Budget tops convention agenda
Filed Under: Budget, Convention, finances, Home Missions, Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Ministerial Education, Missions, MLS, synod, World Missions
Delegates began discussion on two budget proposals brought forward by the Synodical Council in an open forum Monday evening.
Both options reflect an $8 million reduction—from $38 million to $30 million or about 20 percent—in each year of the next biennium because of the continued downturn in the global economy. This downturn resulted in the loss of significant gifts to WELS from foundations and individual donors, as well as a decrease in commitments from congregations for 2009 Congregation Mission Offerings.
The Synodical Council's final proposed budget offers two options—each with significant cuts to all areas of ministry. The difference is under Option A, Ministerial Education receives $1 million more than under Option B. Under Option B, World and Home Missions each receives $500,000 more than under Option A. Under Option B, the Board for Ministerial Education says funding for Michigan Lutheran Seminary would not be possible after the end of the 2010-11 school year.
At the forum, delegates offered others ideas for balancing the budget—ideas to make the additional cuts to either ministerial education or missions unnecessary, including salary cuts for synod workers, making deeper cuts in other areas of ministry, and reducing or delaying funding of a proposed Financial Stabilization Fund.
"The two previous synod conventions have pretty clearly stated that our core ministries are to be ministerial education and missions," says Rev. Joel Otto, chairman of the Finance and Budget floor committee. "The perception is that those are being pitted against each other, and we're trying to find a way to bridge that where we have an option perhaps that doesn't do that. Again those are all things that we're still trying to come to grips with."
Otto, who serves as pastor at Trinity, Minocqua, Wis., says that the committee hopes to present resolutions regarding the budget to the convention floor by Wednesday. But he says the committee has lots of work to do before then.
"Our committee is filled with some wonderful men who really have the synod's best interest at mind," says Otto. "We've had some great discussions as a committee of how we can best carry out the work God has given us—proclaiming the gospel as a synod together."
Read more about the proposed budget in the 2009 Book of Reports and Memorials at www.wels.net/convention.
