TAMPA, Fla. — On the first day of the Nov. 19-20 LCMS Board of Directors meeting here, a half-day session with the Council of Presidents resulted in both groups jointly calling for “serious prayerful study and discussion” of 
the reports of two Synod task forces.
The resolution reads as follows:
“The Council of Presidents and Board of Directors, having given serious study and discussion to the full reports of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Funding the Mission (BRTFFM) and the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance (BRTFSSG), likewise put it before congregations, delegates, and other members to give them serious prayerful study and discussion.”
That action came after a panel discussion among four church leaders, followed by each of those leaders addressing four questions about the “funding challenge” in the Synod, and then a final segment on opportunities for the two groups to support activities related to the 2010 Synod convention.
Initial actions of next year’s convention are expected to address resolutions resulting from recommendations of the BRTFSSG — which that task force announced earlier this fall. The BRTFSSG’s 21 recommendations center on supporting congregations’ ministries.
Recommendations of the BRTFFM were announced prior to the 2007 Synod convention, which called for a “stewardship renaissance” throughout the church body.
After returning to its meeting, the Board of Directors adopted resolutions and heard reports from Synod ministry partners.
A resolution adopted unanimously by the Board addresses the “very successful” Pastoral Ministry Summit sponsored by the Board for Pastoral Education (BPE) and the Synod president Nov. 4-5 in Fort Wayne that took “a significant step forward” in developing a vision for future theological education in the Synod, and expresses the Board’s support for continued formation of that vision. (Click here for related story.)
The Board’s action withdraws a request it made in May for the BPE to conduct a comprehensive study of seminary efficiencies and expresses the Board of Directors’ confidence that the substance of that request will be addressed in ongoing efforts of the BPE and the President’s Office — in conjunction with the Boards of Regents — “to facilitate a vision for the future of theological education in the Synod.”
In another adopted resolution, the Board directs that proceeds derived from the sale of KFUO-FM, after expenses of such a sale are deducted, be put into a “Board Designated Fund” until the Board takes further action.
The resolution explains that a KFUO task force recommended to the Board that a major portion of such designated funds be made available to the LCMS Board for Communication Services (BCS) for “advanced media.”
It also indicates that members of the task force and the BCS have agreed that the BCS will develop a strategic plan for “the most advanced and effective means for proclamation of the Gospel through the use of electronic media” after the sale of KFUO-FM is complete, and that the communications board will present proposals for implementing that plan during the Board of Directors’ February meeting.
Among other adopted resolutions, the Board approved changes to its policy manual, which is available on the Board’s Web site at www.lcms.org/bod.
The Board also approved a process leading to 2010 Synod convention delegates electing a successor to LCMS Vice President-Finance/Treasurer Thomas Kuchta, who is retiring.
The LCMS Board of Directors and Council of Presidents were among several groups that held meetings in conjunction with the 2009 Lutheran Church Extension Fund Fall Leadership Conference here Nov. 20-22, which will be covered in a January Reporter story.
Posted Dec. 2, 2009
