wfn.org | [LCMSNews] Directors proceed on KFUO

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>8.28.2009		
>	LCMS News	 	
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>THE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod  	 	
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	August 28, 2009 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 71

Directors proceed on KFUO, endorse malaria project

>By Roland Lovstad

A special committee and the chief financial officer have been authorized
by the LCMS Board of Directors to continue with multiple negotiations
toward the possible sale of KFUO-FM.

Meeting Aug. 20-21 in St. Louis the Board also endorsed the Synod's
participation in the Lutheran Malaria Initiative and heard reports that
the 2008-09 fiscal year ended June 30 with a positive balance.

In acting on the KFUO-FM matter, the Board adopted the following:

	

*	"Resolved, that special counsel in conjunction with the chief
financial officer proceed with the multiple negotiations reported to the
Board in executive sessions, and be it further

	

*	"Resolved, that the KFUO Committee of the Board be hereby
instructed to continue to investigate the uninterrupted broadcast of the
99.1 classical format in the St. Louis market; and be it finally

	

*	"Resolved, that the KFUO Committee of the Board be hereby
authorized by the Board and empowered to determine in its absolute and
sole discretion if and when the corporation shall enter into an asset
purchase agreement for the sale of KFUO-FM and upon what terms and
conditions approximating those reported to the Board and to cause same
to be done without further action by the Board."

The KFUO Committee special counsel, Kermit Brashear, a member of the
Board, was authorized to serve as the Board's spokesman regarding the
process. KFUO-FM, which primarily broadcasts classical music, has been
owned and operated by the Synod since 1948.

The action follows the recommendation of a task force appointed by the
Board in early 2008 to study the role of KFUO-FM and KFUO-AM and the
best use of those assets in the Synod's mission. In November the task
force recommended the sale of KFUO-FM, with a majority of the proceeds
to be placed in a fund designated for "proactive ministry utilizing
advanced media" such as video and audio streaming via the Internet or
satellite radio to reach audiences beyond the St. Louis market. The task
force did not recommend the sale of KFUO-AM.

After reports and discussion of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, the
Board resolved that it "heartily endorses the Lutheran Malaria
Initiative as a priority of the Synod." The resolution encouraged
support by LCMS leadership and LCMS program boards under the direction
of President Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick.

The resolution came after discussion with Dr. John Nunes, president of
Lutheran World Relief (LWR), and representatives of LCMS World Mission
and LCMS World Relief and Human Care. The discussion included
preliminary plans for fundraising and methods of delivering education
and services through Lutheran churches worldwide.

"It's a project which has great promise for helping people who are
suffering in the world," Kieschnick said as he introduced the group. He
said the purpose of the conversation with the Board was to explore ways
to work with the initiative while the Synod completes its Fan into Flame
campaign. The initiative will be taken to the Synod convention next
year. In the meantime, it will be piloted in districts and congregations
that have already conducted Fan into Flame campaigns to support the
Ablaze! movement.

The Lutheran Malaria Initiative is a partnership of LWR, the LCMS, and
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is made possible through
support from the United Nations Foundation. Nunes said malaria kills a
million people a year, mostly on the African continent, and noted that
faith-based organizations are the most trusted among Africans.

For the project to go forward, LWR needed indication of support from "a
high level" and an assignment of staff to represent and speak on behalf
of the LCMS, according to Nunes.

Synod Vice President-Finance/Treasurer Dr. Thomas Kuchta reported that
unaudited figures show the Synod ended the fiscal year on June 30 with a
positive variance of $3.2 million. The positive balance resulted from
$9.2 million in income from the sale of property in Hong Kong.

Kuchta said the proceeds from the property sale have been designated by
the Board for the Board for Mission Services. That allowed the
department to cover a negative variance in operations. The
board-designated fund will be reimbursed as Fan into Flame funds are
received.

Due to unrealized investment losses in the Risk Endowment Funds, the
Synod transferred approximately $800,000 to maintain balances that serve
as collateral for college and seminary bonds.

As for the current fiscal year that began July 1, Kuchta said, "Some
positive things are happening." While the July report showed a negative
variance of $492,000, compared with $1.5 million last year, he said,
"Trends are favorable. They should be -- we've cut the budget by
approximately $4.5 million."

Kuchta also announced that he would not stand for re-election at the
2010 LCMS Convention. He is serving his third term as vice
president-finance/treasurer.

>In other action, the Board:

	

*	heard an update on the Wittenberg Project, a joint effort with
the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK) in Germany to operate
a welcome center for visitors to Luther sites and re-establish an SELK
congregation in the city. Rev. David Mahsman, who begins serving as
managing director Sept. 1, said an operational plan would be prepared
for the Board's November meeting.

	

*	received a $600,000 gift from St. John's Lutheran Church, Tampa,
Fla., and authorized Treasurer Kuchta to complete the transactions. The
congregation is disbanding and designated the funds for U.S. and
overseas mission projects.

	

*	adopted a resolution thanking God for the 67 years of faithful
service that the Lutheran Women's Missionary League has provided to the
Synod and for its 2009-2011 mission goal of $1.825 million for 19
projects -- the largest in the auxiliary's history.

	

*	approved a request from Concordia University Chicago to
refinance existing bond debt, finance major facility improvements, and
refinance a loan with the Lutheran Church Extension Fund.

	

*	approved the request from Concordia University, Portland, Ore.,
to issue bonds to refinance the recent construction of a library and
dormitory and to finance a proposed athletic facility.

	

*	approved the conversion of the former early childhood center at
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, to a multimedia center.

	

*	heard, but took no action, on a proposal requested from the LCMS
Foundation to raise gifts for the LCMS unrestricted budget.

	

*	encouraged the Board for Pastoral Education to reconsider the
composition of a Seminary Comprehensive Study Committee, which it
appointed at the request of the Board of Directors. The directors
expressed concern "relative to the experience, background and
disinterest" of the members of the committee, which is to study the
facilities, personnel, and efficiencies of the present seminary
education system.

After meeting Valentina Rhoden-Kimbrough, the Synod's new executive
director of Human Resources, the Board expressed appreciation to Ron
Schultz, chief administrative officer of the Synod; David Fiedler,
executive director of General Services; and the Human Resources staff
for carrying extra responsibilities while the position was vacant.

Roland Lovstad is a freelance writer and a member of Immanuel Lutheran
Church, Perryville, Mo.

>****************************************

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

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