The Synodical Council (SC) met for its regular winter meeting last week and addressed the synod's challenging financial forecast.

Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO) for calendar year 2009 fell short of what was projected by about $225,000. CMO subscriptions for 2010 are 1.8 percent lower than 2009 receipts, well short of a flat projection used for the budget. The result is a projected shortfall of $300,000 for the current fiscal year 2009-10 and $650,000 for 2010-11.

The SC was also told the economic downturn has had a greater than projected impact on the Marvin M. Schwan Charitable Foundation. New reports from the Foundation point to a further decrease of 65 percent for 2010. The result is a decrease of $850,000 and $1.9 million for the next two years, respectively. Thankfully, the Financial Stabilization Fund (FSF)—which defers non-CMO support to the next year—enables us to defer the impact of this non-CMO reduction until the next biennium, providing some time for careful planning and/or recovery. Without the FSF, reductions of about $1 million would have been needed for this year, as well as about $2.5 million for next year. With the FSF in place, Home Missions and World Missions will likely be able to continue with programs included in the approved budget.

The SC recognizes the need for careful monitoring of the situation and for the development of plans if the financial support continues to fall short of budgeted amounts. The synod convention stated that CMO is the foundation of financial support for the work of the synod. With CMO subscriptions falling below the projected needs, work will need to begin immediately, both to reduce expenses and to explore ways to encourage congregations and individuals to increase financial support. Looking ahead to the reduction potentially needed next year due to the CMO shortfall, the SC discussed a variety of cost-containment measures, including a freeze in compensation for all synodical workers. The Conference of Presidents will be addressing these funding issues in the coming months.

LONG-RANGE MINISTRY PLANNING

The SC received a progress report on the long-range ministry plan now being developed. This plan is intended to describe what the synod's mission and ministry will be, under God, in 2017. All areas of ministry have been involved in the development of the plan. A draft of the plan will be presented to the district conventions this summer for discussion and input. Final adoption of a long-range ministry plan will take place at the synod convention in 2011.

AREAS OF MINISTRY

The SC heard a detailed report of the current and future plans of the Board for Home Missions. Home Missions has identified literally dozens of excellent opportunities to plan new missions or to expand existing mission efforts. Many of those opportunities will be a high priority if additional funding becomes available.

World Missions, Ministerial Education, and the Congregation and Ministry Support Group also updated the SC on the work being done in those areas. Like Home Missions, it is clear that these groups are not standing still; all are looking at the many opportunities that God is placing before us and developing plans to meet those opportunities when it becomes possible.

OTHER BUSINESS

The SC also addressed other items of business:

  • Approved appointments to the WELS VEBA and WELS Pension Plan commissions and to the WELS Foundation board.
  • Approved a study of the current state of the WELS archives and that recommendations for improving the archives be brought to the November 2010 SC meeting.
  • Adopted a "Conflict of Interest" policy that would apply to all synodical workers and boards, commissions, and committees.
  • Reviewed the $400,000 in annual travel reductions made by the areas of ministry.
  • Adopted a uniform endowment spending policy.
  • Discussed the planned joint meeting with the Conference of Presidents in April.
  • Welcomed to the SC Mr. G. Harvey Dunn as the new lay representative from the South Central District.

Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
President