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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 467

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

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
and are carefully managed and overseen to ensure security and legal
compliance.
But, when the Church strays too far into the left-hand kingdom
through unrelated business ventures, it goes outside its vocation and
may be assuming undue risk.
The Alberta-British Columbia District of Lutheran Church—
Canada, unrelated to LCEF, was forced into bankruptcy due to its
local church extension fund’s failed investment in an ambitious real
estate development project, with serious repercussions across the
entire church body. Concordia University, Portland (CUP) entered
into a significant outsourcing contract with HotChalk, a marketing
and enrollment company, with negative financial impact on CUP,
and ultimately, a lengthy lawsuit after its closure.
Some within the Synod believe that the Synod and its agencies (e.g.,
colleges and seminaries) can benefit by creating new types of legal
entities, such as holding companies, and are considering adding
complex new bylaws, policies, and procedures to allow Synod
agencies to create multiple new types of entities (e.g., to engage in
real estate development activities). Yet, experience teaches that the
more numerous and complex the entities, the greater the difficulty
to oversee them, and thus, the greater the risk.
Some have even proposed allowing property of our colleges and
seminaries—which is currently property of the Synod—to be
transferred to new entities, with varying levels of control and
accountability, with the result that such property would no longer
be property of the Synod.
Proposals also include placing the Synod Board of Directors (BOD)
as the authorizer and primary overseer of new entities, with the
responsibility to perform detailed legal and policy reviews. This
would impose significant new powers and duties on the BOD,
requiring additional time, effort, and potential expense for outside
attorneys’ bills and other professional fees.
WHEREAS, The foregoing matters suggest that major changes to
the Synod’s Bylaws to allow creation of potentially numerous new
legal entities may be ill-advised; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod recommit itself and its agencies to their
existing defined roles, focusing on the things of God without
distraction for secular business ventures; and be it further
Resolved, That where the Synod or its agencies no longer need
property or assets, those assets be appropriately sold or disposed of,
with the proceeds used for the furtherance of their original intended
purpose and the work of the church at large, rather than as the object
of speculation, usury, real estate development, or other projects that
distract time and attention from the core objectives of the Synod and
its agencies; and be it further
Resolved, That if there is a legitimate need for any new entity to
be formed, that any such entity be carefully, deliberately, and
separately established, in a manner that does not risk or alienate the
property of the Synod that was funded by God’s grace through the
gifts of individuals and congregations over generations; and be it
finally
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks for the many temporal
blessings God has bestowed upon us, as well as for those individuals
and entities such as LCEF and CPS that have faithfully managed the
same and pray for wisdom in the continued administration thereof.
St. Paul
Brookfield, IL

467

Ov. 9-08

To Amend Bylaws Exclusive to Lutheran Church
Extension Fund to Clarify That It May Provide
Real Estate Evaluation and Redevelopment
Services in Support of Synod Mission and Ministry
Rationale
Most congregations and ministries within the Synod are owners of
real estate. Many of these ministries need assistance evaluating their
property so they can steward their assets wisely. In some cases, they
may not have need for some or all of their real estate. In many cases,
sale of the real estate is the best option to raise funds for future
operations or to wind up affairs in an orderly way. In other cases,
ministries want to keep some of the real estate to continue
operations and divest of other portions. Such divestiture may entail
a sale or lease of the property to either raise funds for continued
operations, maintain ministry activity in the divested property, or
both. Redevelopment of the real estate may occur with retained or
divested property.
In most cases, ministries do not possess expertise in the evaluation,
redevelopment, or re-purposing of real estate. Lutheran Church
Extension Fund (LCEF) has decades of experience in assisting
ministries in evaluating, acquiring, developing, and selling real
estate through its church extension activities. LCEF has expanded
this expertise in the last few years by hiring a team of individuals
with extensive real estate consulting and redevelopment experience.
LCEF can provide expanded real estate services that are of great
value to the ministries of the Synod.
The requested bylaw changes are exclusive to LCEF and are
necessary to clarify that it is within LCEF’s purposes to provide
such real estate services to ministries within the Synod.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.6.4 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
The Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri Synod
3.6.4
The Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri Synod,
as established on June 15, 1978, as a corporate entity under the laws
of the State of Missouri, is operated by its members and Board of
Directors, in accordance with its Articles of Incorporation and
corporate Bylaws, to further the objectives and duties of the church
extension fund by providing provide financial, real estate, and other
related resources and related services for ministry, witness, and
outreach within the Synod and, as approved by the Synod Board of
Directors, beyond the Synod: (1) to and within partner churches with
which the Synod is in altar and pulpit fellowship; or (2) upon the
recommendation of the President of Synod, to Lutheran entities
formed and operating outside of the United States that assist in
fulfilling the Synod’s ministry and mission objectives in foreign
countries.

and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.6.4.4.1 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.6.4.4.1
The assets of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund—
Missouri Synod shall be used exclusively to provide financing and
services for the acquisition of sites, for the construction of facilities,
for the purchase of buildings and equipment, for operating expenses,
for professional church worker education, for the residential housing
needs of professional church workers, for promoting strategic
ministry planning and assisting in capital campaigns, for the
evaluation and redevelopment of real estate; and for other purposes

2026 Convention Workbook