’s Office and Ordination in
Luther and Melanchthon), we have included a special notice in the
books, designating them as study resources and making clear that
they have not been submitted to DR. No modern books of this sort
have been in any stage of development in the last triennium, nor
are any at present, although projects like Luther’s Works continue.
During the past triennium, CPH invested heavily in a mobile
app version of The Lutheran Study Bible, now available on both
iOS and Android devices. This past January, we launched a Book of
Concord website featuring Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions
at bookofconcord.cph.org. This is the most widely used edition of
the Book of Concord in the LCMS today, and we encourage all congregations to link to it on their websites as an essential component
of their faith statements.

ricula, music, church resources, church administration software,
and other resources that we offer. Also, in order to help get products into the hands of “LCMS pew-sitters,” CPH has started a new
Resource Program, which provides discounts and free shipping on
orders sent to congregations. We already have 600 congregations
signed up. We invite your congregation to sign up as well.
Christ Is Risen Indeed! This unchanging truth reminds us in this
changing world that our faith is not in vain, nor is our work to
support the faithful proclamation of the Gospel. On your behalf,
and with the Lord’s guidance, CPH will continue to strive to be the
premier publisher and provider of choice for products and services
faithful to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. We pray
our products help the LCMS continue to boldly proclaim the risen
Christ to the world around us.
Jonathan D. Schultz, President and CEO
R17

Lutheran Church Extension Fund
“Christ Is Risen Indeed”
Organization Mission Statement
To start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships.
Our vision of growing ministry opportunities lives through our
core values: be faithful, pursue excellence and innovation, inspire
belief through partnerships, endure balancing resources and risk,
and learn continually.

CPH is thankful for the rostered church workers throughout the
LCMS and prays for them weekly in our chapel services. For many
years, we have provided rostered church workers with a 20 percent
discount on most products purchased for individual use. During this
past triennium, we have begun providing free shipping for these
purchases as well.

The Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) remains in a
strong financial position and has joyfully fulfilled its commitment
to provide the financial resources necessary to support the church
in her work. Below is an overview, and more details can be found
in the Offering Circular and Ministry and Business Plan, published
annually.

In response to 2023 Res. 11-03A, CPH has been working in collaboration with the Office of National Mission to prepare a resource
on the Synod’s ministry and outreach to communities of color. As
a result of 223 Res. 12-01A, CPH staff worked closely with LCMS
School Ministry to produce and publish Lutheran Academic Standards. Likewise, CPH was represented in the last triennium on the
Created Male and Female Task Force, as mandated in 2023 Res.
1-04A, and continues to provide new resources that faithfully address human sexuality.

Investments

We also continue to increase our partnership efforts with corporate Synod and her agencies and partners not only in response to
convention resolutions but also in the course of our normal service
to the Synod. While space constraints prevent a complete listing,
here is a representative sampling: We have worked closely with
the Office of the President, Office of International Mission, and the
International Lutheran Council to get our confessional Lutheran resources into the hands of pastors in our partner churches around the
world. CPH created a mini curriculum in support of the Set Apart
to Serve initiative. And our partnership with Concordia Historical
Institute to produce books vital to preserve and communicate the
history of our work as a Synod continues with several new volumes
completed and planned.
We invite all church workers and lay members of LCMS congregations to visit us at cph.org to view the 8,000-plus books, cur2026 Convention Workbook

The laddered fixed income portfolio as of June 30, 2025, totaled
$253.1 million with an interest yield of 2.89 percent compared to
a yield of 2.71 percent a year ago. The long-term reserve portfolio
(consisting of fixed income, equities and other non-correlated investments) totaled $91.7 million.
Net market value gains for the period ending June 30, 2025, totaled $20.6 million with laddered fixed income gains of $11.3 million and long-term portfolio gains of $9.3 million. Inclusive of the
investment income as of June 30, 2025, the total return for the laddered portfolio was 6.75 percent. Within the long-term portfolio, the
equity, semiliquid and illiquid portfolios earned a total return gain
of 15.7 percent, 8.33 percent, and 6.85 percent, respectively. The
total return on the long-term portfolio was a gain of 13.76 percent.