WELS in Trouble Again

From the office of President Mark Schroeder

As most of you know, last fall WELS learned that it could expect significantly less in financial support in 2009 from two major sources. As we work to plan our ministry for the next two years, we have been looking at ways to reduce our spending and make reductions in programs where necessary. The Synodical Council will hold initial discussions on the budget at its meeting Feb. 27-28, and a final budget proposal will be adopted in April.

Last week we received another piece of bad financial news. The WELS individual who had committed $2.5 million per year for five years regretfully informed us that the gift for this year would not be possible. Until then, it had appeared that we would end the current fiscal year with a balanced budget (through the use of the surplus from last year and cost reductions this year). But now, halfway through the current fiscal year, we are facing a shortfall of $2.5 million.

In order to avoid having to make sudden and unplanned cuts in ministry to achieve a balanced budget (required by the constitution), we will be looking at a variety of ways to end this year without a shortfall. Strategies include additional reductions in spending in all areas of ministry, as well as the use of various funds that may be able to be used in a situation like this.

In all of this, we thank God that the congregations of our synod have been very faithful in supporting the mission of the synod. Offerings last year, in spite of the economic challenges that began in the fall, increased over the previous year. We also approach this situation with the same confidence and trust in God's blessings as we had last year when the financial picture looked much more positive. God was blessing us then with abundance; he is blessing us no less today, just in a different way. We remain confident, as do you, that God uses all things to work together for the good of his people and his church.

Defending our beliefs: court case makes national news
A year ago, California Lutheran High School, operated by an association of WELS and Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) congregations, won a court victory in a lawsuit challenging its decision to expel two female students for engaging in conduct characteristic of a lesbian relationship in violation of the school's Christian Code of Conduct. The school maintained that it was right and proper to discipline students whose behavior was not in keeping with biblical principles and the beliefs of our church. Last week, an appellate court in the state of California upheld the lower court ruling, stating that the school is not a business and so not bound by the state's anti-discrimination laws.

Our prayers continue to be with California Lutheran High School as it defends our right to practice our faith and follow our beliefs. WELS has clearly stated that we hold to the biblical teaching that homosexual practices are wrong and not in keeping with God's Word. We have taken that position in love—both for God's Word and God's truth, as well as for those who have fallen into the sin of homosexuality. While some in our society would view this stand as bigoted and unloving, we maintain that our beliefs are drawn from the teachings of the Bible. We also maintain that our goal is not merely to condemn sinful behavior, but to reach out to all sinners with God's call to repentance and his assurance of forgiveness in Christ.
Serving in Christ,Mark Schroeder

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GJ - Many people have seen 40 to 50% shrinkage in their retirement accounts in the last year. Many wealthy people are scrambling to cover their losses in some way, because they are in worse shape. John D. Rockefeller had to scramble for cash during a similar crisis, running from bank to bank. He even had to cover some friends.

Churches that over-borrowed for building projects are going into default, because they learned from Robert Schuller that a new building attracted people.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS in Trouble Again":

Always focusing on the negative...nevermind that giving increased during a recession. Just maybe the Word is being preached, huh?

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GJ - I just quoted the Synod President. The name of the blog is Ichabod, The Glory Has Departed, not Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.

Actually, financial matters are far worse than the official post says. No matter how many cuts happen, the money keeps fading away. The evaporation is the result of the credit bubble. For many years people looked at prosperity from the viewpoint of people borrowing more to spend more. To do that we had to borrow from foreign nations. Once people realized that the underlying mortgages were worthless, the credit bubble popped.

Ben Stein revealed in the new issue of American Spectator that he lost tons of money, in spite of his reputation as a highly trained economist and lawyer. He said he will never retire now. If that is true of him at 64, then what is happening with the Boomers, who give most of the money in the offering plate?

The big gift referenced above was from a Canadian. If you think the America economy stinks, think of Canada, 20 years ahead of us in socialism.