Rev. Bart Day accepts call to be Lutheran Church Extension Fund CEO and president

The Rev. Bart Day, executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission, will begin serving Sept. 1 as president and CEO of Lutheran Church Extension Fund. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

The Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) is announcing today that the Rev. Bart Day, executive director of the Synod’s Office of National Mission (ONM), has accepted the call to become the next President and CEO of LCEF.

The LCEF Board of Directors extended the call to Bart July 14. He succeeds Rich Robertson, who announced in November 2016 that he would retire from the position Oct. 1. Bart’s official start date is Sept. 1.

In his new position, Day will oversee LCEF’s investments, loans and ministry support activities, communicate to and with LCEF’s partner organizations and assist the LCEF Board of Directors in establishing the overall course and direction of the organization.

Under God’s grace, Rev. Bart Day has been an exemplary servant in the ONM over the past six years, ably assembling and leading a multifaceted team that is producing splendid fruits under priorities given by the Synod in convention.

In leading the ONM, Bart has been faithfully consistent in fulfillment of his responsibility to implement the policies of the Board for National Mission (BNM). This work entails oversight of 20 ministries that supported districts, congregations, schools and workers of the Synod in their Witness, Mercy and Life Together.

Bart also served as the interim Chief Mission Officer from 2014 to 2015, reporting directly to the Synod president. From 2015 to 2016, he served as interim executive director of Pastoral Education, overseeing the coordination of pre-seminary, seminary and post-seminary education programs and projects of the Synod.

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison offers sincere thanks to Bart for his stellar service in the ONM, saying, “We are very confident his skills will be a blessing to LCEF, and to the LCMS family nationally and around the world.”

Bart’s joyful, pastoral approach and faithfulness to the Word, combined with his ability to foster excellent working relationships, played a vital role in the establishment of a dynamic platform from which the ONM, the Lord willing, will continue to bless the church for years to come.

With a spirit of gratitude and prayerful anticipation, we look forward to his ongoing contributions to the church’s mission and our life together in his new role at LCEF.

In Christ,

Rev. Kevin Robson
LCMS Chief Mission Officer