wfn.org | [LCMSNews] New budget leaves programs intact

["LCMS e-News" <LCMSENEWS@lcms.org>]

	 <http://www.lcms.org>
e-News
	LCMS News

	PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL MESSAGE! This message comes
from a "Send Only" Mailbox that does not recognize replies.

	May 28, 2004 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 51

	Board leaves programs intact for 2004-05 Synod budget

	By Joe Isenhower Jr.

	On the surface, the 2004-05 spending plan of $84.8 million the
Synods Board of Directors adopted for national ministries at its May
20-22 meeting in St. Louis appears to be good news, compared with the
$77.5 million 2003-04 spending plan. But, in this case, appearances
would be deceiving.

	Thats because the new spending plan includes almost $9.6
million for items not in this years plan but necessary for 2004-2005 --
the triennial Synod convention and National LCMS Youth Gathering, and
for possible transition costs for elected officers.

	Subtract that amount, and whats left for next year is $75.2
million, or $2.3 million less than for 2003-04. The 2003-04 budget
reflected a budget cut of $11 million from the previous years budget.

	Continuing a growing trend over the years, projected remittances
from the 35 Synod districts to the national Synod for the upcoming
budget are down by $1.35 million.

	But Dr. Thomas Kuchta, the Synods vice
president-finance/treasurer and interim chief administrative officer,
told the Board that no programs would have to be cut from Synod boards
and commissions, and that the budget does include additional funds for
missions and higher education. That includes additions of:

	* $500,000 for the Board for Mission Services, to add
missionaries and office staff to implement the Ablaze! initiative to
reach 100 million people with the Gospel by 2017;

	* $250,000 for subsidy to the Synods two seminaries; and

	* $750,000 in subsidy for the 10 schools of the Concordia
University System.

	Dr. Robert Roegner, executive director of LCMS World Mission,
thanked the Board for the increase for Ablaze! and said this was the
first such increase for missions since 1990.

	We were able to add to these ministries just by sharpening the
pencils, Kuchta told the Board. Every board and commission worked with
us to drill down every number in the budget, on every line item. They
did an excellent job of it.

	Kuchta said that the $23 million in undesignated funds for the
2004-05 budget is $20 million less than the Synod executives indicated
their boards would need to provide optimal services.

	The Synods budget year runs July 1 to June 30.

	After adopting the spending plan and a $1.1 million capital
budget, the Board passed a resolution commending Kuchta and his staff
for doing an outstanding job under difficult circumstances in
presenting to the Board a balanced budget for approval.

	Within the past year, the Board has looked at a number of
approaches for increased funding of national ministries, but is not
recommending any of them to this years Synod convention.

	However, the Board is providing each LCMS congregation with a
25-minute video explaining the funding dilemma of steady decreases in
unrestricted funds for national ministries. Intended for use in Bible
classes on July 11 (during the Synod convention), the video is planned
for mailing in late June to presidents of all congregations. An
accompanying survey is being sent for those who see the video to
complete and return to the Synods International Center.

	Plans also call for mailing the video in mid-June to all of the
2004 convention delegates.

	In other business, the Board appointed members to three Synod
boards.

	Ten were appointed to the Board of Managers-Worker Benefit
Plans. The six incumbents reappointed are Dr. LuJuana Butts, Tuckahoe,
N.Y.; Richard Beumer, St. Louis; F. Mark Kuhlmann, St. Louis; Lyle
Meyer, Carlsbad, Calif.; Kenneth Willis, Brrokfield, Wis.; and Joel
Wilson, Weston, Conn. Newly appointed are Rev. Ronald Carnicom, Great
Bend, N.D.; Rev. Bill Heine, Sheridan, Wyo.; Renate Tomesch, Fox Point,
Wis.; and Stan Wirth, Beatrice, Neb.

	No incumbents were reappointed to the Board for Communication
Services (BCS) or the Board for Human Care Ministries (BHCM).

	Five new members appointed to the BCS are Rev. Joel Brondos,
Fort Wayne; Rev. Kevin Vogts, Dakota Dunes, S.D.; Ernest Garbe,
Dietrich, Ill.; Donna Raedeke, St. Louis; and Mollie Ziegler,
Washington.

	The BHCM also has five new appointed members. They are Rev.
David Fischer, Salt Lake City; Rev. Tim May, Milwaukee; Peggy Beyer,
Daykin, Neb.; John Edson, Plymouth, Minn.; and Stan Veit, Fort Wayne.

	***************************************

	If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release,
contact Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org or (314) 996-1231,
or Paula Schlueter Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or (314) 996-1230.

	***************************************

	  This Edition of "LCMS News" e-News is provided by:

	Board for Communication Services, Division of News and
Information
Contact Editor
<http://www.lcms.org/enews/contact_editor.asp?title=LCMS%20News&editorid
=6>

		To subscribe to or unsubscribe from this Newsletter and
many others, please visit LCMS e-News <http://www.lcms.org/enews> .
		Share this Newsletter
<http://www.lcms.org/enews/forward.asp?m=1952>	with a friend.

MessageId=1952 UserId=10073
  _____

Design ) Copyright 2003 The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.
<http://www.lcms.org>
No reproduction without consent. All rights reserved.