WELS Needs More Dough for Stealing Sheep from Its Established Congregations

The Ministry Financial Plan (budget) adopted by the 2013 synod convention called for a four percent increase in Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO). The plan not only maintained current levels of our synod’s mission and ministry, but it also provided for careful expansion of several keys areas of our work.  Plans were to open 8-10 new home missions in each year of the biennium (compared to two to three in previous years), to expand efforts in Multi-Language Publications (to meet growing opportunities in our world mission fields), and to stabilize the financial health of our ministerial education schools.

CMO commitments were received from congregations in January, but instead of the planned four percent increase there was actually a slight decrease from the previous year. This resulted in a projected $1.2 million gap between what was planned and the available funding. In response, the Synodical Council began to identify reductions to mission and ministry support that would balance the plan. These reductions were shared with the synod’s congregations last spring.

Rather than simply making ministry and service reductions, the Conference of Presidents decided to place this issue before all of our congregations and ask if they would reconsider their CMO commitments for 2014 and adjust them upward. Information was shared with the district conventions, and circuit pastors were asked to visit personally each congregation and ask them to “revisit” their 2014 CMO subscription amounts.

While not all congregations have had a chance to address this issue (many will have voters’ meetings in July), we are happy to report that 831 congregations have responded. The total increase in CMO reported thus far is $430, 608.  Instead of changing their CMO commitment, a number of congregations held special offerings totaling more than $20,000. We thank God for this generous response from God’s people, and we thank all (district presidents, circuit pastors, pastors, and congregations) who worked to bring about this response.

At the end of July, the Synodical Council will take steps to make any necessary adjustments to the synod’s ministry plan. Thankfully, those adjustments will be much less extensive due to the response of our congregations and members.

Looking ahead to next year, this entire process has been a good reminder of how CMO continues to be the primary way in which we join together to support our common mission of proclaiming the gospel. We pray that as congregations begin to consider their CMO for next year they strive to do all they can to reflect their commitment to our work as a synod with continued joyful and generous offerings.