SC, COP address challenges and opportunities
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
Two important meetings took place last week as WELS leadership groups discussed the mission and ministry of our synod.
On Thursday, the Conference of Presidents (COP) and the Synodical Council (SC) met in a rare joint session. The joint meeting was intended to provide a forum in which these two leadership groups could discuss their respective responsibilities and to improve communication and mutual support.
The two major issues on the agenda were the Ad Hoc Commission's recommendations, which will be submitted to the 2009 synod convention in July, and the planning for the synod's program of ministry in light of the recent global economic downturn and its impact on financial support of WELS' operating budget. (For details, please see the special Nov. 10 edition of "Together.")
Ad Hoc Commission Chairman Joel Voss provided an overview of the commission's recommendations, along with the rationale for various recommendations. The joint discussion provided the members of the SC and the COP with valuable insight into the views of the respective groups.
The Synodical Council has the responsibility of formulating and proposing the synod's budget to the convention; the Conference of Presidents has the responsibility of encouraging congregations and individuals to support the budget with their offerings. These two different functions are closely related and interdependent. The joint discussion presented an opportunity for both groups to work together in the budget process as it moves forward in the coming months.
The joint meeting was seen as valuable by both groups; it's likely that similar joint meetings will take place on an annual basis.
On Friday and Saturday, the Synodical Council held its regularly scheduled meeting. Following are some of the most noteworthy actions:
- The SC accepted a recommendation from the Compensation Committee that the synod salary schedule for called workers provide for an increase of one percent to the base salary in each of the next two years, plus it bumped up the cap on salary increases from 30 to 31 years of service. When experience increments are included, the overall average salary increase for workers with less than 31 years of experience will be approximately 2.25 percent, roughly equivalent to the rate of inflation. (The original planning had provided an average increase of 3.5 percent—because of economic conditions, the actual increase was less than planned.)
- The SC received a report from Chief Financial Officer Todd Poppe that the operating surplus in 2007-08 would be utilized to achieve a balanced budget for the current year. Cost-cutting efforts by all areas of ministry will also help to ensure that the 2008-09 budget remains balanced.
- All areas of ministry have submitted initial ministry plans and budget requests to the SC as the budgeting process begins. In view of the recent financial news, the SC has asked all areas of ministry to revisit their plans and to identify strategies for reducing their funding requests.
- The SC provided responses to all areas of the Ad Hoc Commission report and recommendations. Reaction to most recommendations was favorable; in a few instances, the SC has forwarded questions or suggestions to the Ad Hoc Commission as the final report is being prepared.
The Synodical Council has begun to address the challenges created by the recent financial news. Many options are being considered and some steps have been taken already. The SC is committed to doing all it can to enable the synod to carry out its mission and ministry priorities in keeping with convention resolutions and the financial resources that God provides. The SC realizes that many decisions will hinge on things that we do not know at this time. For example, the results of the Year of Jubilee effort and the Congregation Mission Offering commitments will not be fully known until sometime in January. Until those details are clear, the SC will continue to explore all options and consider a variety of strategies to address the challenges before us.
Please keep both the SC and the COP in your prayers as our leadership groups wrestle with some difficult decisions. Above all, join them in continuing to trust in the promises of our gracious God as he prepares to bless us in ways that we do not yet know.
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
Filed Under: , Ad Hoc Commission, Budget, compensation, Conference of Presidents, COP, Finance, Offering, salary, SC, Synod Finances, Synodical Council
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