Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 438
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 438

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

FINANCE

438

onetwo of whom shall have significant financial/audit
experience.
3.7.1.4
The Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans and the Board of
Directors—Concordia Plan Services shall have all general and
incidental powers and duties appropriate for the performance of their
functions. In addition, the Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans and
will have the powers and duties set forth in the respective plans, as
amended from time to time. The Board of Trustees—Concordia
Plans/Board of Directors—Concordia Plan ServicesIt 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 Trustees—Concordia Plans is carrying
out its functions with respect to any such separate plan, it may be
designated as the board of trustees of such separate plan.
(b) When the board is carrying out its functions generally, it may
be designated as the “Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.”
(c) The board may, at its own discretion, make investment
decisions or select and utilize investment counsel and select
agents and actuaries.
(d) The Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans/Board of
Directors—Concordia Plan ServicesIt 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 unique needs of the full-time church
workers in the Synod.
(e) The boardsIt shall provide copies of all audit reports to the
Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for
information, advice, and counsel.
(f) The boardsIt shall settle disputes which arise in enrollment in
the plans and the payment of claims and benefits.
(g) The boards shall organize themselves as to chair, vice chair,
secretary, and other committees at least triennially but need not
do so more frequently, unless the membership of the boards
changes or if required by the boards’ policy.
3.7.1.5
The position of chief executive shall be filled according to
the process outlined in Bylaw 3.6.1.5.

Board of Trustees/Directors
Concordia Plans / Concordia Plan Services
Ov. 8-02

To Amend Bylaw Section 3.7 to Include
Management of Concordia Risk Solutions in
Assigned Activity of Concordia Plan Services
WHEREAS, The Synod’s Board of Directors (BOD) has
authorized formation of an entity, Concordia Risk Solutions, a
captive insurance company, to provide for property and casualty
insurance and reinsurance within the Synod (minutes of the BOD,
May 23–24, 2026, item 199 [M]); and
WHEREAS, The BOD has assigned this activity to Concordia Plan
Services (CPS) (ibid.), consistent with Commission on
Constitutional Matters (CCM) Opinion 24-3043; and
WHEREAS, CCM Op. 24-3043 recommended “the Synod Bylaw
description of the work of CPS to be amended by the next
convention to include this new activity, even if already entered
into”; therefore be it
Resolved, That a new Bylaw 3.7.1.2 be inserted as follows:

2026 Convention Workbook

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.7 Synodwide Trust Entities
3.7.1
The synodwide trust entities of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod are collectively known as the Concordia Plans.

The Concordia Plans
3.7.1.1
Concordia Plan Services is responsible for managing the
benefit plans/trusts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
including the Concordia Retirement Plan, Concordia Disability and
Survivor Plan, Concordia Health Plan, and Concordia Retirement
Savings Plan, each of which is a separate trust operated under trust
laws but collectively known as the Concordia Plans.
…
3.7.1.2
Concordia Plan Services also is responsible for managing
Concordia Risk Solutions, subject to the Constitution, Bylaws, and
resolutions of the Synod, and subject to policies of, agreements with,
and further action of the Board of Directors of the Synod.
3.7.1.23
…

LCMS Board of Directors
Ov. 8-03

To Affirm Concordia Plans and
To Amend Bylaws to Require Annual ERISAComparable Transparency to Participants
WHEREAS, “The synodwide trust entities of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod are collectively known as the Concordia
Plans” (Bylaw 3.7.1) and provide essential retirement, health,
disability, and related benefits for church workers and retirees; and
WHEREAS, “Concordia Plan Services is a controlled entity of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod created to manage the
Concordia Plans,” and “the Concordia Plans, while operating under
the supervision of the Synod Board of Directors, are trust agencies
whose assets are not the property of corporate Synod” (Bylaw
1.2.1[d–e]); and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s Bylaws establish an expectation of
transparency to member congregations, stating: “The Synod and
each of its agencies shall fully disclose their financial books and
records to any member congregation of the Synod” (Bylaw 1.5.4);
and
WHEREAS, Church plans are generally exempt from many
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)
reporting and disclosure requirements, and therefore participants
may not automatically receive standardized, year-to-year
comparable disclosures that are common in ERISA-governed plans;
and
WHEREAS, Church workers, retirees, and congregations benefit
from clear, consistent disclosures so they may understand promised
benefits and plan changes, plan responsibly, and maintain
confidence through transparent communication; and
WHEREAS, As Christ’s church, we should not aim to have less
transparency than secular institutions when stewarding promised
benefits for those who serve the Gospel, but rather seek standards
that meet or exceed widely recognized best practices; therefore be
it
Resolved, That Synod in convention thank God for the hard work
and dedication of the board members and staff of Concordia Plan
Services (CPS) for the proper management of the plans; and be it
further