Developers interested in Synod Administration Building
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
WELS has been approached by several commercial real estate developers who have expressed interest in purchasing the Synod Administration Building (SAB) on Mayfair Road in Milwaukee, Wis. The entire area has undergone major redevelopment in recent years, and the location is viewed to be very desirable from a commercial standpoint.
A committee has been discussing the various options open to the synod.
The committee is already aware that major infrastructure repairs are needed in our current building, which is more than forty years old. Just bringing the building into compliance with various codes, replacing original windows, and updating the building's wiring will cost more than $1 million without any structural improvements to the building itself. Good stewardship requires that we ask if putting a large amount of money into this building is the wisest possible use of those dollars.
In view of the estimated cost of the repairs, and with developers expressing an interest in our building now, looking at other options seems to be the obvious thing to do. We are asking the question, "Does it make sense to invest more than a million dollars in an aging building? Or do we now have the opportunity to sell our current building and receive enough to build or buy in a different location?"
The committee has taken the position that any project should be "revenue neutral." In other words, the cost of relocation would need to be covered by funds received from the sale of the current building and other facility funds already on hand. We believe that relocation should happen only if we do not use mission offerings to do it. We do not intend to recommend using mission dollars for a relocation, even if the project is important.
The committee has already explored several options for the potential relocation. Some have already been rejected as unworkable. Others are still in the exploration stage. We will share any concrete developments or decisions as they happen.
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary holds its annual Mission and Ministry seminar
Last week, I had the privilege of preaching for the opening worship service at the seminary's Mission and Ministry seminar. The theme of this year's seminar was simply, "Go!" It's just one word that seems very simple at first. But that one word has profound meaning for Christ's people today—just as it did for the first disciples gathered around Jesus for the last time before his ascension. The meaning is profound, because in that one word, Jesus gives purpose, direction, and mission to us as individual Christians, as congregations, and as a synod.
Seeing the young men at our seminary was another reminder of the grace of God. Those young men represent the next generation of full-time ambassadors and heralds of the gospel. In a time when so many church bodies have difficulty finding workers and filling pulpits, we can be thankful that the Lord continues to provide his church with willing workers—well trained, dedicated, and eager to begin their service in his church.
Please share this newsletter
I'm very thankful for the work being done by Communications Director Joel Hochmuth and his staff to produce this electronic newsletter. Thanks go to many of you who have sent comments to them about their work. We would like as many people as possible to receive this important communication. Please help us in this by forwarding a copy to people you know and encourage them to subscribe (http://together.wels.net/subscribe). Pastors, please include a note in your bulletin or an announcement after worship to let people know that this is available. And thank you to the many congregations that are distributing printed copies of "Together" in your church bulletins. The more people know about their synod, the more connected they will be with our shared mission.
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
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