Official notice: LCMS salary information (November 2017)

The Synod’s policy of full financial disclosure provides for making available to members of the Synod (congregations, pastors, teachers and others on the roster), on written request, the salary grid scales of all Synod and district officials, staff and faculty members of the Concordia University System, and International Center staff.

The reported salaries are as of the date of publication. Officers and staff are responsible for providing their own housing. In addition to salaries, the Synod pays 100 percent of the Concordia Plan Services premium for the employee and provides a housing differential equal to 5 percent of salary for lay employees in classes SM–9. The president receives an allowance for additional expenses.

The LCMS Board of Directors’ compensation philosophy is simple: In striving to be good stewards of the dollars entrusted to us, we shall pay fair salaries in a fashion that rewards performance and enables our attracting, motivating and retaining high-quality employees.

The term “fair” shall be interpreted as fair pay based on (1) the employee’s role within corporate Synod, (2) our striving to offer compensation at or within 10 percent of the market value of the job held (using not-for-profit standards to define the market value), and (3) the incumbent’s performance in the position.

To ensure that salaries are aligned with the nonprofit market value, the LCMS Department of Human Resources conducts an annual market analysis. Additional research on the officer-level positions affirms the Board of Directors’ compensation philosophy to pay fair salaries.

In accordance with Board of Directors Policy Manual section 5.6.6.6, the Board approves the salaries of the Synod’s officers. During its August meeting, the Board considered a resolution to increase officer salaries across the board by 2 percent. President Matthew Harrison, First-Vice President Herbert Mueller, Secretary John Sias, CFO Jerry Wulf, and CMO Kevin Robson said they did not want the Board to adopt the resolution because they would decline any increase. In response to this request, the Board did not approve the resolution.

Additional information — including salary grid scales of all Synod and district officials, staff and faculty members — is available to congregations, pastors and rostered teachers by written request to Val Rhoden-Kimbrough, Executive Director of Human Resources, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295.

Base Salaries at Point of Publication

Position

Actual

President

$252,573

First Vice-President

$182,823

Secretary

$174,042

Chief Administrative Officer

$174,042

Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer

$182,823

Chief Mission Officer

$174,042

Posted Nov. 1, 2017