Synodical Council meeting highlights
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
The Synodical Council (SC) met on Nov. 2-3, its first meeting since the synod convention last summer. Reports from the district lay representatives indicated a broad sense of optimism and confidence throughout the synod. There are remaining challenges, questions, and concerns, but God is clearly blessing our synod in many ways—some of them unforeseen and unexpected. New opportunities for sharing the gospel in our world mission efforts, as well as positive financial news, were reported and discussed.
The Synodical Council, WELS’ governing board made up of laypeople 
and called workers, has the responsibility of overseeing the work of the synod between synod conventions. It deals with finances, administration issues, and ministry direction. In addition to the decisions about the chapel at Martin Luther College (MLC) and the synod’s capital debt (both are described in separate articles in this issue), the SC made some important decisions:
Year of Jubilee offering
The Synodical Council decided that all offerings received for the synod’s debt in the Year of Jubilee offering will be used toward the principal of the debt, which will reduce the length of time for repayment. This is similar to what happens when you make additional principal payments on your home: your payments don’t decrease, but the length of time before your home is paid off is shortened. We’re pleased that offerings have already begun to arrive for this effort, even though it does not officially begin until next summer.
Other actions of the SC
- Established a compensation committee to review synodical salaries.
- Approved a proposal to conduct an independent study of our program for health care coverage.
- Released funds for the MLC chapel project.
- Combined and restructured the synod’s capital debt.
- Approved a revised “Support Forecast” based on indications of increased offerings and improving financial conditions.
These were only a few of the many items addressed by the Synodical Council. As these dedicated men oversee all of the work that we do together as a synod, thank God for their service and keep them in your prayers.
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