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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 102

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

102

ation of a captive reinsurance company to facilitate the offering of property and casualty insurance coverages to LCMS
ministries. In 2025, the Commission on Constitutional Matters confirmed that the LCMS Board of Directors (BOD)
can authorize and assign such an activity to CPS. In January
2026, the LCMS BOD approved CPS taking the next steps
to commence operation of a captive reinsurance company
to be named Concordia Risk Solutions (CRS). CPS expects
CRS to receive a license to operate in the spring of 2026, and
for CRS to commence operations soon thereafter. Operations
are expected to begin with a small number of ministries and
grow at a conservative, sustainable pace so CRS remains financially stable as it grows.
•

Through years of work to drive better health outcomes, meet
CHP members’ needs, and limit costs, CPS was able to drive
savings that are expected to reduce CHP expenses by more
than $90 million over a three-year span.

•

In light of economic volatility and uncertainty, CPS works
closely with industry-leading consultants and advisors to
manage expected investment risk and return dynamics over
a long-term horizon while adhering to certain fundamental
principles such as diversification, portfolio rebalancing, and
liquidity management.

•

Investment income for all Concordia Plans Trusts exceeded
expectations in 2025 due to favorable market conditions and
strong discipline in asset allocation. CRP returns are detailed
above. CDSP assets returned +18.5 percent, while CHP assets
returned +12.3 percent.

External Threats
•

C. Conclusion
C.1. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and
Threats
Strengths
The Concordia Plans are an organizational strength, each caring for
Synod workers and their families.
•

The combination of the CRP pension and the Concordia Retirement Savings Plan 403(b) offers LCMS ministries and
workers a level of financial stability they cannot achieve
alone. Through shared participation, ministries pool resources to secure lifetime retirement income for workers, while
empowering individual savings for retirement.

•

The Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan (CDSP) is a
comprehensive protection package, providing income replacement and life insurance benefits that safeguard workers
and families. Recent changes have led to a decreased CDSP
rate for most ministries.

•

Through the collective purchasing power of participating
ministries, CPS provides access to health plan options that
would be out of reach for most individual employers. We
are able to negotiate competitive rates without adding profit margins—delivering greater value to both ministries and
workers.

Weaknesses
•

The cost of healthcare across the country is rising and subsequently the cost of the CHP is viewed by some ministries
as a challenge. CPS is addressing this by balancing cost and
health outcomes while focusing on resources to help manage health conditions, renegotiating contracts, managing our
vendor partners, and consistently searching for the most effective and efficient way to provide care and support.

Opportunities
•

Actions taken by or within any of the three branches of the
U.S. government can impact the legal and regulatory outlook
for the Concordia Plans and those we serve. Our involvement with the Church Alliance helps CPS advocate on behalf
of those we serve and allows CPS to manage those Plans as
designed to meet the needs of LCMS ministries and workers,
without undue governmental interference.

2026 Convention Workbook

The changing demographics of the Synod and the closure of
ministries is a potential threat to the Plans, but recent years
have seen stability and growth in plan participation. Over the
last triennium hundreds of members have joined the CHP,
CRP, and CDSP with ministries adopting or rejoining the
Plans after an absence. In addition, retention in the CHP and
CRP were both in excess of 99 percent in 2025.

C.2. CPS and the Synod’s Objectives and
Emphases
CPS serves a critical role in fulfilling the Synod’s 10th formation objective: Directly aiding in the care of our church workers and
their families. CPS has been charged with managing the Concordia
Plans (the employee benefit plans of the LCMS) and providing other
ancillary programs, including supplemental insurance and administrative services that serve ministry and church worker needs.
CPS plays an important role in the fifth triennial mission and
ministry emphasis by promoting and nurturing the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of pastors and professional church
workers. CPS also is seeking to support the first emphasis of sustaining Lutheran churches through the establishment of a captive insurance company that is intended to provide relief to congregations
and schools with their property and casualty insurance coverage.

C.3. Goals
As a ministry partner, we want to be viewed as a trusted member
of a ministry’s team, which brings valuable solutions to employee
benefit and ministry business challenges. As a worker advocate, we
want to not only be the source and resource for all matters related
to the care of church workers and their families, but also to be these
workers’ physical, emotional, and financial wellness champions.
For more than 60 years, CPS has cared for LCMS workers and
ministries through benefits designed specifically for church workers. As times change the Plans remain strong, stable, and sustainable
through disciplined stewardship and the collective strength of thousands of participating ministries.
Together, these Plans demonstrate our shared commitment to
care for workers, strengthen ministries, and steward resources faithfully—showing that we are truly better together.
James F. (Jim) Sanft, Chief Executive Officer
R20

Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty
Introduction—LCRL Basics
The mission of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty (LCRL),