Delegates at this year's convention adopted a ministry plan proposed by the Synodical Council that calls for about $62 million in total expenses for fiscal year 2011–12 and about $63 million in fiscal year 2012–13.

This budget permits a careful expansion of both Home and World Missions—including the start of four new mission congregations in the United States and an additional professor at Asia Lutheran Seminary in Hong Kong. It also maintains staffing at all four synodical schools at current levels and permits a wage increase for synodical workers of 2 percent in the first year of the biennium and 2.5 percent in the second.

The resolution adopted by the delegates notes that the ministry plan projects use of reserves of onetime funds totaling about $9.5 million to sustain ongoing ministries. WELS President Mark Schroeder says that if those funds were to become depleted in two to four years, there are options—for instance, mission expansion could be put on hold. The synod also may receive unexpected individual gifts.

"Either way, we will be able to replenish those funds from other sources, or we'll have the time to make the kinds of adjustments that we'll need to make because the resources are limited," Schroeder says. "But I think it's a worthwhile decision to say we want to move our synod forward. We want to expand missions, open new home missions, send more missionaries overseas, and that's a good thing."

The approved budget is based on Congregation Mission Offerings increasing 3 percent for calendar years 2012 and 2013. "I think it can easily happen . . . if our congregations recognize that their gifts are being used wisely, when they see missions growing and expanding," Schroeder says. "I think 3 percent isn't unreasonable, especially if the economy begins to turn around in two to three years as we pray it will."