LCMS Foundation Fees
We have confirmed that the LCMS Foundation (LF), the bureaucracy responsible for fund raising for KFUO AM including the Issues Etc. program was charging 40¢ per dollar that they raised. (The industry standard is only 10¢)
That means for every $100,000 that the LF raised for Issues Etc. they pocketed $40,000 for themselves.
That left Issues Etc. with only $60,000.
This leads to another question for those who claim that the decision to cancel Issues Etc. was a business decision based upon financial considerations,
"If profitability was so important, why didn't the synodical executives find a cheaper solution for fund raising for Issues Etc. and KFUM AM?"
David Strand claims that Issues Etc. was responsible for more than 40% of KFUO AM's operating deficit. But, we'd like to know how much of a difference it would have made if KFUO AM and Issues Etc. would have been allowed to keep 90% of the money raised for it rather than the meager 60% that was left under the forced arrangement that it had with the LCMS Foundation?
This leads to yet another question...What was the LCMS Foundation doing with all of the money they were pocketing from Issues Etc. and KFUO AM?
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Pres. Kieschnick Responds
A piece in the Wall Street Journal is hard to dismiss, especially when it finds fault.
Pres. Kieschnick responds to M. Z. Hemingway's article:
As President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, I express my extreme disappointment over the column “Radio Silence” published March 28 under “Houses of Worship.” Its author presents a distorted account of the reason for the discontinuation of the “Issues, Etc.” program on the Synod’s KFUO-AM Radio station. What is even more disturbing is the false and misleading picture she presents of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as a deeply divided church regarding its mission and ministry.
First, let me say our church is happy to own and operate KFUO-AM, the oldest continuously operating religious radio station in the country, if not the world. We are proud of the ministry it has provided listeners for some 84 years, and we endeavor to continue this ministry. I must also note that all ministries of the church, of which KFUO-AM is but one, require financial support from their constituencies.
Here are the facts surrounding the termination of “Issues, Etc.” This program was cancelled by the Synod’s director of communications after years of attempts to keep the program financially solvent. In fiscal year 2007-08, KFUO-AM’s operating deficit was $620,000. Since 2001, the accumulated deficits of the station have been in excess of $3.5 million. While airing for only 18 percent of KFUO-AM’s programming week, “Issues, Etc.” in the last fiscal year accounted for more than 40 percent ($250,000) of the station’s total deficit. These figures are based on the audited financial statements of the LCMS. As of February 29, two thirds into the current fiscal year, KFUO-AM was on pace to suffer heavy loses again.
Listeners of “Issues, Etc.” have had nine years and countless invitations and opportunities to support the program financially, and some have, but not nearly enough to offset the show’s deep, ongoing losses.
More importantly, I wish to address the unfortunate comments in the column that The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is deeply divided and that it is pushing “church marketing” over the historic confessions of the evangelical Lutheran Church.
In truth, last summer the LCMS had its most positive and unified convention in years. Our church remains faithful to the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions, an integral part of our identity as a church body. As stated in a resolution adopted last summer by the national Synod convention: “From the founding of our Synod 160 years ago, we have been blessed by unity in our common confession and the articles of our shared faith, such as the Trinity, the person and work of Christ, original sin, baptismal regeneration, the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Sacrament, the inerrancy of Scripture and many others.”
In accordance with our unity in what we believe, teach, and confess, the Synod adopted the mission and vision of Ablaze!—a focused and concentrated effort to “share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who do not yet know him.” One goal of Ablaze! calls for the Synod to start 2,000 new congregations by the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in the year 2017. This outreach emphasis is not “marketing” as suggested by last Friday’s column; rather, it is one of many ministry endeavors developed to foster the mission of our Synod “… vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and the world.” (LCMS Mission Statement)
In summary, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is more committed than ever to proclaiming the one message of Jesus Christ and his love for all (1 John 4:9-11).
On behalf of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, I invite readers to visit our website at www.lcms.org for more information on God’s grace and salvation in Christ.
Response (numbers refer to paragraphs):
#3: It is not Hemingway who's got the distorted picture. This Site has some alarming reports about re-allocating funds, the actual "loss" sustained by KFUO in comparison with other ministries of the LCMS, and a more accurate picture of just how popular "Issues, Etc." was, based on the number of downloads of radio programs. It also contains some nice charts and graphics :)
#4 Why is that "Issues, Etc." was required to have their own fundraising appeals when it is a "ministry of the LCMS" as Kieschnick reports in paragraph #1?
#6 Church unity is found in Conventions???? Even if, does our President forget the small margins which enabled his win, and the small margins on many other votes? Does he forget that that some candidates were singled out as "lawsuit signers" before every vote was taken? And mentioning one resolution does not unity make, especially when it is as vague as he quotes it.
#7 Ablaze! is not marketing, eh? What of the $2 million spent on mugs, t-shirts, posters, pens, mailings, stationary, staff members, advertising and so forth?
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GJ - The strangest topics go viral in the Lutheran Church. One doctrinal disaster after another happens in full view of the public, with no comment. Then a radio show is suddenly the last straw. Didn't Jack Casione's buddy start Issues yers ago, leave the show, and end up as DP Benke's advisor? Check out the link. Matzat is a tongue-speaking, miracle working, Holy Spirit dreaming liberal. Cascione forgot to mention that when the two of them were like David and Jonathan.
Many things about Kieschnick's style and doctrine went undetected before he was elected Synodical Pope.
Here is my KFUO experience. They asked to interview me about Liberalism, Its Cause and Cure. I was warned in advance not to mention Christian News in the interview. When they asked about where to order the book, I mentioned NPH and Christian News. The interview was cut short.
Missouri has an odd take on Christian News, just like WELS. They like to benefit from the paper while shunning it. Editor Otten is more of a PR man for all the synods. He spikes stories for them and runs interference for them.
Paul McCain, MDiv, used Christian News to campaign for Al Barry. Jack Preus, Ralph Bohlmann, and Al Barry all used the paper to get elected. Kieschnick went out of his way to visit Otten before running. Kieschnick eyed Otten and told him, "So you have the power to make or break synod presidents?"
The problem with all this is the politican campaign. People work for a successful political strategy and focus on that. If they emphasized the Word and the Confessions, God's will would be accomplished. But they do not trust Isaiah 55:8-11.
The political process yields political results. The conservative politicians are on the shelf, fed and watered when necessary, but without influence.
