Special LCMS Report in Lutheran Witness - LCMS IN FINANCIAL CRISIS

Special LCMS Report in Lutheran Witness
LCMS IN FINANCIAL CRISIS
Christian News, May 23, 2011, Vol. 49, No. 19

“The Synod headquarters is in a financial crisis,” writes Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod President Matthew Harrison in “A Special LCMS Report” in the May, 2011 Lutheran Witness. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans assisted in funding the special issue also sent to many non-subscribers. It includes an offering envelope.

Harrison writes: “We are launching the ‘Koinonia Project’ to begin to deal with the theological issues that have caused us to distrust each other. We are attempting to lead in a way that does not divide.” No action is expected to be taken against anyone on the LCMS clergy roster who promotes women pastors, evolution or the general anti-scriptural theology of Seminex.

Dr. Lawrence Rast of Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne mentions that the Ebenezer campaign of 1967 designed to raise at least $40 million took in less than $15 million.
A chart of “Career Missionaries” shows that in 1960 the LCMS had 350 career missionaries in 1971 and in 2010 it had 50.

A Fan into Flame Updates says:
“Through March, the campaign had raised $63.8 million in cash and pledges. Of that among, $44.9 million has been collected in cash. To achieve the original goal, $46.2 million still needs to be raised by Reformation Day, Oct. 31, when the formal campaign ends.

“Challenges persist. Fan into Flame was designed to incur operational costs of no more than $10 million of its original $100 million goal—the lowest reasonable operational expense in order to maximize new funds for work in the mission field. But those expenses (which include costs for materials, management and staff) have exceeded $18.3 million. The economic recession and additional operational expenses not included in the original campaign budget) have contributed to increased costs.”

“A snapshot of LCMS Pre-K12 Education” reports that “During the last three years, the economy has had an impact on the number of elementary schools. The church has lost over 100.”

A report on the Concordia University System says that “For the 11th consecutive year, all 10 of the Concordia colleges/universities were included in the annual ranking of ‘America’s Best Colleges’ by U.S. News & World Report.”

The CN editor’s Bonhoeffer and King – Their Life and Theology Documented In Christian News 1963-2011 – A Fifty Year Battle vs. Intellectual Laziness includes a speech the CN prepared for delivery at Concordia University Wisconsin on February 3, pp. 251-296. The editor commented on the Concordia University System.