LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 170

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170 SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION

IV. Other Business Transacted

The complete minutes of the Board of Directors are
available to the floor committee for inspection. At this place
we are listing only some of the actions of the board which
were more important or at least of wider interest.

A. Budget. It is the responsibility of the board to develop
and to administer the annual budget of the Synod. While
some of the budget setting procedures set forth in the Hand-
book are no longer being followed and are therefore being
resubmitted for revision, nevertheless, the board has sought
to discharge its part of the responsibility in the procedures.
The board is happy to report that as a result of continuing
improvements in internal procedures and with the coopera-
tion of the various departments it has been possible to fur-
ther economize, and reduce operating costs. It must be
stated, however, that the Synod has not yet reached that
point where it can joyfully move forward with an aggressive
program of increased activity. This awaits the further in-

creased giving of its membership. But also in this respect
* there have been encouraging signs. The budget for 1972 was
set at $27,409,885. The tentative budget for 1973 of $27,489,963
provides also for a modest reduction of the capital debt.

B. Capital Projects. The Handbook requires that capital
projects receive the official approval of the Board of Direc-
tors. Practically all capital projects undertaken during the
past 2 years have been on the basis of earmarked funds. The
Board calls attention to the fact that the Synod will need to
take a long-range view with respect to major building oper-
ations. The board took what is hoped to be final action on
transferring the Oberursel property to the German Free
Churches for the sum of $150,000 payable over 5 years.

C. Policy Statements. One of the responsibilities of the
Board of Directors is the development of policy statements.
Two years ago the board asked the secretary to undertake
a search for policy statements for review by the board and
possible amendment. To date more than 100 such policy
statements have been reaffirmed or revised under this pro-
gram, which is not vet complete. Needless to say, new state-
ments were also formulated during the biennium.

D, Anniversary. Detailed information regarding the
progress of the 125th anniversary celebration will be coming
from other sources. The board, however, wishes to report
that it has given its attention to this matter at every meeting
during the past biennium.

E. Bequests. The convention will be pleased to note that
Christians continue to remember the Synod in their wills.
At almost every meeting it is the board’s happy responsibil-
ity to make disposition of several bequests.

F, Staff Relations. Several decisions were made and pro-
grams undertaken to improve staff morale. Not the least
among these was a determination to raise the entire salary
Jevel at headquarters. The Synod has many devoted and
faithful workers here at 210.

G, South American Schools. The board implemented
Denver Resolutions 4-27 by placing the four professional
training schools in Brazil and the two schools in Argentina
under the jurisdiction of the Board for Higher Education and
transferring all funds in the Board for Missions budget des-
ignated for these schools to the BHE budget.

H. Data Processing. Several major decisions were made
by the board during the past biennium in order to com-
puterize more and more of the Synod’s operation. This is
being done in conjunction with Concordia Publishing House.
The Board aims to achieve a fairly complete management
information system.

I. Team Visits. Since team visits from the Board of Direc-
tors to District Boards of Directors proved productive, the
board resolved to initiate similar team visits also to the
operating boards of the Synod. This program has not yet
been implemented.

J. Lutheran Housing Coalition. The board made $30,000
available for the “Keys for Christ” program to purchase the
services of a staff person for a 2-year period in conjunction
with the other two Lutheran bodies.

K. LCUSA Minutes. The secretary prepared synopses of
the minutes of the various departments and divisions of
LCUSA for review by the board at every meeting.

L. Campus Policy. The board decided to express concern
over the adoption of a policy in LCUSA which would estab-
lish joint campus congregations after the pattern of the
overseas military congregations prior to the establishment
of fellowship. It shared these concerns with the Board for
Missions, LCUSA, and the District Presidents.

M,. Christian Education Study. The board gave approval
to the implementation of this study authorized by Denver
Resolution 7-04, with the cost of the program not to exceed
$25,000 the first year.

N. Headquarters. At various times the board has taken
up problems connected with the refurbishing and remodel- .
ing of the Commerce Building purchased shortly after the
Denver convention. A special committee expert in these mat-
ters has been at work for 2 years studying the problems
and making recommendations to the board.

Several factors need to be emphasized. It had been en-
visioned that much of the cost of the Commerce Building
could be met through rental income. However, since the
building was purchased two new office buildings have been
erected downtown causing the rental market to become con-
siderably more depressed. Furthermore, the cost of re-
habilitation has gone up while at the same time the Oc-
cupational Safety and Health Administration with its abso-
lute policing powers has come into existence demanding
renovations not anticipated at the time the building was
purchased. It might also be mentioned that synodical space
needs at the time of purchase were projected on the basis of
anticipated staff growth and on the assumption that the
Board of Parish Education with its large staff would move to
the synodical Headquarters: neither projection has been re-
alized. Another contributing factor to the difficulty was the
fact that our own boards and commissions have not been
charged sufficient rent for use of space both in the 210
building and in the Commerce Building. This will be done
hereafter and provision to cover the cost made in the bud-
geis of the various departments. This will place the whole
matter of space use on a proper cost accounting basis.

In the light of all of these considerations the board was
faced with continuing operating losses and with the hard
decision of either investing another $700,000 or more in the
Commerce Building to put it into condition required by
OSHA and by the rental market, or to move from it.

An opportunity presented itself to sell the Commerce
Building at a favorable price. At the same time tenancy was
offered to the Synod in a new office building at 500 North
Broadway at very attractive rental rates.

The board finally decided that proper stewardship de-
manded that it sell the Commerce Building and move from
the 210 and Commerce Buildings to rented space in the 500
Building. The 210 building is being held for limited use for
the present.

Two floors of 33,988 sq. ft. of space have been leased in
the 509 Building as well as an additional 2,540 sq. ft. on the
first floor to provide identity, an information center, confer-
ence facilities, and a chapel at street level. It is anticipated
that the chapel may be used also on Sundays since there are
ever increasing numbers of people in the downtown area
over the weekend.

O. Manpower Support System. A special task force was
appointed to study the development of a church manpower
system to enable responsible persons or groups to identify
more readily skills and competencies.

P. PPBS. The board is committed to a planning-pro-
gramming-budgeting system and hopes that such a system
can be introduced gradually over the next few years. Some
preliminary steps have already been taken. A seminar con-
ducted in May 1972 was particularly helpful to top-level
staff.

Q. Foundation. The board met regularly as the member-
ship of the Foundation to conduct the business required of
them. The membership was saddened when Dr. Fred L. Precht
requested release from the position of Executive Director but
welcomed Mr. Victor Mennicke as his successor. Several
amendments in the articles of incorporation and bylaws of
the Foundation were approved, permitting the Foundation
trustees greater freedom in investment decisions as long as
they are in harmony with policies adopted by the members
of the Foundation. Trustees will also serve 2- year terms