1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

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REPORTS
Administration:
Report 1 — District President .............................................................................. E4
• District President’s Statistical Report ......................................... E7
• Report of the Circuit Counsellors ................................................ E11
Report 2 — Board of Directors ............................................................................ E13
• Duties & Responsibilities of Officers & Directors ....................... E16
• Report of 2012 Convention Resolutions ..................................... E18
Report 3 — Mission Executive ............................................................................ E20
Report 4 — Business Manager .......................................................................... E23
Lutheran Church–Canada:
Report 5 — Lutheran Church–Canada ................................................................ E27
Report 6 — LCC Financial Ministries ................................................................. E55
Departments:
Report 7 — Department for Finance ................................................................... E60
Report 8 — Department for Outreach ................................................................. E61
Report 9 — Department for Parish Services ...................................................... E65
Committees:
Report 10 — Abuse Prevention Committee ....................................................... E72
Report 11 — Committee on Constitutions and Membership ............................ E74
Report 12 — Committee for Communications Services .................................... E75
Report 13 — District Archivist ............................................................................ E76
Report 14 — Handbook Committee .................................................................... E78
Auxiliaries and Agencies:
Report 15 — Ambassadors of Reconciliation..................................................... E81
Report 16 — Canadian Lutheran World Relief .................................................... E83
Report 17 — Concordia Lutheran Mission Society .......................................... E86
Report 18 — Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, AB ............................ E91
Report 19 — Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catharines ........ E97
• Memorandum of Understanding Report..................................... E103
Report 20 — Concordia University College of Alberta ...................................... E108
Report 21 — Haiti Lutheran Mission Society ..................................................... E110
Report 22 — L.A.M.P. .......................................................................................... E112
Report 23 — Lutheran Bible Translators–Canada ............................................. E118
Report 24 — Lutheran Braille Workers (final report) ........................................... E121
Report 25 — Lutheran Layman’s League/Lutheran Hour Ministries ................. E122
Report 26 — Lutherans for Life .......................................................................... E124
Report 27 — LWML-C — Laurentian District ..................................................... E125
Report 28 — LWML-C — Ontario District ........................................................... E126
Report 29 — Lutherwood ..................................................................................... E128
Report 30 — Malabar Mission Society ............................................................... E132
Report 31 — Philoxenia/Hospitality Ministry ..................................................... E134
Budget & Financial Reports:
Annual Budget 2014/2015 ...................................................................................... E136
Audited Financial Reports
................................................................................ E137
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ADMINISTRATION
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REPORT 1
Report of the District President
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
(I Thessalonians 5:16-18)
The words of our convention theme Scripture verse were originally addressed to Christians of the
church in Thessalonica. These people knew what the Gospel was all about. They new the kind of dynamic
life to which they had been called. They knew that they were supposed to be different, to be God’s
people. They also lived in a pagan society where to live as Christians meant that they would also be
shunned by many in the society in which they lived. We too, will be different from many of those around
us, if our life also takes its shape around the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no question about
it. But, how can our life take shape around the Gospel, the “Good News” of our salvation in Jesus Christ?
How can we be anything like the holy, sanctified people we are supposed to be – when so many things in
our future these days seems so uncertain?
The Apostle Paul directs us in his first letter to the Thessalonians to do three things in our life of
sanctification. He directs us to rejoice always, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all
circumstances. And why are we to do these three things? Because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
for us! Can we do these three things entirely on our own? Certainly not! To rejoice always in all
circumstances and regardless of what may befall us, is to live out our Christian life at the highest level –
for we know that “all things work together for good to those who love God.” (Romans 8:28). As far as
our relationship with God is concerned, it cannot be anything but joyful. This is not easy, of course
because of our sinful nature. However, as Christians we have the tonic and remedy for this all in one: We
are to pray without ceasing! This does not simply mean that we have a regular devotional life that
includes prayer or that we regularly place all of our needs before God. It means that there should be a
constant spirit of prayer coursing through our whole life. And, of course, all of our prayer life should be
accompanied with thanksgiving. This, too, does not mean that all of the requests and petitions that we
place before God will be replied to by God in the way that we necessarily expect or want God to reply to
them. They will however, be responded to by God in line with our needs and according to His divine will.
Upon completing another three year term in the office of District President of the East District of
Lutheran Church–Canada, the words of our Convention Theme from I Thessalonians, chapter five, have
special meaning to me, as I pray they also do to you. I can honestly say, that I still cherish every day that
God allows me to continue to work in His kingdom here on earth and in His church as a wonderful gift of
His grace. We together as pastors and people in our Lord’s church, with our Lord’s help, can approach
every situation and every task that God places before us with the words of the Apostle Paul, which we
have chosen as our convention theme – not only echoing in our ears, but also giving us guidance and
direction for all that we endeavour to accomplish.
As was the case during my first term as District President a vacancy occurred in the position of East
District Mission Executive – when in March of 2014, Rev. Larry Gajdos accepted the Call to become
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Pastor of Historic St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kitchener. This position was once again filled when Rev.
Ron Mohr accepted the Call of the Board of Directors and began his work as East District Mission
Executive beginning in January of this year, 2015. During the interim a good portion of my time was once
again spent attempting to fulfill the necessary tasks that the Mission Executive normally addresses and
oversees. As was the case during my first term in office, I was and remain truly grateful to the
Department for Outreach and its chairman, Rev. Will Kramer, for the amount of time and effort that he
spent in filling this void and how he most willingly took upon himself the work of the Department for
Outreach in addition to his own pastoral duties in his own congregation to ensure that work of that
Department of our District carried on and went forward. In addition, I am also most grateful to the other
members of our East District Office Staff who continued to assist me in filling some of the gaps that
occurred until Rev. Mohr joined us here in the District office. We pray God’s blessings upon Rev. Mohr
and his wife Karen in the transition they have made in moving from Tillsonburg into the Kitchener area
and also upon Rev. Mohr in the transition that he has made by joining our staff in our District Office from
serving in the parish Ministry.
During the past three years I have attended the following Congregational Anniversary Celebrations, to
bring greetings on behalf of the District and also on a number of these occasions also to share God’s
Word through the preaching of the sermon:
First St. Mathew’s, Hanover ON - 150 years, June 10, 2012
St. Peter’s, Stratford ON – 100 years, September 23, 2012
St. Peter’s Estonian, Toronto ON - 60 years, October 21, 2012 (Preached)
St. Paul’s, Wellesley ON - 160 years, October 28, 2012
Christ, St. Catharines ON - 100 years, December 9, 2012 (Preached)
Christ, Mississauga ON - 50 years, June 2, 2013
Christ, Petawawa ON – 130 years, August 18, 2013 (Preached)
Immanuel, Georgetown ON - 50 years, September 8, 2013
Grace, Locksley ON - 140 years, October 6, 2013 (Preached)
Faith, Dunnville ON – 50 years, November 3, 2013 (Preached)
Redeemer, Monkton ON - 125 years, May 4, 2014
First Lutheran, Palmer Rapids ON - 125 years, August 24, 2014 (Preached)
Zion, Augsburg, ON – 140 years, September 14, 2014 (Preached)
Christ Our Hope, Collingwood, ON – 25 years, September 28, 2014 (Preached)
Trinity, Fisherville, ON – 160 years, October 19, 2014 (Preached)
In addition to these celebrations, I have had the joy of preaching on 81 other occasions and Sunday
morning Worship Services in congregations in our District, including the Installation of Rev. Bill Stanfel
– Christ, Petawawa; the Installation of Rev. Mark Koehler – Pilgrim, Hamilton; EvangelFest – Faith,
London; “Our Free & Joyous Response” Consecration Sunday – Our Saviour, Etobicoke; the 40th
Anniversary of the Ordination of Rev. Gilvan de Azevedo; the 30th Anniversaries of the Ordinations of
Rev. James Heinbuch and Rev. Marcus Kuehn; the Installation & Commissioning of Ms. Kaitlyn Schmitz
as Director of Parish Services Intern – Trinity, Fisherville; the 530th Anniversary of Dr. Martin’s Luther’s
Birthday at St. John’s Lutheran Church (English District) – Pembroke, Ontario; “Our Free & Joyous
Response” Consecration Sunday – Prince of Peace, Burlington; the Installation of Rev. David Jackson as
Canadian Forces Military Chaplain – Halifax, Nova Scotia; the 25th Anniversary of the Ordination of Rev.
Jack Hetzel – Grace, Oshawa; the Installation of Rev. Paul Williams – Grace, Locksley; and the
Installation of Rev. Dusan Tillinger – First Lutheran, Kingsville.
During the past triennium I have also been involved in 13 pre-call and call meetings. I have presided at
14 installations and ordinations, serving also as preacher for 6 of them. I have also participated in the
Worship Services and Conducted the Rite of Farewell and Godspeed for two of our Pastors entering
retirement: Rev. Robert Krestick – Redeemer, Waterloo and Rev. Wayne Geick – St. Luke’s, Eganville &
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Zion, Augsburg. In addition, I was privileged to attend Worship and be present to present a Certificate
and Plaque to Rev. Lloyd Wentzlaff at the Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of his Ordination. All
of these occasions have given me additional opportunities to become acquainted with a number of
additional congregations in our district and also to come to know, first hand, some of the challenges that a
number of our congregations are facing and experiencing. Conducting these pre-call and call meetings
and officiating at these installations and ordinations has also lifted my spirits, when I observe how so
many of our pastors and people are so joyously, prayerfully and thankfully dedicated to moving forward
in living the Christian life in the light of God’s Word and in sharing that Word with others.
These past three years have also seen a concentrated effort through our East District Board of Directors
to bring our East District in line with the “Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act” and to not only
address some of the struggles and needs our East District congregations are currently facing, but also to
attempt to anticipate some of the issues and challenges that a number of our East District congregations
will be facing in the near future.
As we are so wont to do in a report of this nature, the tendency is to only look back and mention and
focus upon the things that have occurred and taken place in the past. As I write this report however, I am
excitedly looking forward to a number of things that have most recently begun to take shape for the future
of our East District. At this time I will only mention two of them. First of all, the Board of Directors is
continuing in the process of Calling a Circuit Rider to reach out and to care for the spiritual needs of those
in the Atlantic Provinces of Eastern Canada. While this approach to ministry is rather unique to what we
have done to meet the ministry needs of those in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada up until this point – It
is, in fact, going back to our roots of how ministry was implemented in Canada and in North America in
our church’s past. Secondly, a committee has been formed and has begun meeting to not only celebrate
the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 but also to assist us in “rediscovering,” “revitalizing,”
and “rebuilding” the faith and heritage that has been ours as Lutherans for the past 500 years.
It is in these past, current, and future efforts, that I pray our Convention theme will and continue to give
us guidance and direction. May we truly: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us!”
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Paul Zabel, President
Lutheran Church–Canada, East District
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District President’s Statistical Report
<<< For the period: April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2015 >>>
A. April 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012
A.1. PASTORS
1. Entered the District:
Stanfel, Bill
Gray, Denis
Pastor, St. Mark’s-Choiceland, SK & Zion-Nipawin, SK to ChristPetawawa, July 15, 2012
Pastor reinstated to Emeritus, Niagara Circuit, Sep. 12, 2012
2. Changes within the District:
Keller, James
Professor, CLTS, St. Catharines to Executive Director, Lutheran Bible
Translators, Kitchener, June 18, 2012
Betsch, Eric
Pastor, Christ Our Saviour-Grimsby to Pastor, dual parish Christ Our
Savior-Grimsby & Redeemer-Hamilton, July 22, 2012
Koehler, Mark
Pastor, First St. Matthew’s-Hanover to Pilgrim-Hamilton, Sept. 9, 2012
Winger, Thomas
Professor/Acting President, CLTS-St. Catharines to President, CLTS-St.
Catharines, Sept. 30, 2012
3. Candidate or EMERITUS:
None
4. Transferred to Other Districts:
Maffett, David
Executive Director Lutheran Bible Translators to Pastor, St. Pierre de
Châtenay, France, Aug 1, 2012
5. Deceased:
None
6. Removed from Roster:
Gerow, Steven
Candidate, status not renewed by C.O.P., Apr. 10, 2012
A.2. DEACONS
1. Entered the District:
Shack, Jennifer
DPS Candidate from LCC-ABC District, Sept. 4, 2012
2. Changes within the District:
Suzanne Eberhard Teacher, Colloquy, First Luth. Christian Acad., Windsor, Sep. 28, 2012
Helen Gagnier
Teacher, Colloquy, First Luth. Christian Acad., Windsor, Sep. 28, 2012
Lori Laszewski
Teacher, Colloquy, First Luth. Christian Acad., Windsor, Sep. 28, 2012
Sharlene Procknow Teacher, Colloquy, First Luth. Christian Acad., Windsor, Sep. 28, 2012
3. Candidate or EMERITUS:
None
4. Transferred to Other District: None
5. Deceased:
None
6. Removed from Roster:
None
A.3. CONGREGATIONS
1. Entered the District:
None
2. Multi-Parish Transformations - Created:
Redeemer-Hamilton & Christ Our Saviour-Grimsby, June 10, 2012
3. Multi-Parish Transformations - Dissolved:
None
4. Disbanded:
None
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B. January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013
B.1. PASTORS
1. Entered the District:
Heinbuch, James Pastor, Immanuel-Rocky Mountain House, BC to Pastor, MessiahWaterloo, Jan. 9, 2013
Pollex, Paul
Emeritus, LCMS, English District to Emeritus, LCC, East District, Feb.
15, 2013
Stever, Glen
Emeritus, LCC-Central District to Emeritus, LCC-East District, Oct. 18,
2013
2. Changes within the District:
None
3. Candidate or EMERITUS:
Das, Jayanta
Assoc. Pastor, Bethel-Kitchener to Candidate, Aug. 31, 2013
Denninger, Clair
Pastor, Grace (Locksley)-Pembroke to Emeritus, Nov. 30, 2013
4. Transferred to Other Districts:
Wilch, Gerhard
Emeritus to LCC-ABC District, Jan. 16, 2013
Toms, Adrian
Pastor, Holy Trinity-Bradford & Living Faith-Orangeville to Emeritus,
LCC-Central District, Oct. 31, 2013
Falkenholt, Brian Pastor, First-Kingsville to Pastor, Christ-Thunder Bay (Central District),
Oct. 31, 2013
Korcok, Thomas
Assistant Pastor p/t, Trinity-Niagara-on-the-Lake to associate professor,
Concordia University, Chicago, (LCMS-N Illinois), Dec. 18, 2013
5. Deceased:
Kuhl, Howard
Krey, Matthias
Emeritus, deceased April 17, 2013
Pastor, Good Shepherd-Amherstburg, deceased Sept. 7, 2013
6. Removed from Roster:
Litvinov, Artem
Candidate, resigned from roster, Oct. 4, 2013
Hartburg, Mark
Pastor, Historic St. Paul’s-Kitchener resigned from roster, Dec. 18, 2013
B.2. DEACONS
1. Entered the District:
2. Changes within the District:
3. Candidate or EMERITUS:
None
None
None
4. Transferred to Other District:
Roller, Kaitlyn
DPS, Trinity-Fisherville to DPS candidate, LCMS-Pacific SW,
July 13, 2013
5. Deceased:
6. Removed from Roster:
None
None
B.3. CONGREGATIONS
1. Entered the District:
None
2. Multi-Parish Transformations - Created: None
3. Multi-Parish Transformations - Dissolved:
Holy Trinity-Bradford & Living Faith-Orangeville, Oct 1, 2013
4. Disbanded:
None
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C. January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014
C.1. PASTORS
1. Entered the District:
Jackson, David
Pastor, St. Paul’s-Bevehamwood, UK to Chaplain, CFB Halifax, NS,
March 9, 2014
Choi, Seungwoo
Graduate, CLTS-St. Catharines to Pastor, Holy Trinity-Bradford &
Korean-Toronto, July 6, 2014
Tillinger, Dusan
Pastor, Christ-Aurora, LCMS-English District to First-Kingsville, LCCEast District, Nov. 11, 2014
2. Changes within the District:
Gajdos, Larry
Mission Exec, LCC-East District to Pastor, Historic St. Paul’s-Kitchener,
March 24, 2014
Williams, Paul
Candidate, St. Andrews-Halifax to Pastor, Grace (Locksley)-Pembroke,
July 13, 2014
Clifford, Robert
Pastor. Dual Parish Grace-Kincardine & Southampton to Pastor, TriParish (Grace, Kincardine; Southampton; & First St. Matthew’s, Hanover)
October 19, 2014
3. Candidate or EMERITUS:
Krestick, Robert
Pastor, Redeemer-Waterloo to Emeritus, Sept. 1, 2014
Graham, Melville Pastor, Clarington-Bowmanville to Emeritus, Oct. 19, 2014
Hambrock, Walter Pastor, Bethel-Kitchener to Emeritus, Dec. 1, 2014
Taul, Andres
Pastor, St. Peter Estonian-Toronto to Emeritus, Sept. 31, 2014
Betsch, Eric
Pastor, Christ Our Saviour-Grimsby & Redeemer-Hamilton to Candidate,
Nov. 14, 2014
4. Transferred to Other Districts:
Stever, Glenn
Emeritus, LCC-East to Emeritus, LCC-Central, May 29, 2014
Kim, Min
Candidate LCC-East to Chaplain, CFB Edmonton, Aug 1, 2014
5. Deceased:
Rubach, Aaron
Emeritus, deceased Nov. 4, 2014
6. Removed from Roster: None
C.2. DEACONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Entered the District:
None
Changes within the District: None
Candidate or EMERITUS:
None
Transferred to Other District:
Shack, Jennifer
DPS Candidate to DPS Candidate, LCC-ABC District, Sept. 1, 2014
5. Deceased:
None
6. Removed from Roster:
None
C.3. CONGREGATIONS
1. Entered the District:
None
2. Multi-Parish Transformations - Created:
Holy Trinity-Bradford & Korean-Toronto, June 23, 2014
1st St. Matthew-Hanover & Grace-Kincardine & Southampton, Sept. 29, 2014
3. Multi-Parish Transformations - Dissolved:
4. Disbanded:
None
None
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D. January 1, 2015 to March 31, 2015
D.1. PASTORS
1. Entered the District:
Barr, Dan
Pastor, Immanuel, Tomahawk, AB to Pastor, Zion-Augsburg/St. LukeEganville, April 26, 2015
2. Changes within the District:
Mohr, Ron
Pastor, Peace-Tillsonburg to Mission Exec, LCC-East District,
Jan. 4, 2015
Kuhl, Joel
Pastor, Christ-Timmins to Pastor, Redeemer, Waterloo, April 19, 2015
3. Candidate or EMERITUS:
Geick, Wayne
Pastor, St. Luke-Eganville & Zion-Augsburg to Emeritus, Jan. 11, 2015
4. Transferred to Other Districts: None
5. Deceased:
Patzer, Harold
Emeritus, deceased Feb. 9, 2015
6. Removed from Roster:
None
D.2. DEACONS
1. Entered the District:
None
2. Changes within the District: None
3. Candidate or EMERITUS:
None
4. Transferred to Other District: None
5. Deceased:
None
6. Removed From Roster:
None
D.3. CONGREGATIONS
1. Entered the District:
None
2. Multi-Parish Transformations - Created:
None
3. Multi-Parish Transformations - Dissolved:
None
4. Disbanded:
None
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Report of LCC East District Circuit Counsellors
In the East District, each of the nine circuits has a circuit counsellor (CC). He is a pastor elected in the
year of the convention to assist the district in fostering communication and cooperation between the
congregations of his circuit and the district office and, more specifically, the district president (DP). The
nine circuit counsellors meet together with the DP and the vice presidents approximately twice a year to
share information on what is happening in the district and to deal with issues pertinent to the circuit
counsellors. Reports from the DP and, as deemed necessary, the district support staff are received and
business pertaining to the wellbeing of our congregations (individually and collectively) is discussed.
This last triennium the counsellors met six times. This report highlights some items and concerns.
Visitation scheduling
During each 3-year term a CC is expected to visit each congregation in his circuit once. (The district
supplies resources to the CC’s own congregation to enable him to be away on those Sundays.) These
visits are focused on the wellbeing of the congregation and of the local pastor. The CC, as a representative
of the district (particularly of the DP), seeks to listen and observe, and to build relationships. The CCs are
busy pastors in their own congregations, so the cooperation of circuit congregations to facilitate
scheduling these visits is appreciated.
Challenges due to diminished resources
A recurring theme is anxiety about our diminishing congregations and district. People, dollars, and other
resources are fewer than in the past. In the midst of this reality, we thank the Lord that our pastors and
people continue striving to be faithful and seeking to prosper the work of the Gospel. Practically
speaking, the effects of these societal changes are felt at all levels of our church body: congregations,
district, and synod. Related challenges present themselves on our CC agenda with regularity.
One challenge has been responding to congregations desiring the services of a pastor while
experiencing fewer resources. Pastors want to step in and serve but understandably are concerned about
receiving adequate compensation to meet their and their families’ needs.
The increasing phenomenon of pastors not serving full-time ministry, and their proper welfare and call,
is a challenge our church body must address. One response from the CCs was to request the synod’s
board of directors to examine the issue of pastors facing transitions into part-time service or secular work.
Prayer, creativity and a commitment to work together in Christian unity are essential to finding solutions
or helping one another when solutions are not forthcoming. These are part of the synod’s purpose.
Putting our heads together (circuit forums)
As CCs we are familiar with the difficulty of booking circuit forums and having these events be fruitful
and well attended. Prior to the 2014 synodical convention’s vote to reduce the required frequency of
forums, the CCs did acknowledge the difficulty. However, we appreciate the importance of our people
getting together to learn, share ideas, and build collegiality, etc. We do need to learn how to have these
gatherings happen in a meaningful way.
Diligence regarding abuse prevention policies
Universal and sufficient provision for satisfying insurance companies in the area of sexual abuse
prevention is also a recurring item. Congregations are encouraged to be diligent in perfecting a functional
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policy that communicates to both congregational members and the community that we care about
protecting individuals in a Christian manner. Churches need to exercise due diligence and the district
wants assurances that congregations are doing so in order to minimize legal exposure by congregations
and the district.
What is your circuit counsellor?
Your circuit counsellor assists the DP and also provides a personal link for your congregation to the
district and synod.
According to the district handbook, “The Circuit Counsellor (Visitor) is the principal officer of the
circuit and is an assistant to the President in respect of spiritual concerns of pastors, deacons, professional
church workers and congregations within his Circuit.” (LCC East District 2014 Handbook 1.34.a)
Also, “As the principal officer of the Circuit, he shall: 1) foster the spirit of unity, fellowship, and cooperation among member congregations; 2) ensure that Circuit meetings are held, as specified by LCC
and District Bylaws; 3) ensure that delegates are properly elected to synodical conventions; 4) provide
liaison between the Circuit and the District and the Synod; 5) ensure that nominations for District
Departments are completed.” (LCC East District 2014 Handbook 1.34.b)
Overall, “The circuit counsellor shall keep in mind the glory and responsibility of the universal
priesthood of all believers as it applies to the congregations. He shall remind them that they are ‘a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people to show forth the praises of Him who
called them out of darkness into His marvelous light.’” (1 Peter 2:9) (LCC 2011 Handbook 4.17.a)
As circuit counsellors of the LCC East District we are here to serve.
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
(1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV)
Respectfully Submitted
Rev. Kevin C. Walrath, Counsellor for the Hamilton Circuit
E13
REPORT 2
East District Board of Directors
Board of Directors 2012-2015
The Board of Directors, for most of this triennium, consisted of:
• President, Rev. Paul Zabel
• 1st Vice President, Rev. Timothy Teuscher
• 2nd Vice President, Rev. Ron Mohr, chairman
• Secretary, Mrs. Lois Griffin
• Director, Rev. Marvin Bublitz
• Director, Mr. Jim Lang
• Director, Mrs. Doris Milette
• Director, Mr. Kent Schappert
• Director, Mr. Reg Tiegs
In this triennium 2012-2015, the Board of Directors for LCC East District has sought to fulfill the
district’s mission statement, that by God’s grace, we would support and encourage our congregations and
church workers as they carry out our Lord’s command to make disciples of all nations. We have held
before us in all our efforts, the goal that we would be a district of vibrant and growing congregations who
are purposefully and joyfully reaching all with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
At our first meeting in 2012 Rev. Ron Mohr was elected as chairman. When he took a call to serve as
The East District Mission Executive, Mr. Reg Tiegs was elected to serve as chairman in his place.
Because this change took place so near the end of the triennium it was decided to leave the position of 2nd
vice president vacant until the district convention in May.
In the previous triennium a great effort was made to focus on strategic planning. This resulted in a very
clear and well thought out strategic plan which has continued to give structure and guidance to the
board’s discussions and decisions throughout this triennium. However, what quickly became apparent to
this board was that greater attention needed to be paid to the management and oversight of the work we
do together in God’s Kingdom.
At the 2012 convention the issues of confidentiality and transparency were raised. In response the board
of directors developed detailed policies dealing with these topics. The board also made it a policy to post
on the district website summaries of each board meeting, full detailed annual budgets, and the policy and
procedure manuals of the board, the departments, and committees as they are completed and approved.
The Governance Committee, as a subcommittee of the BOD, has continued to work on the Policy and
Procedure Manual for the Board and to encourage each department to do the same. All of this has been
done in the desire to be more transparent in all the board’s activities and in order to foster by example
better communication among all the members and entities of the district. This improved communication
was also due in part to the hard work of the district communications committee. This committee was
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blessed by more members, each one bringing just the right mix of talents and abilities to serve the current
needs of our churches.
In order to communicate clearly to the new directors and officers of the district the fiduciary and legal
responsibilities that come with these positions, a statement has been developed by the board which will be
given to each newly elected director and officer of the district. This statement follows this report in the
workbook and will also be posted in the Policy and Procedures Manual in print and on the district
website.
During this triennium, perhaps more than in the past, we have been brought face to face with significant
demographic, economic, and cultural changes that are having a direct and dramatic impact on our
congregations and on the district as a whole. With this in mind, the board called a general meeting of the
Membership on March 1st, 2014. While this meeting was required to approve articles of continuance and
new bylaws and regulations for the corporation because of the government’s new not-for-profit
corporations act, we also decided to make this gathering an opportunity for the members of the district to
speak to these changes that are affecting many of us right now and will certainly affect all of us in the nottoo-distant future. The speaker’s presentations and all of the comments from individuals and small groups
were posted on the district’s website. These were grouped together under four topics: unity, worship,
mission, and ministry. These four topics were the basis for papers presented at the Fall Church Workers
Conference and also formed the first half of the most recent Mission and Ministry Presentation made by
members of the board to most of our district congregations.
Our district’s work in the Maritimes has been at the forefront of the board’s activity since the beginning
of 2013. In response to letters from several pastors and laypeople of the district the board established
Maritimes Ministry Task Force whose members were Rev. Al Maleske, Rev. Dr. Roger Winger, Mr.
Mark Higenell, and Mr. Skip Taylor. The board takes this opportunity to publicly express its great
appreciation to these men for their willingness to serve on this task force and for the faithful, hopeful, and
excellent work they accomplished.
The task force's work during 2013-2014 resulted in a thought-provoking and well- reasoned report with
several recommendations. Taking these recommendations into consideration the board wrote up a
position description for an Atlantic Canada Circuit Rider and is engaged in the calling process with the
hope that a pastor will be serving there by Spring 2015. The board encourages all the people of the district
to pray for and support our congregations and mission sites throughout Atlantic Canada as well as all our
mission efforts across the East District.
During the first part of this triennium Rev. Larry Gajdos served as our District Mission Executive. His
service in this position was a great blessing as he eased the burden on President Zabel and enhanced the
work of our district among both established congregations and mission sites. When he accepted the call to
serve as pastor of Historic St. Paul’s, Kitchener, he left a large hole to fill. The board expresses its thanks
to Pastor Gajdos for his faithful service and asks the people of the district to pray for him in his serving
the people of Historic St. Paul’s and for Pastor Mohr as he seeks to fill the big shoes of Pastor Gajdos and
the others who have held this position before him.
The well-being of the District President and the staff of the district office is a high priority for the
Board. Annual performance reviews were conducted for all staff members to ensure that they have the
opportunity to voice any concerns, that they are being compensated appropriately, that they and their
E15
work are valued, and that the work is being done to everyone’s satisfaction. This was overseen by the
board’s Personnel Committee.
The board has taken very seriously the task of overseeing the work of the departments of the district –
Outreach, Parish Services, and Finance. We have sought to maintain a full complement of members for
each department, appointing a representative from each circuit as well as a member of the board to serve
as a liaison between the board and each department. As well, the board has overseen the development
of the district’s work program, the budget, for each year of this term, reviewing each
department’s portion and making recommendations before approval.
These are difficult social and economic times, as evidenced by the recent difficulties faced by the ABC
District and its CEF. But even so, Our Lord has given His people in this district the confidence to be
generous stewards of His gifts. The conservative investment policies and the focus on the church’s
outreach mission of our own CEF have allowed the investors in our district to continue their support.
Many congregations have maintained or increased their level of mission giving. God is continually
blessing the people of this district in so many ways.
So, how are we doing with the goal of being a district of vibrant and growing congregations who
are purposefully and joyfully reaching all with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? We must admit that this is one
of those “now and not yet” situations. We give thanks to God for the joyful spirit that is evident in the
worship life of congregations across our district, and for the faithful pastors that, even in these
increasingly stressful times, continue to proclaim God’s Word and administer His Sacraments. This is
what we are now by God’s grace. And we must come to Him who answers prayer (our synodical theme
for this triennium) that He would make the words of our mouths, the thoughts of our hearts, the direction
of our feet and the service of our hands bear witness to His love, forgiveness, and salvation in Christ
Jesus.
Respectfully submitted by,
Rev. Ron Mohr, East District Board of Directors, Chairman 2012-2014
Mr. Reg Tiegs, East District Board of Directors, Chairman 2015
Addendum to the Board of Directors Report
The Properties Committee of the Board of Directors has been researching what course of action should
be taken in regard to the District Office at 275 Lawrence Avenue in Kitchener.
Our District will have to replace the roof of the building in the immediate future as well as comply with
legislation from The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (OADA). The Board of Directors is
collecting information on the following options:
1. The cost of renovating the existing premises of the District Office.
2. The cost of leasing office space in the Kitchener waterloo area.
3. The possibility of sharing space with a congregation in the KW area.
4. The cost of moving and operation of moving to CLTS in St. Catharines
5. Other potential options
Please keep the members of the Board of Directors in your prayers as they consider what options are the
most prudent and efficient.
E16
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The duties and responsibilities of you who serve on the Board of Directors and as Officers of the East
District of Lutheran Church-Canada are outlined in the East District Handbook (paragraphs 28-30 and 4045 of Bylaw 2014 and sections III and IV of Regulations 2014). It is your duty to be familiar with these
duties and responsibilities.
As Lutheran Christians, you also have a responsibility to carry out those duties and responsibilities in a
God-pleasing way. Forefront in your actions as representatives of the East District and in the decisions
you take should be the desire to minister to people with care, to encourage the members of our
congregations to be nurtured in their faith through God’s Word and the Sacraments, and to join in the
sustaining of one another and of others through the “mutual conversation and consolation of the
brethren.” (Martin Luther). Our gracious God gives to each of us as individuals various gifts to meet
diverse needs: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (I Corinthians
12:7). In giving us also an example to follow, on the night in which He was betrayed and prior to going to
die on the cross for our sins, our Lord Jesus girded Himself with towel and took a basin of water to wash
the feet of His disciples, saying to them: “A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another,
even as I have loved you.” (John 13:34).
Keeping the above in mind, you are also enjoined to comply and adhere to the following fiduciary and
legal responsibilities as laid down in civil law:
Boards of Directors exist to oversee all aspects of an organization’s operations with the intention of
maximizing the value of the corporation or its goals. Directors and Officers are required to exercise at
least the level of care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise while acting
honestly in good faith and in the best interests of the corporation. In carrying out these goals Directors
and Officers must legally maintain the ideals of:
Obedience - to the terms of the organization’s Bylaws and Constitution, as well as the
applicable statutes
Loyalty to the best interests of the corporation and its members
Diligence - to act with the care that a reasonable and prudent person in similar circumstances
would exercise when in a similar situation.
In addition, the Business Judgement Rule requires that Directors and Officers act on an informed basis,
in good faith and in the best interests of the organization. The breach, or alleged breach, of any of these
principles, if it leads to financial loss for any of the stakeholders, could be grounds for an action for
damages. Liability can rest with an individual board member, or the entire board, as a consequence of a
Director’s action or inaction.
Directors of charitable corporations are subject to a fiduciary duty to act as a quasi-trustee of the
charitable assets of the corporation. This fiduciary duty is an obligation to act honestly, in good faith and
in the best interests of the corporation which precludes the director from acting in a self-serving manner.
They must avoid and declare any conflicts of interest, or anything that would give a director the
appearance of a personal benefit.
E17
Exercising due diligence includes, but is not limited to, attending board meetings, supervising
operations, monitoring compliance with corporate objects, and ensuring board resolutions are adopted by
informed decisions of the directors.
Federal and Provincial statutes impose specific offenses and penalties for acts and omissions committed
by directors and de facto directors of corporations. Directors and Officers are required to comply with the
Canada
Not-For-Profit Corporations Act and its regulations.
While holiness of life and obedience to Christ are expected of Directors and Officers, it is especially
important that you show yourselves, by word and example, to be faithful to Him in service and Christian
devotion. You are expected to carry out your duties, trusting in the Lord, and conforming yourselves to
His Word in accordance with the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
(February 2015)
E18
Report of 2012 Convention Resolutions
Adopted Resolutions — 2012 East District Convention:
Committee # 1: Outreach & Parish Services
Yr
Com # 2012 Resolutions
Action Taken
12
1
01 To Decline Overture 12-1-01 ‘To Encourage No action Required
all Lutheran Church-Canada Youth
Ministries to Work with the Synodical and
District Structure’ (Overture 12-1-01)
12
1
02 To Facilitate Instruction in God's Word to Ongoing
the Next Generation (Overture 12-1-02)
12
1
03 To Encourage the Use of Memorization in Workshop Held at EvangelFest (May 3, 2014)
Christian Education (Overture 12-1-03)
Subsequent Helps Being Offered to East
District through the Department for Parish
Services
12
1
04 To Promote a Lutheran Identity in Youth
Ministry throughout the East District
Ongoing
Committee # 2: Administration & Structure
Yr
Com # 2012 Resolutions
Action Taken
12
2
01 To Amend the East District Handbook
(Overture 12-2-01)
2014 Handbook is latest iteration. Available
from the district office or online at
www.lcceast.ca.
12
2
02 To Decline Overture 12-2-02
(Overture 12-2-02)
No action required
12
2
03 To Decline Overture 12-2-03
(Overture 12-2-03)
No action required
12
2
04 To Provide Regular Reporting from Our
Seminaries (Overture 12-2-04)
Regular Updates Being Received by LCC
Memorandum of Understanding Committee
(MOU) and Reporting by Seminary Board
of Regents through LCC
12
2
05 To Clarify “Recognized Mission Congregation” East District Board of Directors Sought
Clarification from LCC Counsel of
Status (Overture 12-2-05)
Presidents and Department for Outreach
Updating Policy Manual
E19
12
2
06a To Implement LC-C Resolution 11.03.08a,
“To approve appropriate technologies for
conducting the business of Synod and its
Districts”
(Overtures 12-2-06, 12-2-08, 12-2-11)
Policy Developed by East District Board of
Directors and Governance Committee for
East District Policy & Procedures Manual
12
2
07a To Adopt a Policy of Transparency for
District Boards and Entities
(Overtures 12-2-07, 12-2-09, 12-2-10)
Policy Established by East District
Handbook Committee and East District
Governance Committee
12
2
08 To Establish an East District Church
Worker Student Loan Program
(Overture 12-2-12)
Established and operated by the Department
for Finance.
Committee # 3: Finance
Yr
Com # 2012 Resolutions
Action Taken
12
3
01 To Investigate the Possibility of offering Representative of East District Circuit
the Doxology program for Pastors in the Counsellors attended and participated in
Doxology Program in LCMS in 2013-2014.
East District (Overture 12-3-01)
Doxology Program to be presented at East
District Fall 2016 Pastors’ & Deacons’
Conference.
12
3
02 To Remind our Congregations and
Pastors of the importance of Using
Doctrinally Pure Materials
(Overture 12-3-02)
12
3
03 To Decline Overture 12-3-03 (To
No action required
Encourage Orderly Participation of
Pastor and People Together in Ministry.)
12
3
04b To Expand the Eligibility of Emeriti
Pastors for Service in Synodical Boards
and Commissions (Overture 12-3-04)
12
3
05 To Encourage all Members of the District Addressed at East District Circuit Counsellors’
Meetings and Pastors’ & Deacons’
to Work Through our Established
Structures to Raise Concerns within our Conferences.
Midst (Overture 12-3-05)
12
3
06 To Promote Unity in the East District
(Overture 12-3-06)
Ongoing
Overture prepared and sent by East District
Board of Directors to the 2012 LCC
Convention. Resolution defeated at 2014 LCC
Convention.
Addressed at East District Mission & Ministry
Conference (March 1, 2014) and Pastors’ &
Deacons’ Conferences
E20
REPORT 3
Report of the Mission Executive
What a privilege it is to serve God’s people as a called and ordained servant of the Word. It is a special
privilege to serve, you , the people of the East District, overseeing the mission work we currently have
going, exploring new opportunities as God opens doors for us to move into, and encouraging all God’s
people across our district to be joyfully reaching out to all with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Although officially working under the title Mission Executive, I hope the people of our district will
come to see me as the Mission Encourager. In this position I hope to encourage all the people of the
district to have a stronger mission-focused mindset — that the mission our Lord has given His church is a
calling, a vocation, for every member of the body of Christ, not just for professional church workers or
those on the evangelism team. Each of us is called to be a witness to what our Lord Jesus is doing in our
lives, a witness to our God who loves the world, a witness to the hope that is in us – the sure and certain
hope of forgiveness, eternal salvation, the resurrection to eternal life, and so much more, all through Jesus
life, death, and resurrection, what He has done for us.
To that end, I intend to visit as many district congregations as possible in the coming months, doing one
or more of the following:
*worship with that church family on a Sunday morning
*preach when invited
*speak briefly (2-3 minutes) about the encouragement that our Lord gives us in living out
our Christian vocations daily and thus being witnesses to what our Lord Jesus has done
for us on the cross and is working in us now, in our everyday lives.
*give a brief Mission and Ministry presentation to encourage prayer for, participation in,
and financial support of the mission work we are engaged in together as Lutheran
Church–Canada, East District.
As I write this report I have been in this position less than a month. I am beginning to see the steep
learning curve involved in familiarizing myself with all the different aspects of our district’s mission
work. My intent is to visit either in person or at least electronically all the mission sites across our district
in the months leading up to the 2015 district convention in order to understand better their current
situation, to hear from them their hopes for the future and what they need to have those hopes come to
fruition, as God wills.
There is such great variety in our mission work, cross-cultural missions, work in remote locations,
preaching stations, mother-daughter congregations, congregations in transition, congregations in need of
assistance and congregations fearful of what they see coming on the horizon if current trends continue.
The following are some of my observations as I talk with people in our various mission sites.
There is renewed hope and encouragement among the people involved in our work in the Maritimes,
especially as we move forward with the position of the Maritimes Circuit Rider. There are exciting things
happening in our cross-cultural work in Toronto, Windsor, and Hamilton, particularly in the use of audio
and video media and in the development of various social ministry outreach programs. Our Francophone
ministry continues to expand in several areas of Quebec under the able administration of Pastor Somers.
E21
Work in Hispanic communities is growing mostly informally, in several congregations. Our assisted
congregations have faithful pastors who care for their members through Word and Sacrament ministry,
and who pray for them and with them, and who minister to their needs in every stage of life. But many of
these congregations battle against a survival mentality, an apathy or hopelessness that despairs of a future
for their struggling church. And worse yet, they feel alone in their struggles.
That should never be, since we are the body of Christ and each of us are individually members of that
body. In Romans 12, St. Paul calls us to “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”
(v12). He goes on to call us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (v15). None
of us should ever feel alone in our struggles or our joys. We are called to be together in mission, “one in
spirit, one in purpose” (to quote the title of a hymn written by Jane Appelt).
One of things I see inherent in my new position is to work at bringing congregations back to trusting the
power of God and His Word to encourage them to continue in the joy-filled, hope-filled mission that our
Lord has given His church. He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. (II
Tim 1:7) There is every reason to hope in the Lord! There is every reason to be overflowing with the joy
of Christ’s salvation purchased for us on the cross. Yes, things are changing. There may well be a new
look to our district in the near future as many things are changing (rapidly) in our society, culture, and
economy. But our Lord promises that He will be with us. Our Lord promises never to forsake us.
Our LCC auxiliaries have a wealth of resources available to help us do all the things spoken of above. I
have been in communication with Stephen Klinck of LLL Canada hoping to find ways to encourage our
congregations to make more and better use of the many outreach resources available through LHM,
especially ROCs, Men’s Network, outreach webinars, and the like.
I also made a presentation to the Ontario District LWMLC, seeking to promote ways the Ontario District
LWMLC and the East District can be cooperating more fully, communicating better, responding to needs
of our existing mission sites and to unexpected mission opportunities in timely ways, and developing
ways the women in our East District mission congregations can be more integrated into the work, the
fellowship, the building up in faith that the LWMLC provides so well. The same holds true for the
LWMLC Laurentian District. I look forward to making the same kind of presentation to their executive
board as well, encouraging the same cooperative efforts as mission opportunities arise.
Likewise, I look forward to working with all of our LSOs in order to foster an atmosphere of
cooperation in the mission efforts of our district and to support each other in these days of limited
resources and the increasing secularization of the society in which we are all seeking to proclaim Jesus
Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Our Lord has given us, His people, such great blessings. We have the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. We have the BIG THREE that
are abiding gifts - faith, hope, and love. We have the means by which our Lord bestows on us His grace –
Word and Sacraments.
With all these gifts and more, our hearts, our voices, our very lives are meant to overflow with joy.
Jesus said, “ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be
full.” (John 15:11)
E22
With all these gifts there is every reason to be filled with hope. St. Paul asks God’s blessings on the
first century Roman Christians and on us today saying May the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Ron Mohr, Mission Executive
E23
REPORT 4
Report of the Business Manager
District Finances
Our audit for this past fiscal year, 2014/15, was just completed prior to the preparation of this work
book. As you will note in the enclosed audited financial statements, our East District is reporting an
increase in its “fund balance.” If it were not for a gift received in the year, our “District’s” unrestricted
balance would have ended in a $63,670 deficit. Thanks be to God for the gifts he has extended to our
District through the generosity of its members. The District continues to balance the resources it receives
with the projected work, opportunities and future challenges. We rely very heavily on the gifts and
support it receives from our member congregations. Here at the District office, we continue to assess the
tasks we perform and look for cost effective ways to fulfill these tasks with limited resources. As we
proceed with our District work program over the next few years, we will continue to be mindful of those
resources as we apply them to the work we do together.
CEF
Our Depositors continue to support our Church Extension Fund with deposits increasing this past fiscal
year by $2,365,814. We thank all of our depositors who continue to entrust some of their capital and for
their support in our “Funding for the Future.” Once again the level of investment in our CEF has risen
from $18.952 million to $26.297 an increase of $7.345 million dollars since our 2012 convention. We
believe that this is a result of the recognition of the favourable interest rates that the CEF has been able to
offer its depositors and also the understanding of the importance these deposits have assisting both
established & mission congregations. Our CEF continues to offer a fair return on deposits but also the
assurance that those deposits are contributing to the advancement the Great Commission here in our
District. A summary of the current deposits are as follows:
Church Extension Fund
Summary of Investment Accounts
Type of
Interest
Deposit
Rate
Savings Stamps
2.0%
Savings Account
2.0%
Note - 1yr
3.0%
Note - 3yr
3.5%
Note - 5yr
4.0%
Total Investments
No. of
Deposits
1,119
1,960
222
1,052
4,353
Invested
Capital
46,121
2,733,481
5,527,060
3,623,705
14,367,007
$26,297,374
Average
Deposit
2,442
2,820
16,323
13,657
$6,041
Since our last convention in 2012, not only have we seen an increase in CEF deposits in terms of overall
dollars but also a shift from short-term to long-term deposits. We believe that this reflects the confidence
level of security our members have in our CEF by increasing their commitment to their term deposits.
Loan & Mortgages
One of the primary reasons we have a CEF is to offer low cost loans to our member congregations. We
have seen a marked decline in the amount of capital being requested by our congregations and in fact
since our last convention in 2012 our loans have reduced by $2.8 Million. However, for those
congregations with a loan, nearly all of them qualified for the CEF’s incentive rebate which reduced their
loan interest—most down to 3.0%. These loans demonstrate our commitment to furthering God’s
message in our District through the support of funds provided by our CEF and its valued depositors. This
E24
also demonstrates the importance of our CEF by providing low cost financing for these mission minded
efforts.
Assisted Congregations
With the help of Mission & Ministry contributions from District congregations, we continue to support
21 congregations, missions, preaching stations and missionaries at large, who continue to spread the
gospel in their territories. This coming year (2015/16) our District has budgeted $631,115 or 41.6% of its
budget, to maintain and grow our presence in these communities. In addition to the funding of these
initiates by congregational Mission and Ministry contributions, additional sources of financial support has
been provided by several of our Lutheran Church–Canada, service organizations. Without this team
approach, our level of assistance would be considerably less. There has also been a change in the CEF’s
surplus distribution policy whereby when there is available surplus, the DFO will receive a portion for
their ongoing work. We continue to pray that this ministry will continue to prosper and reach those yet
unchurched.
Technology
After many years of struggling with an outdated financial system which tracked both CEF depositor’s
investments and the District’s accounting system, we have recently migrated the two systems to an
Access dBase and Simply Accounting. This change provides a much more stable environment for the data
and also enables ease of maintenance of both systems going forward into the future.
For some time now we have also been utilizing web conferencing for those members of Departments or
Committees who live at a distance. This enables them to attend meetings and eliminate the time taken
away from their families and reduce the cost of travelling to the District office. While there are certainly
times in which a physical presences is necessary, this technology helps reduce the cost and complications
that weather can have, particularly this past winter in which we experienced record snow falls. The travel
savings alone have paid for the hardware and software cost several times over.
You may have also noticed that the District no longer has a fax number. With the increase in
communications via email and website, we have eliminated this number from our system. Scanning
documents and sending them via email is much faster and provides the end usurer to view them on their
computer eliminating the need to print—saving paper. This also allows the end usurer to forward the
documents to others or allow them to incorporate them in their electronic files. Our Board of Directors
have taken a lead role in this capability by compiling their meeting dockets electronically reducing the
need for a printed copy at their meetings.
This convention, we have been utilizing online registration. This saves time and the cost of mailing
forms. We have seen a marked increase in the use of this service for registration. We will continue to take
advantage of these technologies and others, where it warrants and is cost effective.
Volunteering
Volunteering continues to be an important service to our District office; our congregations and our CEF
owned assets. Volunteerism does not just save on expenses but more importantly brings people together
lending each other a helping hand. Often times it is our time and talents that are overlooked and we
sincerely appreciate all those who contribute those treasures so willingly. We continue to encourage our
Christian family to consider volunteering at the District office or their home congregations.
E25
I continue look forward to working with all of the congregations in the District and welcome your
comments or concerns. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience or if in the neighbourhood, stop
by the office the coffee is always on.
In His Service,
Darryll Holland
Business Manager
Properties
With the advent of Provincial Legislation requiring “access” to public buildings, our District is fielding
cost quotations to make our building comply with code. This requires, but not limited to, providing
wheelchair accessibility. The roof on our building should be replaced in the coming years. There are a
number of ongoing annual maintenance tasks due to normal wear and tear on the facility which are being
addressed by our team of volunteers. This committee is always looking for additional volunteers who
would be willing and able to lend a hand when they can. We maintain a “to-do-list” of general minor
maintenance issues with a variety like electrical, plumbing, painting, landscaping etc. If you enjoy
working with your hands, have a few hours to spare during the year, and would be interested in
participating on the properties committee, please feel to contact the office 800-465-8179 ext 214.
“Bless all his skills, O Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands.” Deuteronomy 33:11
E26
LUTHERAN CHURCH–CANADA
E27
REPORT 5
Report of Lutheran Church–Canada
“Come to Him Who Answers Prayer” (Psalm 65:2)
Treasured brothers and sisters,
For decades we’ve had the habit of assigning “themes” for church conventions, whether they were
national (Synod) or regional (District). Sometimes I wondered whether those themes, carefully cooked up
by leaders like me, were remembered a month after a given convention was over. We’ve designed logos
and banners to go with them, printed the themes on workbooks and handbooks and other
communications. And yet: Who remembers the theme of the 1993 LCC Convention, for example? Or of
the District conventions of 1997 or 2003?
I am quite sure that the Synod theme for this 2014-2017 triennium, first launched at our national
Convention last year in Vancouver, may have already faded from many people’s memories. That theme,
Come to Him Who Answers Prayer, is rooted in Psalm 65:2. King David sings there, “O You who hear
prayer, to You all men will come.” As I write these lines, we’ve all got good reason to take up the
Synod’s theme from last year, and not just because it would help the Synod as a structure. We’ve got
good reason to remember it because it’s the Lord’s wide-open invitation to you and me for this moment.
He knows we need it right now. I write these lines in late winter to prepare for the three District
conventions this spring. There’s sadness in our church family at this moment, due to the insolvency in the
Church Extension Fund (CEF) of the Alberta-British Columbia District. I shall have more to say on this
matter, both later in this written report, and also in person when I come to your conventions in Saskatoon
(Central), Waterloo (East) and Calgary (ABC). In addition to all the details being requested and provided
on this sorrow, I am aware of intense praying going on in many places. You don’t need the logo from a
Synod convention workbook to tell you that’s a good idea. God Himself says it is healthy, needed and
good. Let His invitation be a starting place for the round of conventions coming this spring.
Robert Bugbee, President
Lutheran Church–Canada
I.
Changes within the Leadership
Since the Districts last met in 2012, let me sketch out the arrivals and departures we have experienced in
the leadership of the Synod:
I was asked by the Tenth Convention, meeting in June, 2014, in Vancouver, to continue on for a third
term as Synod President. That term began last September 1. Among the vice-presidents we have again
experienced changes. Pastor Mark Dressler, appointed the Third Vice-President (from the Central
District), accepted a call to Alberta in 2013 and had to resign, since he was moving from one District to
another. In his place I appointed Pastor Rudy Pastucha to fill the Central District spot among the VPs.
Pastor Pastucha served out the remainder of the term. Newly-elected at the Vancouver convention (again
from Central) was Pastor Mark L. Smith. So the present line-up includes: Pastor Nolan D. Astley (from
East) as First VP, Pastor Thomas Kruesel (from Alberta-British Columbia) as Second, and Pastor Mark L.
Smith as Third.
E28
There are additional changes coming in the Council of Presidents (COP). President Donald Schiemann
announced in 2014 his intention to retire as Alberta-British Columbia District president. In view of Pastor
Schiemann’s impending departure, the COP elected President Thomas Prachar of the Central District to
serve as its Chairman. First VP Nolan Astley continues as the COP Secretary.
Other executive and management positions in Synod’s office have remained stable since 2012: Dr.
Leonardo Neitzel still serves faithfully as our Assistant to the President for Mission and Social Ministry
Services, Mathew Block is in his fourth year as Communications Manager, Dwayne Cleave is still serving
both as Synod Treasurer and as the Executive Director of the LCC Worker Benefit Plans (WBP), while
Jim Clark continues as Accounting Manager.
Iris Barta is administrative assistant to the Executive and also does extensive coordinating between the
accounting department and our world mission enterprises, Lil Kozussek moved from WBP to serve as
administrative assistant to Central District President Prachar. In the spring of 2013, the Central District
office moved from its longtime building in Regina and now occupies office space upstairs in our LCC
building. As a result, President Thomas Prachar is here with us, as is David Friesen, the planned giving
counselor from the Central District. Jodie Hyde and Gail Bugbee provide temporary and/or part-time
service, especially to benefit Central; Don Paulus comes in one day a week in his role as Central District
treasurer. Rose Rosyati assists Jim Clark in accounting, and there have been various part-time and
temporary accounting assistants working upstairs in recent years. I also do not want to neglect mentioning
Margaret Klatt, who donates her time two days a week for the national work of the Lutheran Women’s
Missionary League-Canada. Since a number of our colleagues do not work a five-day week, the faces at
our devotions vary; sometimes it’s fewer, sometimes more. I treasure the time with them on workday
mornings at 10 o’clock when we unpack God’s Word and call on Him in our prayers. It is our habit to
remember one of our local churches each day in those prayers, and then to sign a card and send it to them
in the mail to let them know we are naming them before Christ.
I would be remiss if I failed to name two wonderful colleagues who have left our building in recent
times. Cheryll Matthes, who worked most recently in the WBP, concluded 22 years of service and retired
at the end of December, 2014. At the same time, Janice Otto, also very experienced in Worker Benefits,
moved to Ellement & Ellement Consulting of Winnipeg, the firm which took over the administrative
functions of our WBP. We’re glad that Janice, who knows our LCC workers and congregations, is now
Ellement’s primary contact person for our people when they have questions and problems. We miss these
friends deeply, and thank God for everything they were able to do in many years of faithful work.
II. Theological Education
Concordia University College of Alberta (CUCA)
In May, CUCA will officially become registered as “Concordia University of Edmonton,” reflecting its
enhanced status within the higher education system of the province of Alberta. The University
administration is kept busy dealing with funding challenges from the provincial government, and
elsewhere in your Workbook provides an internet link where various reports are available. The alumnioriented one entitled, “Concordia Year in Review” (CYU) may prove to be the most helpful for District
convention delegates.
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Our Seminaries
The picture at our LCC seminaries has brightened considerably since the last District conventions in
2012. Both of them had vacancies in the President’s office at that time; the Lord has since sent them able
and hard-working leaders.
Dr. Thomas Winger was installed as President of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS),
St. Catharines, ON, in September, 2012. Thanks to a very generous gift, the seminary has been able to
retire its previous large debt and to carry out a number of needed repairs on its building, now over 30
years old. We have the prospect of stronger enrollments there in the coming years, and representatives of
the faculty have been leaders in helping our Synod forge relationships and dialogues with the Catholic
Church, as well as with Biblical Anglicans. We note the upcoming retirement of longtime professor, Dr.
William Mundt, and pray God’s blessing on him. Finally, the Synod is glad to note that President
Winger’s volume on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians will soon be published as part of the massive
Concordia Commentary series.
After a lengthy vacancy, Dr. James R. Gimbel was installed as President of Concordia Lutheran
Seminary (CLS), Edmonton, in February, 2014. He had formerly served at Concordia University in St.
Paul, MN. Dr. Gimbel is deeply gifted in educational administration and has been busy strengthening the
seminary’s relationships with our people in the western Districts. CLS bade farewell to Dr. Edward
Kettner, who retired in May, 2014, and is working on identifying a replacement. We were all startled at
the news of a fire in the seminary library last October, but the seminary community rose to the challenge
and has been making the needed adjustments while awaiting repair and renovation in the library.
The “MOU Committee” (Memorandum of Understanding) is a working group involving representatives
of both seminaries and the Synod, under the Chairmanship of First VP Astley. It has continued to identify
areas where the schools can cooperate and pool effort and resources.
III.
Church Relations
There is always a certain measure of overlap between this and the Missions story you find elsewhere in
this Synod report, but I do wish to highlight a number of details:
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)
Since our churches in Canada lived as members of the Missouri Synod from 1854 to 1988, this is not
just another “partner” church, but our “mother” in so many ways. Dr. Matthew Harrison was elected to a
second term as LCMS President in July, 2013, and brought a very spirited greeting in person to our last
LCC Convention in Vancouver last June. Missouri is also working to coordinate world mission planning
with us in a much more intentional way than in the past. We try to “steer clear” of countries where the
other partner is working to avoid duplicating efforts. In Latin America, a “son” of LCC, Pastor Ted Krey,
has become the LCMS’ mission director for that region and has been a huge encouragement to our work,
for example, in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras. In fact, an experienced Missouri Synod missionary
in the Spanish-speaking world, Rev. Edmund Auger, was installed last October as a kind of “mission
coordinator” at our Mission Centre in Chinandega, Nicaragua. Here’s a case where Missouri is providing
salary support for Pastor Auger and his deaconess wife, Cherie, while the work supervision is undertaken
by LCC missions and the self-governing Synod in Nicaragua. Other significant points of mission
coordination have been in eastern Europe and southeast Asia. I continue to thank God for the work of Dr.
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Albert Collver, President Harrison’s assistant for church relations, who is in repeated consultation with us
on many subjects throughout the year.
International Lutheran Council (ILC)
ILC is a global association of 34 confessional Lutheran church bodies united in their common
commitment to Scripture as the inspired Word of God and an unreserved subscription to the Lutheran
confessions. Since our last District conventions, the ILC held its first World Conference in Canada at
Niagara Falls, ON, in September 2012. Our St. Catharines Seminary hosted the opening service for the
gathering, at which Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK,
Germany) was elected to his first full term as ILC Chairman. Dr. Albert Collver of the LCMS works parttime as ILC’s Executive Secretary. In addition, the ILC hosted its regular World Seminary Conference the
following summer (August, 2013) at Palanga, Lithuania, under the theme Suffering and Martyrdom as
Marks of the Church. Because of the theological discord among certain member churches of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF), it is estimated that 15-20 church bodies have recently expressed interest in ILC
membership. Processing this heightened interest is a challenge, since the ILC does not currently have a
significant staffing structure. Several of the applying churches may well be received into membership at
the next World Conference, coming this September in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Among them will likely
be our mission “daughter” church, the Iglesia Luterana—Sínodo de Nicaragua (Lutheran Church—Synod
of Nicaragua, ILSN). The Buenos Aires conference will meet under the theme, Bringing the Reformation
to the World as a way of pointing forward to the 500th Anniversary of Luther’s Reformation in October,
2017.
In addition, ILC representatives (including President Bugbee) were hosted in Rome by the Pontifical
Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity (PCPCU) in November, 2013. The two sides decided on a
three-year series of informal theological dialogues, to meet twice each year beginning in 2014. These
conversations are still in the early stages.
Southeast Asia
As I write these lines, Dr. Neitzel and I are preparing to travel to Thailand and Cambodia at the
beginning of March. I have not visited our partners there for over four years. They are the Thailand
Concordia Lutheran Church (TCLC) with its President, The Rev. Pornprom “Ted” NaThalang; and the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cambodia (ELCC), led by its president, The Rev. Vannarith Chhim.
President Vannarith came to our Vancouver convention last June to bring greetings and for consultations.
For a number of years we have worked closely with the “Luther Institute—Southeast Asia” (LISA), an
agency providing theological education in the region. Now the Cambodians are organizing a theological
training agency which they govern themselves, although they will continue to use LISA personnel and
resources. Our Synod owes a great deal to Dr. Leonard Harms, its former mission executive and
predecessor to Dr. Neitzel, who maintains a small apartment in Bangkok and travels to the region several
times each year to be our “eyes and ears” in these countries.
Theological Education in Haiti
The two conservative Lutheran churches in Haiti did not have formalized partnership agreements with
LCC in the past, but members of LCC congregations had a long history of supporting the “Lutheran
Church of Haiti” (LCH) and its President, The Rev. Revenel Benoît. At this point, our Synod does not
have the capacity to fund and administer mission work in Haiti as a part of its core budget. LCC people,
however, formed the “Haiti Lutheran Mission Society” (HLMS) long ago, and this agency has remained
active in financing numerous efforts of the Haitian church. The LCH has long sought assistance to
provide theological education, since it has many preachers – especially in remote parts of the country –
who need to deepen their understanding of the Scriptures, our Lutheran Confessions, and their ability to
preach and lead congregations. First Vice-President Astley visited Haiti on my behalf in 2014; later in the
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year, an agreement was signed by which LCC pastors will travel to Haiti to teach, the effort being
financed by the HLMS. This project was seen as especially urgent, because an earlier proposal to
coordinate theological training among four parties (LCH, LCC, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti,
and the Missouri Synod) did not materialize. The first course in this program is scheduled to begin in May
of this year.
Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches of Ukraine (SELCU)
SELCU, its pastors and people, need your prayers very badly. The political and military unrest in
Ukraine has made the news repeatedly since 2013. Our Concordia Seminary in Usatovo, a northwest
suburb of Odessa, had taken a year’s “pause” in 2013-14 to encourage SELCU congregations to recruit
new students for the next session of theological training. Because the military threat had briefly touched
the Odessa area in the spring of 2014, their Synod decided to postpone re-opening of the seminary for yet
another year. I attended the last SELCU Synod convention in November, 2014, with the seminary’s
Rector (President), Dr. Norman Threinen, at which the Synod resolved to re-open the seminary in
September, 2015. Dr. Threinen has since indicated that he needs to retire from the seminary leadership
after 16+ years on the job, and we are actively working toward identifying a successor from Canada to
pick up where he is leaving off. The last SELCU convention also noted the wish of longtime Bishop
Viktor Gräfenstein to retire from the leadership, and elected The Rev. Aleksandr Yurchenko to replace
him. Pastor Oleg Schewtschenko, known to so many of our LCC people, was chosen as a Synod VicePresident because of his ability in foreign languages and his relationships abroad.
The SELCU has sent a gifted young pastor, The Rev. Alexey Navrotskiy, for two academic years of
study at our Edmonton Seminary. He moved to Edmonton last August with his wife, Viktoria, and their
two children. Pastor Navrotskiy’s sojourn in Canada is part of our effort to help the SELCU identify and
train able leaders for its future.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) / Lutheran Council in Canada (LCIC)
Although I have occasional contacts with Bishop Susan Johnson of the ELCIC, there are no regularly
structured bilateral meetings between Canada’s two major Lutheran church groups. The cordial contacts
we do have come under the auspices of the Lutheran Council in Canada, which meets annually and has
responsibility for certain limited areas of cooperation. These include certifying and supervising Lutheran
chaplains with the Canadian Forces; arranging for Lutheran representation on the “Interfaith Committee
on Chaplaincy in the Correctional Service of Canada,” which supervises spiritual support in the federal
prison system; and Lutheran awards and religious education efforts within Scouts Canada. LCC notes
especially the longtime commitment of one of our pastors, Dr. Garry Dombrosky of Edmonton, who now
is the Chairman of the interfaith prison chaplaincy group.
The most recent LCIC has wondered whether the two member churches, ELCIC and LCC, could
identify any joint events to mark the 500th Anniversary of Luther’s Reformation in 2017. As of this
writing, no concrete plans have been made.
Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) / Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC)
LCC was invited a few years ago to participate in the twice-a-year dialogues involving the ACNA and
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Dr. John Stephenson of the St. Catharines Seminary has risen to
take a very prominent role in these talks, and as our Synod’s representative. The “Anglican Network in
Canada” is the special interest group within the ACNA which promotes the welfare of Biblical Anglican
congregations in our country. Their former bishop, The Right Rev. Donald Harvey of St. John’s, NL,
came to Winnipeg for a day of consultations in 2012; he has since retired and been succeeded by The
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Right Rev. Charlie Masters. The ACNA/LCMS/LCC dialogue came to Canada for the first time in
October, 2014, hosting its regular meeting and a theological symposium at Concordia Seminary, St.
Catharines, on the subject of Militant Secularism. Although there are surely serious issues between
Biblical Anglicans and confessional Lutherans that need attention and discussion, the commitment of
these Anglican people and their leaders to the Gospel of Christ and a life marked by faithfulness to the
Scriptures is a great encouragement.
North American Lutheran Church (NALC)
We have remained active in the twice-a-year discussions among the NALC, Missouri Synod, and LCC.
The NALC has welcomed President Bugbee, as well as Vice-Presidents Astley and Pastucha, at their
annual conventions; the discussions were hosted in Canada for the first time in June, 2014, at our office in
Winnipeg. In Canada we maintain a cordial relationship to the NALC, provide worker benefit coverage
for their church workers who request it, and appreciate the invitations to the “Rocky Mountain
Theological Conference” each spring in Alberta, attended by a number of LCC pastors. We did feel some
disappointment that closer ties could not be forged between the NALC and our LCC seminaries, which
had submitted a proposal to the NALC for their consideration. The NALC has since established the new
“North American Lutheran Seminary” at Ambridge, PA, although NALC students also enroll at various
agreed-upon institutions throughout North America.
IV. National Pastors’ and Deacons’ Conference, 2013
In the triennium since the last round of District conventions, Lutheran Church–Canada was able to
convene a National Pastors’ and Deacons’ Conference, which took place October 28-31, 2013, at the
Coast Hotel and Conference Centre in Calgary. This was only the third time all our church workers across
the country were able to gather. The first such conference happened in 1987, just a year before our
founding Convention, and the second came in 2005. We are deeply grateful for the special gifts which
enabled this Conference to take place, and although our pastors and deacons treasure the opportunity to
have this “family time” together, we understand that the costs make it difficult to do very often in a vast
land like Canada. Our guest presenter was Dr. Jobst Schöne of Berlin, the Bishop Emeritus of the
Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, our partner church in Germany. Dr. Schöne gave a series
of four lectures covering the whole of Second Timothy, the last writing we have from the apostle Paul,
and very much on target for the challenging time in which we have to work. The key theme-verse for this
conference, 2 Tim. 2:10, “I endure everything for the sake of the elect…” It was rich time well spent.
V. From the Tenth Convention, 2014
As you may know, the regular Convention of Synod alternates among the three Districts in terms of its
location, and this past cycle once again brought us to the territory of the ABC District. This Vancouver
gathering was the first time our Convention had ever taken place in the province of British Columbia, and
we again worked with a “tighter” schedule to reduce the time spent at the Convention, also in an attempt
to hold expenses down.
Resolutions adopted by the Convention are summarized in the 2014 Convention Proceedings, Pages 2426. Some of the significant actions include the following:
– To Review our Present Call Procedure (Resolution 14.1.02, Proceedings, Page 27);
– To Encourage Deeper Teaching and Pastoral Care on Issues of Human Sexuality (Resolution
14.1.04a, Proceedings, Pages 27-28);
– To Include the “Pastors with Alternate Training” (PAT) Program in the Synodical Handbook
(Resolution 14.2.03a, Proceedings, Pages 30-32);
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Various resolutions permitting nominations and official notices via electronic means as well as in
print (Resolutions 14.3.01, 14.3.03a, Proceedings, Page 44, 46-48);
To Streamline the Colloquy Process (Resolution 14.3.05, Proceedings, Pages 49-52);
Various resolutions on the status, training, representation and voting rights of Deacons (Resolutions
14.3.09, 14.3.10, 14.3.12, 14.3.14b, Proceedings, Pages 53, 54, 55-56).
Essays for this Convention did not come from external presenters, but from among the gifted servants
the Lord has given us in our own Synod. Pastor Kurt Reinhardt (Trinity, Gowanstown, ON) presented on
the Convention theme of prayer, and Deacon Jennifer Shack (Edmonton, AB) spoke of the diaconate and
its roots in the New Testament. We’re grateful for the time and care they gave to the preparation and
delivery of these presentations.
VI. Come to Him Who Answers Prayer
The prayer-related theme of this Synodical triennium is being taken up in various ways by the
organizers of this year’s District conventions, too. It is not a stern command, but a welcome and needed
invitation from the Lord Who gave His Son to be our Rescuer. Our needs are especially strong this spring,
as the heart-rending news from the Alberta-British Columbia District makes abundantly clear. I can only
hope that you and I will never be satisfied to talk about the life of prayer, but instead will flee to Jesus and
live with Him in this life. That is the only way to cope with the challenges we meet in a country like ours,
and even within the ranks of our troubled Synodical family.
VII. Missions: Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel
REFLECTING ON GOD’S MERCIES ON LCC’S MISSIONS AND SOCIAL MINISTRY
SERVICES
In his letter to the church in Philippi the Apostle Paul expresses his gratitude, praises and joy to the Lord
Jesus for nourishing them in the partnership in the Gospel. Such koinonia manifested itself as a gift from
the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit worked koinonia inwardly in their lives through the Word, the church
grew spiritually in unity in one faith, one Lord, one Baptism. In the same way this koinonia expressed
itself outwardly through a sense of priority to the witness of the Gospel and works or mercy. Even facing
opposition, challenges, persecution, as Paul was incarcerated, the congregation stood strong in Christ’s
faith – and fruits of the Spirit flowed through their koinonia.
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Today we witness similar blessings as we reflect on the partnership nurtured by the Lord between
Lutheran Church–Canada and our national and international mission partners. We acknowledge with
gratitude and joy the efforts of LCC’s individual members and congregations as they focus in reaching
out with the Gospel and works of mercy in their communities and to immigrants to Canada. We thank and
praise our Lord of the Church for the remarkable support received from LCC’s individuals,
congregations, auxiliaries, listed service organizations, as well as from international mission agencies and
partners in general.
Over the last few years there has been an increasing number of short-term mission teams traveling and
supporting LCC’s international partners and missions. This is remarkable and praiseworthy. Sometimes it
imposes challenges for LCC’s missions also. Individuals and teams would do better if they consulted with
LCC’s missions on its priority projects in need of immediate attention and support, and not try to take
initiatives independently on projects that might later on call on LCC’s missions. Prior consulting would
avoid duplication and overlapping of efforts. It would provide for good stewardship of human and
financial resources. There are always great needs in the mission fields, and if mission teams try to start
new projects on their own, this might pose a challenge for LCC’s missions to comply with its
responsibility related to missions and projects already initiated and in need of further support. LCC has a
large range of mission projects opportunities, and would be pleased with individuals and mission teams
focusing on these as well. Funding for LCC’s core mission budget and projects is always much needed.
These have been received by LCC with acknowledgment and with gratitude; have been forwarded to the
mission fields and partner churches for the sole purpose and investment for which they are given. LCC’s
international mission managers have been faithful in the application and reporting on the funds.
Sometimes, due to geographical distances, communication, availability of personnel, considerable
amount of time is needed in consulting and deciding on a specific international mission project. It would
be salutary for mission teams to start consulting and planning with LCC in considerable time in advance
for its mission trip. These factors have also affected the reporting process to LCC from the mission field.
One of LCC’s missions’ greatest challenges has been in terms of receiving current reporting from the
mission field. This is a process, growing, but needs much improvement.
In 2013, LCC’s Committee on Missions and Social Ministry Services (CMSMS) passed a motion to
encourage stewardship growth and greater financial participation from LCC’s missions and partners with
portion of their local offerings being allocated towards their missions and social ministry projects being
supported totally by LCC. In 2014 our partner and missions were informed on this decision. In 2015,
starting with the first fund wire transfer to LCC’s mission fields related to maintenance and projects, five
per cent (5%) will be retained in LCC’s missions’ fund to be invested in future new mission projects in
need of funding. This measure will certainly help the national church in its stewardship and participation
in supporting their ministry, mission and projects. As LCC continues in dialogue and consultation with its
partner churches, it is the desire that within twenty years, with the yearly decrease of five per cent (5%),
the national churches have time to focus on their own self-sustainability stewardship plan. The measure
should not be seen as alarming; it should not hinder or deter the starting, development and
implementation of new mission and social ministry projects. LCC has a faithful responsibility towards its
partners. The measure should be received as an opportunity for our Lutheran brethren to continue abiding
in God’s Word and growing in good stewardship in Christ’s koinonia for the sake of His church and
mission.
It has been a blessing for LCC’s missions in these last few years to be able to enter into protocols and
memoranda of understanding (MOU) with our partners in Canada and around the world:
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From its foundation (1996) LCC and the Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in
Ukraine (SELCU) have a verbal partnership protocol for work together in mission,
Theological education and social ministry.
June 9-12, 2008: During LCC’s Eighth convention a pulpit and altar fellowship protocol was
signed with Iglesia Luterana Sinodo de Nicaragua (ILSN).
February 20, 2010: Partnership protocol signed between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Cambodia (ELCC) and Lutheran Church–Canada.
June 12, 2011: Partnership protocol signed between Thailand Concordia Lutheran Church
(TCLC) and LCC.
June 29, 2011: Partnership protocol signed between Lutheran Church–Canada and Canadian
Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) for support to for humanitarian and education services.
Year 2013: Protocol celebrations with LCC’s and LCMS’ congregations on international
specific mission projects.
May 13, 2014: Three-party partnership protocol singed between Iglesia Luterana Sinodo de
Nicaragua (ILSN), Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and Lutheran Church–Canada.
September 12, 2014: Three-party partnership protocol signed between ELCC, Lutheran
Church–Missouri Synod and Lutheran Church–Canada.
October 20, 2014: MOU between LCC, ILSN and the Lutheran Hour Ministry in Nicaragua
for joint mission work in Managua, staring in 2015. LHM has been in Nicaragua and working
with ILSN since the start of LCC’s missions in that country.
The current report has no intention in providing an accounting financial report since this is
done aptly by LCC’s Treasurer. Also, as I compose it, LCC’s missions has not received
confirmation of the adoption of the projects submitted to the supporters in December 2014
and January 2015. LWMLC will report in July 2015 on the projects submitted to its July 2015
convention. Traditionally almost the totality of the projects has been adopted for funding. The
main reason of reporting here this way is to inform on the projects in general and to
encourage praises, thanksgiving and gratitude to LCC’s missions’ supporters.
UKRAINE
Historical background:
The Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) was founded in 1996. In the late
1990s, SELCU invited LCC to provide theological instructors for its pastoral training program. That
program was originally located in the rural town of Kamenka and moved to suburban Odessa in 2010
when the present seminary building was dedicated. Concordia Lutheran Seminary (Edmonton) took a
leading role in providing a succession of theological instructors for this work under the leadership of
Rev. Dr. Norman Threinen, who in retirement continues as Rector of the seminary in Odessa. Three
separate graduating classes of vicars and pastors have completed their studies over the years.
Statistics:
T
he head of SELCU is Bishop Aleksandr (Sasha) Yurchenko, elected by SELCU’s convention on
November 17-18, 2014. SELCU has thirteen congregations, eight mission stations, nine pastors, four
vicars, and about 300 members.
Current projects:
Seminary Program; Outreach to college students and youth in Odessa, Ministry in Nikolaev, Prison
ministry, Summer camps for children and youth, Days of faith leadership training seminars,
Dnepropetrovsk mission, Scholarship to foreign student fund (Rev. Alexey Navrotski at CLS,
Edmonton, AB).Total: CAD 64,320.00
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CAMBODIA
Historical background:
Around the year 2000, Lutheran Heritage Foundation offered to interested pastors of all
denominations in Cambodia the opportunity to take classes on Luther’s Small Catechism, which had
just been translated into Khmer. Dr. Leonard Harms, then LCC’s Missions Director, became
involved with managing those classes. Lutheran Institute Southeast Asia (LISA) began as a mission
strategy to train men and women to speak the Gospel in clear Biblical terms.
There was no real intent at the time to form a Lutheran Church but rather to offer clear Gospelinstruction for the sake of the people of Cambodia. Dr. Harms became the director of LISA. He
developed the first curriculum and engaged LCC professors to teach the courses. Out of those courses
the men and women being taught formed the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cambodia (ELCC) in
the year 2009.
Statistics:
T
he head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cambodia is President Vanarith Chimm. Currently,
the church has 15 pastors, 5 deaconesses, 10 women evangelists, 33 congregations, and about 1850
members.
Current Projects:
Support to deaconesses, Theological education, transportation in general and women evangelists.
Total: CAD 52,000. One project still in process is to be added to this amount.
THAILAND
Historical background:
One year after the formation of LCC—in 1989—then President Edwin Lehman visited Thailand to
meet with Dr. Herb Gernand, a Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod engineer who had worked for
years in the southern region, Phang Nga. He had reached out with the Gospel to many and mentored
several new Christians. He expressed the desire that LCC would support the formation of church
workers under Sahathai Lutheran Church, registered by Dr. Gernand with the Government. Rev. Dr.
Leonard V. Harms, then LCC’s Mission Director, designed the theological curriculum, and after few
years LCC trained and ordained two pastors, Rev. Rev. Suchart Chujit and Rev. Suchart Srikakarn.
Statistics:
T
he head of the Thailand Concordia Lutheran Church (TCLC) is President Ted Na Thalang. The
church currently has five pastors and around 300 members.
Current Projects:
Missionary Suchart Chujit, social ministry. Total: CAD 9,500.00
NICARAGUA
Historical background:
L
utheran Church–Canada started its mission work in Nicaragua in the spring of 1997. Just over a
year later, in October 1998, Hurricane Mitch hit that country. LCC responded to the needs of people
and reached out to them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in works of mercy and care. People
responded. On January 11, 2009 the Iglesia Luterana Sínodo de Nicaragua (ILSN) was founded.
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Statistics:
The head of the ILSN is President Marvin Donaire. The church has 23 Congregations, 12 pastors, 12
vicars, 36 deaconesses, and about 1,800 members. In addition, more than 700 children take part in the
ILSN’s Christian children education and feeding programs.
Current projects:
New mission start in Managua, Children Feeding Programs, Children formal Education programs,
VBSs school desks, deaconesses support, musical instruments, church workers library, rentals vehicle
for missions, 2017 Reformation count down seminars, mission centre agricultural project, ILSN’s
secretary deaconess, LCC’s mission centre and staff, continuing education, LCC’s missionaries,
seminary training, medical and dental clinic, sewing school, etc. Total: CAD 228,188.78
CLMS:
CAD 173,320.00
LWMLC:
CAD 24,000.00
CLWR:
CAD 35,000.00
M. Schwan Foundation:
(USD 97,893.16)
Rev. Hector Morales:
(USD 14,640.00)
Rev. Maximo Urroz:
(USD 10,844.00)
Rev. Rufino Quintero:
(USD 5,000.00)
Mission Centre:
(USD 64,360.00)
Other projects:
CAD 7,000.00
HONDURAS
Historical background:
L
CC’s Honduras mission is an outgrowth of its work in Nicaragua. In 2005, a pastor from the Iglesia
Luterana Sínodo de Nicaragua was commissioned by LCC to start mission work in the city of
Olanchito, where he arrived in July 2005. The local congregation there was founded in September
2007.
Statistics:
I
glesia Luterana Fe en Cristo (Faith in Christ Lutheran Church) in Olanchito has 26 baptized
members, and is served by missionary-pastor Rev. Douglas Aguilar. New missions stations were
started in the cities of La Paz and Tegucigalpa—the capital of Honduras—in 2014.
Current projects:
M
ission work and missionaries in Olanchito, La Paz and Tegucigalpa.
Total: CAD 37,630.00.
Rev. Douglas Aguilar:
(USD 12,140.00)
Rev. Junior Martinez:
(USD 9,820.00)
Vicar Tulio Meza:
(USD 9,820.00)
COSTA RICA
Historical background:
L
CC’s Costa Rica mission is an outgrowth of its work in Nicaragua. In March 2006, an ILSN pastor
was commissioned to start mission work in Costa Rica. In May 29, 2009, the first Costa Rican
Lutheran pastor was received by LCC and the ILSN through the Colloquy Program. On this same day
a group of people met in the city of Cartago and founded the beginning of the mission in that city,
which is today Congregación La Gracia. The national synod will officially be named Iglesia Luterana
Confesional de Costa Rica (ILCRA).
E38
Statistics:
The mission in Costa Rica has two congregations: one in Cartago, where LCC’s missionary pastor
(Rev. Edmundo Retana) and his wife (Deaconess Betty Solorzano) live. The second is in Alajuelita, a
suburb of the capital San Jose. In total, the congregations have approximately 50 members.
Current Projects:
Children’s Christian Education Program; missionary and deaconess maintenance, home and mission
venue rentals. Total: USD 30,260.00
CANADA
Ethnic missions: (No budget)
PAT program: Training of six students from different ethnic backgrounds, geographical regions for
ministry and mission in LCC. Total CAD 20,000.00
CONCLUSION
I conclude with the Apostle Paul’s remarks to the church in Philippi: “I thank my God every time I
remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in
the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6
To Christ alone be glory for all He has marvellously done through the mission and social ministry
efforts of Lutheran Church–Canada and its partners. In the spirit of LCC’s prayer theme for the
triennium, ‘Come to Him who answers prayer’ (Psalm 65:2), I close with a mission prayer: Merciful
God, our heavenly Father, we thank and praise You for the proclamation of Your Gospel of salvation
throughout the world, and for LCC’s partnership with our brethren in Your mission. We humbly
implore You to protect Your church against false teaching and persecution; shield us with the sword
of Your Holy Spirit, give us courage and kindness as we share Your love and compassion to all
people. You have promised that Your Word will not return to You empty, but will accomplish what
You desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent it.. May the sowing of the seed of Your Word
produce fruits for the salvation of all people, and to the glory of Your holy name; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen.
VIII.
Communications: Mathew Block
Introduction
In some ways, 2015's District Conventions mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of another
for Lutheran Church–Canada's (LCC) Communications Manager. He began his work for LCC in late
2011, meaning that preparations for 2012's District Conventions were among his first major
assignments. With the advent of 2015's District Conventions, he is well into his fourth year, having
taken part in a number of major projects and events over the past years, including synod's national
convention in 2014, and LCC's 25th anniversary celebrations (along with accompanying Reach Out
Canada conference and National Youth Gathering) in 2013. And we are of course looking forward to
2017, the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.
E39
This report attempts to highlight some of the major work areas focused on in the past three years
since the last District Conventions.
The Canadian Lutheran
The Canadian Lutheran remains without a question the primary work responsibility of the
Communications Manager of Lutheran Church–Canada.
While the history of The Canadian Lutheran dates back to the 1930s, the present series of the
publication dates to 1986 when Volume 1 Issue 1 announced that Lutheran Church–Canada's
congregations and pastors had voted to establish an autonomous church body (something that would
come to pass two years later in 1988 at LCC's founding convention). 2015 therefore marks the 30th
volume year of The Canadian Lutheran in its current series. As part of celebration plans, LCC's
Communications Manager hopes to begin bringing back issues of the magazine online (in pdf format)
in 2015, allowing interested readers the opportunity to browse issues all the way back to 1986—with
hopes to upload even older issues at a later date.
Over the past thirty years, a lot has remained constant about the magazine. As it was from the
beginning, The Canadian Lutheran remains the primary tool for our church body to share news (both
national and international) with members across the country. It has also long served as an important
devotional publication, providing LCC members with feature articles that instruct and encourage
them in their faith. Since its inception, the magazine has also encouraged LCC members to think
critically about the world around them, be it through film reviews, analysis of current issues (like
euthanasia), and much more.
While much has remained constant, a lot has changed too. The advent of the internet dramatically
transformed the way Canadians (and people across the world) communicate. LCC itself came online
in 1996, and soon brought the magazine online via PDF. A number of years later, in January 2009,
the magazine entered the digital age more fully, launching its own website. Since then,
CanadianLutheran.ca has proved to be a very important complement to the print version of the
magazine, expanding the magazine's readership to new audiences, both in Canada and globally. The
online site also allows for the publication of a greater number of articles than the print edition is able
to contain on its own, giving print subscribers a reason to follow the website as well.
The magazine published its 1000
th
article online in August 2013, and is currently on track to publish
its 1500 article online by the end of 2015. Viewership of the website continues to increase every
year. From February 2013 through January 2014, more than 69,800 people viewed the website. A
year later, the numbers were more than 79,900. Our latest numbers (February 2014 through January
2015) continue the trend of increasing readership, having jumped to more than 97,600 views—an
increase nearly 18,000 views over the previous year. On average then, from February 2014 through
January 2015, more than 8,100 people logged onto CanadianLutheran.ca to read feature articles,
news stories, and more.
th
W
e're also expanding on the ways in which we're making the magazine available. Currently readers
can pick up the physical magazine in their congregations (or through a direct subscription), they can
download the pdf of the magazine from LutheranChurch.ca, and they can read browser-friendly
articles via CanadianLutheran.ca. Starting with the November/December 2014 issue, readers can now
enjoy the magazine via ISSUU as well. ISSUU uses flash technology to simulate the reading of the
E40
physical magazine (by turning pages) but on a digital device. To see the latest issue available through
ISSUU, visit: www.canadianlutheran.ca/read-canadian-lutheran-online/.
While there is some overlap in readership between the online audience and the print edition of the
magazine, there are many who still read only the print edition. LCC remains committed to making the
print edition of the magazine available for this reason. Nevertheless, the last few years have seen
some challenges related to producing the print edition of the magazine. Like all print publications
across Canada, The Canadian Lutheran has had to weather the challenge of increased printing and
shipping costs. We are addressing these increases in a number of ways: 2015 marks an increase in
costs for advertisers (the first rate increase since 2011). The Districts have also agreed to a reduced
page count (four pages instead of six in each issue), which will help the magazine commit to regularly
printing issues 44 pages in length (including front and back covers). Over the past number of years,
magazine issues vacillated between 44 pages and 52 pages (the printing process requires pages be
added or subtracted in multiples of eight).
Social Media
Social media has grown to be a strong communication tool for LCC over the past number of years,
as synod engages church-workers and laypeople online. As of the writing of this report, The
Canadian Lutheran has 481 followers on Facebook while Lutheran Church–Canada has 1,281
followers (for a total Facebook following of 1762. That is up more than 350 followers since the
publication of the Communications Report in the workbook for LCC's 2014 national convention. On
Twitter, LCC has 913 followers.
Comparing these numbers to other church bodies in Canada vis  vis total membership, it is clear
that LCC is finding disproportionately higher success in engaging its people online.
Email lists
Lutheran Church–Canada continues to operate two primary email lists. InfoDigest serves as a
regular newsletter, highlighting stories that have been published online by The Canadian Lutheran, as
well as links to other information of importance to LCC members. DoorPost is a second, less regular
newsletter, directed towards LCC congregations and church-workers.
On July 1, 2014, new anti-spam legislation from the federal government required a number of
organizations to reconfirm their email list subscribers consented to be receive emails. In the weeks
leading up to that event, LCC took steps to ensure the InfoDigest was in conformity with federal
guidelines. To subscribe to the email list, visit http://eepurl.com/YRUvf or visit CanadianLutheran.ca
and click “Subscribe.”
International Lutheran Council
In 2013, the International Lutheran Council (ILC) approached LCC's Communications Manager,
Mathew Block, to ask whether he would be willing to assist the ILC with its communications work.
Block held a meeting in St. Louis with the ILC's Executive Assistant, Rev. Dr. Al Colver, as well as
with communications personnel of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, who had offered to assist
Block with communications work in the event he accepted the editorship.
E41
After these consultations, as well as discussions with LCC's Committee for Communications and
Technology, Block expressed his intention to accept the position. LCC's Board of Directors ratified
that decision at its November 16, 2013 meeting.
The decision to allow Block to accept the position with the ILC, as part of his regular work duties
for LCC, was seen as a gift from the Canadian church to the church at large. Much of the work
revolves around soliciting and editing news and articles for the ILC's website, as well as reporting on
special events in person. In 2014, for example, Block visited Germany to report on the work of the
European Lutheran Council.
E42
Website
LCC's current website was last updated in 2008, meaning it is now in its seventh year without
substantial change. At the same time, web-design has changed significantly over the last number of
years, meaning an update is in order. Such a redesign would not only ensure a site that is sleeker and
more user-friendly, it would also allow the creation of a site that would be editable from within LCC's
own office (currently, synod has to contact a third party to make most updates on the website). LCC
has also developed a new website template for the Commission for Theology and Church Relations, a
template which may be adapted for future use by other groups, such as the Pastors with Alternate
Training program.
Mission Newsletters
LCC's Communications and Missions departments collaborate together yearly on the Annual
Mission Newsletter. This publication highlights the work of LCC-related mission organizations
around the world, and is an important tool for sharing the good work LCC is doing around the world
in Gospel-proclamation and social ministry outreach.
The 2012 newsletter highlighted the mission activity of a number of LCC's auxiliaries and Listed
Service Organizations. 2013's newsletter highlighted LCC's current work in Nicaragua, Honduras,
Costa Rica, Ukraine, Thailand, Cambodia, and Canada, while 2014's newsletter supplemented similar
material with up to date statistics on mission work in these areas. The newsletters for the past three
years are available for download at www.lutheranchurch.ca/missions.php.
Synodical Representative at Lutheran Agencies
The Communications Manager continues to serve as a representative for LCC to a number of
organizations. In 2012, he was appointed LCC's representative to the International Lutheran Laymen's
League's Board of Directors. He was attended of number of meetings (in person and online) related to
this organization, providing LCC's opinion on various matters related to Lutheran Hour Ministries'
work in North America and abroad.
Also in 2012, the Communications Manager was appointed as one of LCC's representatives on the
Lutheran Council in Canada. This organization, composed of members of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Canada and Lutheran Church–Canada oversees Canadian Lutheran involvement in the
chaplaincy of the Armed Forces, in prison chaplaincy, and in Scout/Guides groups, among other
work.
In 2013, the Communications Manager was appointed to serve as a representative from LCC to the
Lutheran Historical Insitute. He has attended a number of meetings, representing LCC's interests on
the board, and reported the board's work back to LCC's executive.
The Committee for Communications and Technology
The Committee for Communications and Technology (CCT) advises the Communications Manager
on a variety of issues. Over the past three years, the committee's work has included discussion of
advertising revenue in The Canadian Lutheran, the closure of LCC's web-forum, requests for
assistance from the International Lutheran Council, the development of LCC-affiliated websites,
updating LCC's website, and more. The CCT also continues to explore ways in which to assist LCC
members with the provision of congregational websites. In 2014, the committee planned to present on
E43
this topic at District Conventions in 2015, but concerns in the Alberta-British Columbia District in
early 2015 have delayed work on this project.
The CCT`s current members are Rev. Micahel Schutz, Stephen Klink, Grace Henderson, and
Mathew Block. Henderson was appointed to the committee in 2013, following the untimely death of
Frank Belden, who previously served the CCT as a representative from LCC's Board of Directors.
The CCT recognizes the work of Frank and thanks God for his service not only to the committee but
to the Church at large.
Conclusion
The preceding material attempts to highlight some of the major areas related to LCC's
Communications Work. It is by no means an exhaustive list. Over the past three years, LCC's
Communications Manager has also produced a number of videos over the past year, live-streamed
special events, taken part in the work of the Canadian Church Press, and attempted to raise LCC's
profile by writing in other publicatios like The National Post, The Winnipeg Free Press, Converge
Magazine, and other publications. Additional information on these and other topics can be read in the
Committee for Communications and Technology's report in the workbook for LCC's 2014 national
convention.
LCC's communications department remains committed to providing the church at large with
material that informs, educates, and inspires them in the ministry of Gospel proclamation. That work
is by necessity multifaceted, and incorporates traditional communication vehicles (like the print
edition of The Canadian Lutheran) as well as new media (like Facebook and Twitter). Whatever
project we are working on, it remains the hope of LCC's Communications Manager that the work will
bolster the Gospel proclamation of the Church here in Canada as well as abroad.
IX.
Worker Benefit Plans: Dwayne Cleave
Our Mission: The mission of Worker Benefit Plans is to serve members and employers by ensuring the
provision of sustainable benefits.
Our Vision:
We will develop an efficient, innovative and sustainable benefit plan with shared
responsibility among engaged stakeholders.
Highlights 2012-2015
 Two new members added to the Board of
Managers in 2012 and Dr. Dieter Kays
assumes the role of the chair
 Transition to DC Pension Plan complete
 DB plan has solid returns over the last
three years
 Mawer hired as International Portfolio
manager
 The funded status of the DB plan
improves at the end of 2013 but
declining interest rates in 2014 means
that solvency position is expected to
also decline
 BOM works with Alberta Government to
find funding solutions.
E44
 New investment funds offered under the
DC Plan.
 Cost savings expected as Ellement
Consulting hired to provide actuarial,
investment, consulting and
administrative services for Worker
Benefit Plans
 CUCA to establish its own pension plan
Board of Managers
The Board of Managers (BOM) has general management responsibilities for the Worker Benefit Plans
(WBPs) and oversees the plans’ operations, including the selection and termination of investment
managers, insurer’s, actuaries and other advisors. In addition the BOM is responsible for setting strategies
overseeing administration, developing pension policies, determining funding policies, establishing
contribution rates, investing assets, and ensuring the plans are compliant with legislation.
Changes to the BOM
Stanley W. Lee and Martin Bender were appointed to the BOM in June 2012 bringing the BOM up to its
full complement of seven members. Stanley is a chartered accountant who operates his own accounting
business in Vancouver. Martin brings with him a teaching background along with many years of
experience in Human Resources. BOM members are appointed by the Board of Directors of LCC for a
three year term. The Treasurer of LCC is an ex-offico BOM member. Dr. Dieter Kays assumed the role of
chair of the BOM in 2012 after serving as an advisor to the BOM for a year. Dieter brings with him a
wealth of experience in the financial industry and we are grateful to be blessed with his leadership.
Overview 2012-2015
Continuous change was the operative word to describe the Worker Benefit Plans during the period 2012
through to 2015. Most of this period was spent communicating and implementing design changes to the
pension plan that been recommended by the BOM and sanctioned by the LCC Board of Directors in
2011. The objective of the design change, which was the result of a strategic planning process involving
an array of stakeholders, was to make the plan more sustainable and affordable to LCC employers; while
still delivering reasonable retirement benefits to members.
Commencing
in 2013, we began a search to obtain quality consulting services at a lower cost. At the
same time we also looked at whether we could effectively outsource some of our internal administration
and systems and have them done at a lower price. At the beginning of 2014 the BOM appointed Ellement
Consulting to replace Towers Watson in the provision of actuarial, investment and consulting services.
The outsourcing of the WBPs’ administration was also awarded to Ellement Consulting effective January
1, 2015.
Substantial changes to the Employment Pension Plans Regulations were approved by the Alberta
government (where our plan is registered) in July 2014 and became effective September 1 2014. The new
regulations did not provide us with the flexible funding options we had hoped for, but the Alberta
regulators have indicated that they want to continue working with us to find a long-term funding solution
for our plan. They have extended a great deal of understanding to us and have not required us to make
solvency deficiency payments. While the government has not committed to anything specific, their aim is
the same as ours: to ensure our members receive their full defined benefit pension. This objective,
E45
however, needs to be balanced with our employers’ capacity to pay for both ongoing pension benefits and
pension legacy costs.
At the beginning of 2015 Concordia University College of Alberta (CUCA) advised the BOM that they
were ceasing their participation in the LCC Plan. CUCA indicated that pension and benefit plan autonomy
was necessary as a result of recent unionization fiscal restraint on the part of the Alberta government
towards colleges and universities. This requires CUCA to be in control of all aspects of their cost
structure. CUCA will assume pension plan sponsor and administrative responsibilities for their members
once formal approval is received from provincial pension plan regulators. It is not anticipated that the
CUCA withdrawal will impact the remaining LCC members. Details of these changes are noted in the
commentary below.
Pension Plan Design and Implementation
At the beginning of 2012 the Plan began its transition into being primarily a defined contribution (DC)
pension plan.
New hires from January 1, 2012 were enrolled into a redesigned Defined Contribution Plan (DC). In
addition, most active members with the exception of a small group of older, longer–service members
were moved into the DC effective January 1, 2013 (the DB/DC members). The new DC Plan provides for
a 4% contribution from members and a 6% contribution from employers, with member being able to
make an additional optional contribution of 4%. The retirement income these members ultimately receive
will be determined by the money they accumulate through contributions and the investment income
earned on the contributions. While the DB/DC members no longer accrue benefits under the DB plan
after December 31, 2012 they will receive a benefit for their service prior to this date.
The few employees left accruing service in the Defined Benefit Plan also are required to make
contributions of 4% to the DB plan. While the implementation of the contributory DC Plan for future
service will stabilize pension contribution rates in the longterm, funding the legacy costs of the Defined Benefit Plan
which all employers collectively owe will continue to be
required for some time.
While the implementation of the
contributory DC Plan for future
DB Investments
service will stabilize pension
nvestment returns from 2012 to the end of 2014 have been
contribution rates in the long-term,
solid, most notably in 2013 which had a great annual return
funding the legacy costs of the
of 15.4%. While the BOM continued to support the asset
Defined Benefit Plan which all
allocation of the funds (60% equities, 40% bonds), as the
employers collectively owe will
best way to ensure the long-term growth of the fund, they did
decide to allocate a small portion of the fund ($ 4 million) in
continue to be required for some
2013 to a private firm that provides secured corporate loans
time.
(Wellington Financial LP). The intent of this investment was
to provide greater diversification of the fund, be less
correlated with public markets and to provide an enhanced rate of return.
I
In the fall of 2014 our international manager, Sky Investment Council advised us that they would be
winding down their business operations. This notice proved timely as just prior to this news the BOM had
decided to move half of the international portfolio from Sky to an international manager with less
E46
portfolio volatility. After a search for an international investment manager was conducted, Mawer
Investment Management was selected to manage our international portfolio.
In 2014, the BOM also decided to remove the currency hedge on the US portfolio to boost returns as a
result of the declining Canadian dollar.
DB Plan Funded Status
Valuations were conducted at the end of 2012 and 2013. A
valuation was not required to be done at the end of 2014 as a
result of recent changes to the Alberta pension regulations.
Annual valuations are now only required when a plan is
funded below 85% on a going concern valuation basis. The
LCC plan was funded higher than 85% on a going concern
basis so a valuation would not have been required. However,
with CUCA seeking to establish its own plan including the
proportional transfer of liabilities and assets for its members,
the regulators will require a valuation of the LCC plan.
Information on the valuation has not been included in this
report as the valuation has just been initiated at the time of
writing.
Solvency Valuation
The solvency valuations is an assessment of the funding and liabilities of the Plan assuming it is wound
up on the date of valuation. Recent valuations show the following results:
Dec 31,
2012
2013
Solvency Ratio
62%
80%
Deficiency
$ 49 million
$ 22.5 million
The improvement in the solvency position of the plan from the end of 2012 to the end 2013 was mainly
the result of an increase in long-bond yields by about 0.9%. Good investment experience, to a lesser
extent, also contributed to the improvement. The increase in bond yields improved our solvency funded
position by about $17 million because it reduced the value of plan liabilities. The investment returns
along with employer contributions improved the solvency funded position by about $10 million because it
increased the plan assets. The improvement in our position illustrates the highly leveraged nature of this type
of financial measurement, as no additional solvency contributions were made to plan during this period of time.
More and more, we hear voices in the pension community questioning whether the solvency measurement
makes sense. With long-bond rates dropping by about 1% from the end of 2013 to the end of 2014, we
expect the valuation that is now being undertaken to once again show a significant increase in the
solvency deficit. As has been noted before, the 60 year low in long-bond returns continues to be a major
challenge to pension plans. Bond yields are used to value the liabilities and the lower the expected bond
yields the higher the amount of money that must be set aside to fund the benefits.
E47
Going Concern
On a going concern basis, the valuations done at the end of 2012 and 2013 showed the following:
Dec 31,
2012
2013
Going Concern
Ratio
86 %
88%
Deficiency
$ 13.3 million
$ 11.8 million
The going concern deficiency is amortized and payable over a 10 year period. Special payments were
made towards the liability over the 2012 to 2015 period.
Government Consultation
Normally solvency deficits are required to be paid off over five years; however, the Alberta government
enacted legislation to permit a moratorium on solvency payments until the end of 2012. Special payments
for funding the going concern deficit still had to be made. When the solvency moratorium ended in 2012
we would have needed significant increases in contribution levels. The increase would not have been
financially sustainable for participating employers. Therefore the BOM worked throughout 2012 and
2013 with the Alberta government to have our concerns heard. The process began by writing letters to
government suggesting changes to funding requirements. This resulted in meetings with pension
regulatory staff, the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of Pensions, Assistant Deputy Minister,
Deputy Minister and the Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board. Unfortunately the
release of the new Employment Pension Plans Regulation in August 2014 did not provide the flexible
funding options that we had hoped would be provided. The regulators however have extended a great deal
of understanding to us and have not required us to make solvency deficiency payments. While the
government has not committed to anything specific, their aim is the same as ours: to ensure members
receive their full defined benefit pension. This objective, however, needs to be balanced with our
employers’ capacity to pay for both ongoing pension benefits and pension legacy costs.
Impact of CUCA Leaving the LCC Plan
While we expect the impact of CUCA leaving the LCC pension plan to be neutral - CUCA will be
taking its proportional share of plan assets and liabilities- the valuation that we are required to do as a
result of this action will be done in a lower interest rate environment than last year. As we have indicated
before, the liabilities on the plan are valued based on long-bond rates and the lower the interest rate the
higher the liabilities on the plan. While we are not expecting additional costs –since we are not funding
the solvency deficit, we are expecting to show a larger solvency deficiency and a lower solvency ratio.
Going Forward
We are currently in a position of abeyance in terms of funding the solvency deficit. We are hopeful that
ongoing dialogue with the government will result in long-term funding solutions which protect members
and provides an affordable, financially stable solution for employers. We also have to keep in mind the
validity of requiring pension plans to use a point in time measurement such as solvency, given that a 2%
increase in long–term interest rates would essentially result in the plan being fully funded.
DC Investments
During 2012 a review was undertaken of the investment offered under the DC. In selecting the
investments, the BOM took into consideration feedback from plan members on their desire to make
investing easier for those who either don’t have the time, inclination or knowledge of investment, while
E48
also listening to those who indicated that they wanted to make their own investment decisions. The
review resulted in a number of funds being discontinued and a number of new funds being added
(BlackRock LifePath target date funds, Connor, Clark and Lunn Q Growth Fund and TDAM U.S. Market
Index Fund). Organizational and structural changes at Jarislowsky Fraser in 2013 including the departure
of senior level staff meant the BOM once again had to review the investment offerings under the DC plan.
After discussions and recommendations from both Sun life and our investment consultant, the BOM
selected Beutel Goodman as the Canadian equity manager replacing Jarislowsky Fraser.
A variety of communication channels were utilized to inform members of the changes to the DC plan
and it’s investments including workshops, newsletters, informational memos, webinar and demonstrations
by Sun Life on how to use their website to access information and make investment decisions
Group Benefit Plans
The flexible benefit plan has operated relatively smoothly since its introduction on January 1, 2008
when it was introduced to provide employees with flexibility in their benefit choices, allowing members
to tailor benefits according to individual needs. It also provides a mechanism for cost sharing of benefit
costs between employees and employers.
Administration
Throughout the 2012-2015 period, the Worker Benefit Plans worked diligently to reduce administrative
costs. Eventually we came to the conclusion that there was no further opportunities to lower costs with the
current consulting arrangements. Late in 2013 we conducted an RFP to see if we obtain quality consulting
services at a lower cost. We also looked at whether we could outsource some of our internal systems and
administration and if they could be done at least as effectively at a lower price. Effective March, 2014 the
BOM appointed Ellement consulting to provide actuarial, investment and consulting services. The BOM
expects to save about 40% of their annual consulting fees with the appointment of Ellement. The BOM
also decided to outsource our internal administration and systems to Ellement effective January 1, 2015
since it would be cost effective and more efficient for them to handle our administration,
Future Changes in 2015 and Beyond Pension
As noted earlier in this report new legislation that we had hoped would provide updated funding options
for the DB plan is unlikely to be enacted. The regulators have raised the issue of restructuring our plan
from a single employer plan to a multi-employer plan because that is how we administratively and
E49
functionally operate. The BOM believes clarifying our status as a multi-employer plan rather than a single
employer plan has merit as it will ensure all stakeholders clearly understand their rights and
responsibilities under the plan. A consultative process on this issue will be undertaken in the coming
months.
The BOM will also be investigating options for mitigating future market and longevity risks in the DB
plan by considering asset mix changes and potentially annuitizing a portion of the liabilities (retiree and
deferred pensioners) with an insurance carrier.
During 2015 we will work with CUCA to assist them with a timely and smooth transition in the
establishment of their own pension plan arrangements.
Pension and Benefit Challenges
The Worker Benefit Plans have been since inception a suite of comprehensive programs designed to
protect active and retired members and their families from financial loss as a result of health issues and to
provide a source of income in old age. As a result of financial challenges in recent years we have had to
reduce the programs provided to future retirees. However, it is important for all members and employers
to understand:

That all employers collectively own the deficit on the defined benefit plan. All employers must pay
for current and past employees whom had defined benefit service. To do otherwise, could impact
members (active and retired) receiving their full DB pension. This legacy obligation continues to
exit even if an employer decides that they will no longer have a full-time pastor.

We are collectively obligated to pay for post-retirement benefits for those that retired when they
were available. We have, however, been requiring retirees to pay more of the premium for these
plans over the past few years. This still provides good coverage at far less of a cost than that
available in the market place.
We understand the pressures employers are under to reduce costs and we in turn are doing the utmost
to deliver programs competently in the most cost effective manner possible.
The BOM recognizes the importance of the pension and benefit programs to members and their
families. It also recognizes the concerns of employers regarding increasing costs. We feel that the
decisions taken by the BOM over the last few years are fair and balanced. They meet our goal and
commitment of providing an appropriate pension and benefits program that is valued by members,
affordable to employers and members and sustainable over the longer term. This will continue to be our
goal when considering future changes.
We thank-you for your understanding and assure you that we will continue to carry out our role
prayerfully and conscientiously, asking for God’s wisdom and blessing on our efforts.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dwayne Cleave,
Executive Director,
Worker Benefit Plans
Dieter Kays,
Chair, Board of
Managers
E50
X.
Treasurer: Dwayne Cleave
The recent CCAA filing of the ABC District Corporation (ABC) is the most significant financial
challenge our Synod has faced in its 27 years of existence. At the time of this writing it is still unknown
whether ABC will be able to restructure its operations or have to liquidate.
In the short-term, while we wait for the final decision on ABC to be made, LCC is continuing to
maintain its financial commitments to the LCC Seminaries, CUCA, and Overseas Mission Programs in
(Central America, Southeast Asia, and Ukraine). LCC is reducing some of its administration and capital
expenses out of necessity due to the fact that ABC by court order is currently unable to forward LCC its
share of congregational mission remittances. We anticipate that the mission remittance issue to LCC will
be resolved soon, because ABC congregations have been asked by both ABC and LCC to send the LCC
share of missions directly to LCC.
In the long-term, we don’t fully know yet the level of impact the ABC financial situation will have on
the Synod. We do anticipate, however, that it may result in some significant change to our organizational
and governance structure. We also expect that there will be some congregations in the ABC District who
will start struggling financially, because of the losses sustained by their members in the Church Extension
Fund.
LCC has also been impacted financially (positively and negatively), by what has transpired in the world
economy. The stock market has been volatile, but generally trending upwards, which resulted in higher
than expected investment earnings for both the LCC Pension Plan and LCCFM Foundation.
The LCC Pension plan experienced positive investment returns throughout the triennium period
(9.90%-2014, 15.60%-2013, 9.80% -2012). The positive investment returns contributed to a marked
improvement in the going concern funded status of the plan (estimated 95% funded as of December 31,
2014). Unfortunately, it was not all good news for the pension plan because a period of historically low
interest rates has continued. Lower interest rates negatively impact the solvency funded status of the plan
because it increases the value of pension liabilities. The combination of lower interest rates and us not
contributing to the pension plan on a solvency basis resulted in minimal improvement on the solvency
funded level of the plan. As of December 31, 2014 the estimated solvency funded status of the plan is still
around 73%.
Investment earnings on endowment funds held at the LCCFM Foundation have also been higher than our
historical average. The increase in investment earnings meant more financial support for domestic and
overseas mission, student tuition, student aid, and seminary operations.
Despite our current challenge, we have faith that God will continue to provide our Synod with the
financial resources needed to carry out our Lord’s great commission (Matthew 28:19). The rest of this
report will be an illustration of the financial resources the Lord provided LCC the past triennium, with
explanation of how those resources were distributed.
E51
Definitions
Triennium – Three year period covering 2012-2015.
Revenues:
District Remittances – Contributions LCC received from the three districts of Synod. The Districts
historically forward LCC a 35-40% share of the mission remittances they receive from their
congregations. District Remittances over the triennium were $3,943,039 or 51% of LCC revenue total.
Designated Mission- Donations received from individuals and Foundations to support designated
Mission and Social Ministry projects that augment our core mission programs carried out in Central
America, Southeast Asia, and Ukraine. Designated Mission donations over the triennium were
$1,439,993 or 18% of LCC total.
Specified Revenue- Includes communication revenue generated from publishing the Canadian Lutheran
magazine. Revenue derived from providing accounting and administration services to Worker Benefits,
LCCFM, Central District, and the Central District Church Extension Fund. Rent charged to these
individual entities for the office space they occupy is also a source of revenue to LCC. Specified revenue
generated over the triennium was $956,765 or 12% of LCC total.
Synod Events- Primarily comprised of the assessment revenue received from the three Districts, for
holding the 2013 National Church Workers Conference and 2014 Synod Convention. It also includes
donations received from individuals, corporation sponsorships, participant registration fees, and exhibitor
revenue. Revenue for holding the 2013 National Youth Gathering was largely derived from the
registration fees charged to youth participants. Synod Event revenue received over the triennium was
$885,037 or 11% of LCC total.
Direct Gifts/ Bequests - Direct gifts and bequests include cash, securities, mutual funds, and estate
distributions. Generally these types of gifts are directed to LCC for an intended purpose. The most
common purposes are overseas mission and theological education support. With the decline in our
Church’s membership LCC is becoming more dependent on these types of gifts to maintain current
ministry. We encourage all our congregation members to remember their Church when it comes to their
planning of charitable gifts and/or estate gifts. Secular charities such as Cancer Care, Heart and Stroke,
Children’s Wish etc. are all very important causes and worthy of support and Christians often are the most
generous supporters. It is just important that you consider these charities get financial support from all of
society while our Church only has its members. Eternal salvation is our world’s most important cause.
Direct Gift and Bequest revenue received over the triennium was $573,622 or 7% of LCC total.
Expenses:
Missions – Mission and Social Ministry activities directed outside of Canada in countries where LCC has
received an invitation to proclaim the gospel. Currently LCC is actively proclaiming the gospel in Central
America, Southeast Asia, and the Ukraine. In addition to proclamation LCC is also very active in training
indigenous Pastors and Missionaries for the ministry. LCC also supports the indigenous Pastors and
Missionaries with monthly salary and housing stipends. Social ministry, such as children feeding
programs, purchasing school uniforms and supplies, providing school tutoring, and funding a medical and
dental clinic is also conducted by LCC in these countries. Mission expenditures over the triennium were
$2,242,160 or 29% of LCC total.
Higher Education – Includes financial remittances provided to the two LCC seminaries for the training
of students for the Pastoral Office. It also includes a financial contribution to CUCA for operating the
E52
Church Worker Program (Director of Parish Services, Lutheran Teacher, and Parish Nurse). Higher
Education support over the triennium was $1,497,335 or 19.0% of LCC total.
Administration- Includes salary and benefits for support staff, office supplies and equipment, and
property operations. Administration costs over the triennium were $1,538,067 or 20% of LCC total.
Program – Includes communication services and publications, evangelical supervision, Church relations
throughout the world, LHI support, and financial resource generation. Program expenditures over the
triennium were $1,154,827 or 15% of the LCC total.
Synod Events- Primarily comprised of the travel, accommodation, meeting room, and meal expenses
incurred by delegates & other participants who attend the Synod event. The expenses incurred for holding
the three Synod Events in this triennium were $857,772 or 11% of the LCC total. The aggregate revenue
generated from the three events exceeded expenses by approximately $27,265.
Other Expenses – Includes Board of Directors, convention taskforces, synod commissions, International
Lutheran Council assessment, capital improvement s, and a mixture of others. Other expenditures over the
triennium were $450,755 or 6% of the LCC total.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dwayne Cleave, treasurer
Lutheran Church–Canada
E53
Luthe ran Church Canada - Triennium Financial Report
Un-Audited
Fiscal Ye ar
2015
Jan-31
Re ve nue
District Remittances
$
1,276,667
Designated Missions
$
450,000
Specified Revenue
$
272,093
Synod Events
$
290,351
Direct Gifts/Bequests
$
260,403
LCC Re venue
$
2,549,514
$
$
$
$
$
$
1,317,654
455,767
520,195
565,166
152,111
3,010,893
$
$
$
$
$
$
1,348,718
534,226
164,477
29,520
161,108
2,238,049
$
$
$
$
$
$
3,943,039 51%
1,439,993 18%
956,765 12%
885,037 11%
7%
573,622
7,798,456 100%
Expe nses
Mission
Higher Education
Administration
Program
Synod Events
Other
LCC Expe nse
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
776,998
486,333
530,804
375,763
267,904
84,796
2,522,598
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
731,465
493,639
544,519
369,871
589,868
192,243
2,921,605
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
733,697
517,363
462,744
409,193
173,716
2,296,713
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2,242,160
1,497,335
1,538,067
1,154,827
857,772
450,755
7,740,916
Surplus (Deficit)
$
26,916
$
89,288
-$
58,664
$
57,540
-$
-$
2015
50,855
23,939
-$
-$
2014
140,143
50,855
-$
-$
2013
81,479
140,143
Fiscal Ye ar
Opening Net Un-Restricted Assets
Closing Net Un- Restricted Assets
Audite d
2014
Jan-31
Audite d
2013
Jan-31
LCC Revenue
Triennium
Direct
Gifts/Bequests
$573,622 7.36%
Synod Events
$885,037 11.35%
Specified Revenue
$956,765 12.27%
Designated Missions
$1,439,993 18.47%
District Remittances
$3,943,039 50.56%
Triennium %
Total
29%
19%
20%
15%
11%
6%
100%
E54
Other , $450,755
, 5.82%
Synod Events,
$857,772 ,
11.08%
LCC Expenses
Triennium
Mission,
$2,242,160 ,
28.97%
Program ,
$1,154,827 ,
14.92%
Administration,
$1,538,067 ,
19.87%
Higher Education,
$1,497,335 ,
19.34%
E55
REPORT 6
Report of LCC Financial Ministries (Lutheran Foundation Canada)
Introduction
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to report to the convention on the
activities of Lutheran Church–Canada Financial Ministries over the past three years.
Carrying out work under the trademark name of Lutheran Foundation Canada, our primary task is to
encourage and assist in the development of planned gifts within LCC’s membership, but also with current
gifts of shares and outright gifts of cash, all in support of the on-going mission and ministry of the church.
Over the last three years, approximately $23.5 million has been reported in new planned gift pledges,
shares, and cash; of which just under $3.5 million has already been received and disbursed according to
the donor’s wishes.
Additionally, over the last three years, using the earnings from our invested endowments, the
Foundation made disbursements totaling $556,100 to the congregations and organizations as originally
suggested by the donor, and listed within each of our endowment agreements. These disbursements were
as follows: 2012 - $165,600 2013 - $188,000 2014 - $202,500
May God be praised!
Lutheran Foundation Canada Overview
Lutheran Foundation Canada was established as a public, charitable foundation working on behalf of all
organizations and congregations affiliated with Lutheran Church–Canada. The Foundation is comprised
of four members, including Lutheran Church–Canada and the three Districts. All Foundation activities
previously undertaken by the districts are now being managed by Lutheran Foundation Canada, and all
invested funds have been transferred into accounts held by the Foundation.
T
he gift development activities of the Foundation are carried out by Gift Coordinators working within
each District. At present there are three full-time gift coordinators: Allen Schellenberg serving within the
ABC District (as well as the Foundation’s Executive Director), David Friesen serving within the Central
District as of April 2012, and Alfred Feth serving within the East District.
The Foundation’s operations have been primarily funded by the three Districts, Synod, Lutheran
Laymen’s League–Canada, and our two seminaries. Additionally, the Foundation generates operating
income from administration fees charged for managing the endowments (a 1% service fee) and custodial
funds (a 0.5% service fee) within the Foundation’s investment portfolio.
A
t present, approximately $12 million is invested in endowments or custodial accounts. Foundation
investments are managed by professional investment firms, overseen by each firm's investment manager
and their team of certified financial analysts. The investment managers provide quarterly investment
Performance Reports which are then reviewed by the Foundation's Finance Committee. The Finance
Committee is comprised of members with background expertise in the areas of finance and accounting.
The Finance Committee's primary responsibility is to insure the investment managers have invested our
funds in keeping with the approved "Investment Policy Statement," a document defining the level of risk,
investment diversification requirements, and portfolio investment restrictions.
E56
Gift Planning Services
Due to our aging population, over the next 15 years significant wealth, the bounty of God’s worldly
blessings will transfer from one generation to the next. Planned giving is using a portion of the lifetime
accumulation of worldly resources within our estate to meet the needs and expectations of family, while
also including a gift for the ongoing mission and ministry of the church. For many, there is great
satisfaction in knowing their gift will continue to support ministries important to them after they’ve left
this world.
The Foundation’s Gift Coordinators provide informative seminars on Christian estate planning.
Although the Foundation’s primary purpose is to speak to individuals on the benefits of planned giving,
these seminars also cover a range of other topics related to estate planning: wills, health care directives,
powers of attorney, funeral arrangements, and issues related to the transfer of assets from one generation
to the next.
Additionally, the Gift Coordinators provide individual services to our congregational membership,
assisting in structuring the gift to the donor’s best advantage, providing needed information to the donor’s
professional advisors, and ensuring the gift is directed to the appropriate organization(s) per the donor’s
desired use of the funds.
A Range of Gifts
As stated earlier, the majority of gifts are designated from the assets of an estate, usually given from the
assets of the surviving spouse’s estate. This acknowledges the need to provide for a surviving spouse,
with unknown financial needs as the surviving spouse advances in years. For those who are financially
wealthy, opportunities exist that provide significant tax savings for use during a donor’s lifetime, rather
than having the entire tax credit go to the estate. Gifts can include: insurance policies, RRSP/RRIF
investments, stock, real property, vehicles, and of course, cash.
The table which follows shows the future distribution of the $37 million developed as planned gifts over
the last six years, allocated per the wishes of the individual donors. Not surprisingly, approximately a
third of all gifts are designated for congregations. Without exception, donors are excited that the
ministries they’ve supported throughout their life will continue to be supported by their planned gift after
they have been called home to be with their Lord and Saviour. It is expected these planned gifts will
provide ongoing financial resources to the ministries of LCC for many years to come.
Congregational Gift Acceptance and Use Policy
Based on the six years of known information shown in the table below, plus the expectation of many
gifts of which we are unaware, congregations need to plan now, on how these extraordinary financial gifts
will be used. Up until now, few congregations have considered the necessity of creating a gift acceptance
policy, much less a gift “use” policy. Yet, many of us have heard stories of congregations who’ve
experienced a significant period of discord due to receiving an unexpected, large monetary gift from a
deceased congregational member. Too often there are unyielding and differing opinions on how these
types of gifts should be used.
For this reason, the Foundation has developed a sample “Gift Acceptance and Use Policy” that
congregations are encouraged to adapt for their own use now, in anticipation of receiving such gifts in the
E57
future. These extraordinary gifts, gifts beyond the congregation’s regular Sunday offering, can and
should be used to transfer the blessings that God has bestowed upon them. These gifts allow
congregations to develop community-based mission driven programs, or to support ministries well
beyond their own doors. Congregations are encouraged to adapt and adopt the sample policy for their own
use. The Foundation provides additional help and guidance throughout this process. With a clear vision of
how gifted funds will be used, congregational members will be more inclined to consider such gifts to
their congregation.
Summary
F
or further information on Lutheran Foundation Canada, or resources to do with estate planning, visit
our website at www.lutheranfoundation.ca.
(Planned Giving Summary Chart follows on next page)
E58
Lutheran Foundation Canada - Planned Giving Gift Summary
The following table shows how the membership of Lutheran Church–Canada has responded to planned
giving opportunities either within their estate, or as a current gift. (Allocations are based upon the
expressed wishes of the donors.) May God be praised!
Beneficiary
2009 Gift
Total
2010 Gift
Total
2011 Gift
Total
2012 Gift
Total
2013 Gift
Total
2014 Gift
Total
6 Year
Total
% of
Total
Gifts
ABC Cong's
$292,270
$706,010
$546,424
$569,867
$3,201,700
$546,075
$5,862,346
15.81%
Central
Cong's
$70,000
$95,310
$196,000
$100,800
$319,000
$615,300
$1,396,410
3.77%
East Cong's
$261,000
$1,007,568
$805,383
$897,825
$901,360
$1,660,350
$5,533,486
14.92%
ABC District
$165,000
$650,000
$108,425
$160,000
$1,235,500
$120,400
$2,439,325
6.58%
Central
District
$0
$46,000
$17,500
$90,000
$533,200
$31,250
$717,950
1.94%
East District
$290,000
$213,358
$141,144
$59,650
$336,000
$50,975
$1,091,127
2.94%
Synod
$392,100
$670,000
$274,100
$299,125
$1,188,855
$137,500
$2,961,680
7.99%
CLS
$157,500
$1,009,025
$252,773
$334,766
$1,383,000
$665,908
$3,802,972
10.25%
CLTS
$85,600
$247,710
$307,888
$295,425
$239,055
$309,408
$1,485,086
4.00%
CUCA
$10,000
$273,000
$143,333
$1,000
$803,500
$334
$1,231,167
3.32%
LLL-C
$38,200
$778,600
$273,400
$445,600
$814,255
$393,000
$2,743,055
7.40%
LWML-C
$20,000
$204,360
$0
$150,750
$182,000
$205,125
$762,235
2.06%
CLMS
$40,000
$86,333
$333,384
$98,750
$259,000
$331,450
$1,148,917
3.10%
LSO’s
$160,575
$248,920
$174,500
$95,125
$433,420
$608,725
$1,721,265
4.64%
CLWR
$20,000
$1,122,196
$49,605
$238,917
$244,055
$403,000
$2,077,773
5.60%
LCCFM
$280,000
$200,000
$147,897
$218,050
$118,150
$480,050
$1,444,147
3.89%
Unspecified
$20,000
$0
$165,000
$50,000
$55,000
$380,000
$670,000
1.81%
Total Gifts
$2,302,245
$7,558,390
$3,936,756
$4,105,650
$12,247,050
$6,938,850
$37,088,941
100.00%
Total Cash
Rec'd
$115,750
$537,165
$545,800
$641,400
$693,050
$2,147,850
$4,681,015
12.62%
Respectfully submitted,
Allen Schellenberg - Executive Director
Lutheran Foundation Canada
E59
DEPARTMENTS
E60
REPORT 7
Report of the Department for Finance
The Department for Finance is entrusted with the supervision of the District’s financial affairs. The
duties and functions of the Department are as set out in the East District Handbook. We operate with
subcommittees of Church Extension Fund, Compensation Guidelines and Audit.
The department consists of a representative from each circuit. These members [lay and pastoral] are
nominated by their circuit and appointed by the Board of Directors. Also included on the department are
the District treasurer Ray Taylor, Board of Directors liaison Reg Tiegs and Staff liaison Darryll Holland.
Thank you to all the members who have served on the department and the non-members who served on
subcommittees over the last three years and especially our secretary Mark Higenell for his work on the
wording of our motions and keeping the minutes current. Thanks also to the district office staff for their
efforts in supplying us with information sometimes on short notice.
Over the past couple of years we have made major changes in how we are investing the excess money
on deposit when the need of churches has been fulfilled. We have had very positive success on these
changes and have made a substantial profit which is being distributed throughout the District in various
ways. It also looks like this is going to continue being a future trend for the department based on our
frugal investments. With that in mind the committee has developed some ground rules as to distributing
the profit to further benefit the Church and its members.
At the end of each year we will take the surplus, if any, and apply part of it to cover 50% of any deficit
of the East District’s operating fund, some will go to a reserve fund in case of future losses, again if any,
another 40% will go to the Department of Outreach to assist them in their work and any remainder will be
distributed among East District congregations and their members.
We also have discovered that out investment policy is 20 years out of date and we are developing a
new strategy for the future. We have also made changes in how we lend funds to congregations which
will provide more security to our depositors.
In light of the situation in the ABC District, I want to inform you that every precaution has been taken to
protect our depositors of having the same problems befall us. There are limits to amounts of money that
can be lent to individual congregations and percentage limits of our total fund portfolio that can be
invested in any one category of investments – we are well diversified.
Having said that we continue to offer competitive rates to our church members looking for competitive
interest rates. At the time of writing we are still offering daily savings at 2% and 1 year certificates at 3%
and 3 year certificates at 3.5% and finally 5 year rates at 4%.
Respectfully submitted,
Hugh Weltz
Chairman, Department for Finance.
E61
REPORT 8
Report of the Department for Outreach
2012 – 2015
Our Department is made up of individuals from each of our nine Circuits. Our terms are staggered so
that we have an inclusion of new people between District conventions. We represent the people from our
East District congregations who have a heart for missions. We continue to pray for your support of the
Department for Outreach as we meet the challenges and the opportunities of outreach in the localities of
the East District. The Department appreciates your financial support and to every congregation that has
submitted a Mission Goal – we thank you!
To that end, we humbly encourage all congregations to join with us as we are called together in the one
body of Christ for service...by God's grace, to provide support and encouragement to our congregations
and church workers as we carry out our Lord's command to make disciples of all nations. We would like
to share our vision with you, the District's members, as we meet in convention to promote: “Vibrant,
growing congregations purposefully and joyfully reaching all with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Will you join with us to accomplish the tasks set before us? God bless our efforts together!
Our current members of the DFO include:
Rev. William Kramer, chair
Rev. Joel Kuhl, secretary
Rev. Stephen Omoregie
Rev. Jody Rinas
Mrs. Linda Lantz
Mr. Paul Otterman
Mr. Jeff Scott
Mr. Javed Khan
BOD Liaison:
BOD Advisor:
ME:
District President:
Circuit
Stratford
Ottawa
Toronto
Hanover
Niagara
Hamilton
Kitchener
Windsor
Rev. Marvin Bublitz
Rev. Tim Teuscher
Rev. Ron Mohr
Rev. Paul Zabel
The DFO has three committees:



The Mission Committee includes the entire department
The Evangelism Committee
The Social Ministry Committee
In the future, when you see a request on the website or from an EN3 please respond to the respective
committees for they are looking for feedback from all the members of the East District. We are attempting
to harness new technology in the pursuit of connecting with our Missionaries-at-Large and our Assisted
Ministries. With GoTo Meeting at our disposal we can invite guests to join us when distance or weather
say otherwise. We know that new technology is being used in our remote and urban ministries that the
District supports. There are some very creative and talented members of District that can utilize this new
way of connecting with God's people and share God's Word with them.
E62
As a Department we have funds available for our Assisted Ministries if they desire the purchase of such
equipment, request forms will soon be on the website.
Since the last convention, the ME, Rev. Larry Gajdos, took a call to Historic St. Paul's in Kitchener. In
his absence without his expertise and insight, the DFO was looking for a new way of keeping in contact
with our Assisted Ministries. Each circuit is represented in the Department and each member has been
assigned to a specific Assisted Ministry or a Missionary-at-Large. Our members will be the voice of our
Assisted Ministries at our meetings while reports, requests and concerns can be brought through these
representatives. Lines of communication will enable information to flow from the Department to our
Ministries of the East District and back again. This way we will have current feedback in what is
happening with all our Assisted Ministries. With the arrival of the new East District Mission Executive,
Rev. Ron Mohr, whose duties have begun in January 2015 – we hope this new initiative will be a benefit
for all concerned.
The Department for Outreach welcomes Rev. Ron Mohr to his new office, his new home, his new
position. Look for him to be visiting in the congregations of the East District and sharing with us his
passion for missions and outreach. Better yet, invite him to come and share in what your congregation is
doing which will be a benefit for the Kingdom.
If your congregation is undertaking some exciting outreach activities please pass them along to your
DFO member from your circuit. We are always looking for suggestions and ways of reaching out.
Nothing is too small when we do it in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
The DFO financially and/or prayerfully assists the following congregations, missions and church
workers:
Full Time Missionaries-At-Large:
1. Rev. David Somers - French Ministry
2. Rev. Peter Gatluak - Hamilton area
3. Rev. James Luke - GTA Missionary
Part Time Missionaries-At-Large:
4. Rev. Al Maleske - Kingston
5. Rev. Razafy Razafindrakoto - Sherbrooke
Assisted Ministries:
6. Hamilton – Javed Akhter – Christ Our King Lutheran Church & Broadcast Ministry
7. Windsor area – WECLO – Javed Khan (Windsor Essex County Lutheran Outreach)
8. Greater Toronto Area Coordination of Missions – Rev. Greg Johnson
9. Our Saviour, Etobicoke – Joseph Singh
Maritimes Ministries:
10. Moncton, NB – Good Shepherd
11. Halifax, NS -- St. Andrew's
12. Annapolis Valley, NS
French Ministries:
13. Sherbrooke, QC – building rental
14. St. Jean sur Richelieu
15. Quebec City
E63
Remote Ministries:
16. Sudbury, Redeemer
17. Timmins, Christ
Developing Ministries:
18. Kincardine, Southampton, Hanover – a new Tri-Parish in our District
19. Kingston – Our Saviour
20. Bradford, Holy Trinity & Korean Lutheran Church – a new dual parish
21. Orangeville, Living Faith
22. London, Faith & Strathroy, Grace – a Mother and a Daughter
23. Guelph
We have been blessed with individuals and events that have brought the Gospel to others in the East
District and beyond. We are overjoyed as Christ our Hope in Collingwood has come off assistance. We
pray God's continued blessing in the life of this congregation. To God be the glory!
We celebrate with Christ Our King, Mississauga partnering with the Broadcast Ministry and together
using TV and Radio and the Internet, the Word of God goes forth. God bless your outreach!
The DFO spent a portion of a May meeting observing and helping at Our Saviour, Etobicoke Food
Bank with Joseph Singh and the volunteers. Rev. Greg Johnson is the pastor there and he is also the GTA
Coordinator for Missions.
From action the DFO took, the BOD created the Maritimes Task Force which looked into East Coast
ministry. Following the Maritimes Task Force report and the Board of Directors decision to move ahead
with a Circuit Rider to Eastern Canada, the DFO will encourage and support this venture. The idea of a
Circuit Rider fits with the mandate to serve the folks in the Maritimes with Word and Sacrament
Ministry. Please pray for this Circuit Rider position.
EvangelFest 2015 will take place on September 25-26, 2015 at Concordia Lutheran Theological
Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario. Our guest presenter will be Rev. Jonathan Fisk. We are encouraging
all congregations of the East District to enable their Pastor and members interested in outreach to
participate in this event. We are working to include a component pertaining to our congregations' Sunday
School Teachers. Look for more information and registration forms on the East District website.
God is asking us to be faithful. We may not have all the answers to the challenges of the East District;
nor the finances to support all the opportunities before us in our District, but we have the power of God in
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is our task to share the Word with those around us. We have the love and
forgiveness of Jesus – God's only Son to offer to all God's people. We have the hope of eternal life that
we offer to all God's children whether they be enduring cancer treatments, coping with loss, or appear on
prayer lists across this East District, whether they be young or older...
The District is us, all of us, from whatever background, language or country of origin. We share in this
task together.
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Will you join with us, the Department for Outreach, as we reach out with the Word, encouraging
ministry in congregations, in communities, in homes and in people's lives? God grant us the strength and
the courage to meet the challenges and the opportunities ahead with His grace.
In His Service,
Rev. William Kramer
Chairman, Department for Outreach
E65
REPORT 9
Report of the Department for Parish Services
The past triennium has been one of many changes for the Department for Parish Services (DPS). We
have had almost a complete turnover of Department members during the past three years and have spent a
lot of time in revamping and reorganizing the Department and its mandates, committees and budget to be
more efficient and better stewards of our time, talents and treasures in serving the East District, its
congregations and members. Looking to the future, the Department for Parish Services plans to continue
to focus on supporting events such as Confirmation Retreats, Youth Retreats, Youth Leader Training
Conferences, EvangelFests, Worship Workshops, Family Retreats and many more.
The members of the Department at the time of this convention are:
Kitchener Circuit
Niagara Circuit
Ottawa Circuit
Windsor Circuit
Toronto Circuit
Stratford Circuit
(2017):
(2017):
(2017):
(2016):
(2016):
(2016):
Mr. Karl Witzke
Ms. Sharon Mills
Vacant
Vacant
Mrs. Elise Ristau
Mrs. Jennifer Kitsch
Hamilton Circuit
Hanover Circuit
London Circuit
Other:
(2015):
(2015):
(2015):
Rev. Peter Gatluak
Rev. Dr. David Saar
Rev. Dr. Kenneth Voege
Mrs. Doris Milette
Rev. Paul Zabel
Youth Committee
Secretary, Student Aid Committee
Family Life Committee
Chair, EvangelFest 2014, Specialized
Ministry & Caring Committees
EDLYA Liaison, Stewardship Committee
EvangelFest 2016 Committee)
Worship Committee
Board of Directors Liaison
Ex-officio, President East District
The first thing we did as a new Department was to create an official mission statement for the
Department to guide us as we move forward:
THE DEPARTMENT FOR PARISH SERVICES (DPS) assists congregations, pastors, and
deacons of the East District as they teach the faith to everyone from children to seniors,
supporting them in areas of worship and music; instruction in doctrine; Christian life and
vocation; service to their neighbour; and by sharing their gifts for the benefit of the church.
The DPS strives to achieve this through the development and provision of resources and
events to foster distinctively Lutheran practices for the building up and encouragement of
the whole body of Christ.
The next step for the Department was to reorganize the committees of the DPS. These committees assist
the Department in implementing its plans in order to carry out its mandate, however, the committees had
become convoluted and hard to manage and many of them were not functioning anymore.
Trying to be better stewards, the Department has tightened its budget from $35,200 to $21,500 to
$18,500 over the last three years while also striving to fulfill our mandates.
The standing committees of the Department for Parish Services and their mandates are as follows:
1) Student Aid Committee
(Committee of the Whole – Liaison: Ms. Sharon Mills)
This committee serves to provide Lutheran students studying for full time church work assistance
with student loans. Applications for loans are available on the District Website as a downloadable
PDF.
E66
It was passed at the June 2014 Department for Parish Services (DPS) Board meeting that decisions
regarding this area would be made as a Committee of the Whole of the DPS. Letters were sent to
those individuals on the previous committee thanking them for their service, time, and commitment.
Also during this triennium, it was asked of the Board of Directors to have this budget line item and
responsibility fall under the Department for Finance (DFF). As per direction of the Board of
Directors, it remains under the responsibility of the DPS.
Over the past three years this committee has received fewer requests for Student Aid than in
previous years. In total 12 applications were approved versus the 24 approved the previous triennium
(2012/2013=5; 2013/2014=3; 2014/2015=4). Applications have been approved for those students who
“hold communicant membership in a parish within the LCC, East District”. The majority of
applicants were from Concordia Seminary in St. Catharines.
Respectfully submitted by:
Sharon Mills, Department for Parish Services, Student Aid Liaison
2) Worship Committee
(Liaison: Rev. Dr. Kenneth Voege)
The Worship Committee assists congregations by promoting the best possible worship materials and
providing instruction for pastors and church musicians in the conduct of worship.
D
uring the past triennium, the Worship Committee planned and implemented the services of
worship at the East District Pastors’ and Deacons’ Conferences. The committee has also been
working with the local planning committee for the 2015 East District Convention in the planning for
the convention worship. The committee primarily makes use of Lutheran Service Book for these
services and devotions as it was decided to discontinue the District CCLI license due to an increased
cost and a decrease in use.
T
he Worship Committee also awards bursaries to support the development of church organists. The
committee members review applications submitted to the Worship Committee, with $500 typically
being awarded to help cover the cost of a year’s worth of lessons given by a qualified organ
instructor. Organ Bursary Applications are available on the District Website in the download center.
3) Specialized Ministries Committee
(Committee of the Whole – Liaison: Mrs. Jennifer Kitsch)
This committee provides resources for age specific groups. This committee has two sub-committees.
Children’s Ministries: The Children’s Ministry Committee assists congregations in their
ministry to children through resources and workshops.
T
his committee also sponsors the Confirmation Camp at Camp Pioneer in Angola, NY, with Rev.
Paul Pollex as Chairman. Camp Pioneer is where East District Pastors and young people spend a
week studying the catechism in a camp setting – the DPS provides a $50 bursary to anyone attending
from an East District Congregation. Check out their website at www.pioneercamp.org
June 30 – July 5, 2013:
Rev. P. Pollex; Rev. L. Gajdos and Rev. A. Schroth on staff; 25
confirmands - 12 from New York, 8 from Ontario, 3 from
Michigan and 2 from Ohio.
Theme: Sharing Jesus – focusing on Witness
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July 20 – 25, 2014:
*date was moved to later in July to try to get more participants
from the East District
Rev. P. Pollex, Rev. L. Gajdos and Rev. A. Schroth provided
Pastoral leadership
The final number of Confirmands was 33, with 13 from Ontario.
New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were also represented. This
represented an increase of around 30% from the previous year.
And participants came from both ends of our District: Ottawa and
Amherstburg.
Theme: Sharing Jesus – with the realistic verbal sharing of the
Gospel in a variety of ways at the heart of the teaching
The Camp Pioneer Director, Rev. Alex Knowles, would like to draw more participants from the East
District and is willing to meet with any congregation, Winkel, or group to provide information about
the Camp and what it offers. He is also able to help answer questions about border crossing or any
other problems that Canadians may have in participating in Camp activities. The Confirmation Camp
is open to any year Confirmand and another year for alumni. At $260, the week is a real bargain,
especially with the $50 District bursary. This summer the Confirmand Camp Week is scheduled for
July 19-24, 2015.
Older Adults: Mr. Ron Fischer retired as the committee chairman at the end of the last triennium,
since then this committee has not been active. The DPS encourages the older adults of the District to
check out “Engaging the Aging” quarterly newsletters found at
http://www.wheatridge.org/resources/health-ministry-center/engaging-the-aging
4) Family Life Committee
(Liaison: Mrs. Elise Ristau)
T
his committee assists congregations to support family living and encourages families to recognize
their unit as a blessing from God. Elise Ristau is the chairman.
The committee is planning its first ever East District Camping Event in June of 2015 which it
hopes will become an annual event. The event is scheduled for Friday, June 12 – Sunday, June 14 at
Highland Pines Campground on Belwood Lake, near Fergus and is open to all members of the
District – young or old, single to large families (all ages / all stages). This campground was chosen
for its central location and for its ability to accommodate all types of campers (i.e. has cabins to rent
in addition to RV and tent sites).
The plan is to keep the same weekend of June year after year with the option of changing locations
to different campgrounds so that it is easier for people further away to attend. Posters and more
information are available on the District Website or from any DPS member.
Respectfully submitted by:
Elise Ristau, Department for Parish Services, Family Life Committee Liaison
5) East District Lutheran (EDL) Youth Committee
(Liaison: Mr. Karl Witzke)
A
s a subcommittee of the Department for Parish Services, the Youth Committee’s mandate is to
“assist Parents, Pastors, Congregations and Circuits of the East District in cultivating, encouraging
and maintaining a Lutheran identity among our youth while helping to build lasting relationships
based on growing up in Christ in all ways.” This is done by arranging and coordinating youth retreats
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and training conferences including a Spring Youth Retreat, Fall BananaCram Confirmand Retreat and
Youth Leader Training Conferences.
In my short time as Youth Committee Liaison I am saddened to report that the committee has
cancelled 2 BananaCrams due to poor enrolment. Our youth are the future of our Church and as a
Church body we should be encouraging our young people to attend these events, allowing them to
spend time with like-minded individuals and strengthening bonds within our District.
We are currently looking for a second Pastoral advisor as well as another youth member (14-18) to
sit on our Youth Committee.
U
pcoming at time of this report we have a Confirmation Retreat at Trinity, Fisherville on Feb. 2022, 2015 – Theme: W3 Word, Worship, Witness, and the District Youth Retreat on April 24-26,
2015. By the time of the convention we hope both will have been well attended.
Respectfully submitted by:
Karl Witzke, Department for Parish Services, Youth Committee Liaison
6) East District Lutheran Young Adults (EDLYA)
(Liaison: Rev. Peter Gatluak)
By the grace of God and with the help of the Holy Spirit EDLYA is committed to encouraging young
adults between the ages of 18-35 to grow in their relationship with God, each other, and all people.
EDLYA had its fall retreat on October 7th-9
th
, 2014 with roughly 20 in attendance. They took in a
topic from their pastoral adviser Pastor Harold Ristau. The topic was "Why we worship the way we
do: the Old Testament roots of Divine Service" and it was well received.
At this retreat they also held their annual meeting, the highlight of which was their representative
positions being filled with many new and enthusiastic members stepping forward to help EDLYA
function! This has been a struggle for them in recent years with registration going down. They now
seem to be back on the upswing.
Their winter retreat was on January 31-February 1, 2015, in Toronto at Trinity it was well received
with 27 in attendance. The speaker was Pastor Ling Pui (LP) Yeong and his topic was "Lutheran
View of Success". Overall, the retreat went very well.
A
t the business meeting during this retreat they formed a committee to work on reviewing and
updating their constitution as requested by the Department for Parish Services.
This is also an exciting year for EDLYA as it is reaching its 30th year working in the East District of
LCC. They hope to hold a celebration at their summer retreat to mark this milestone in their service to
God and this District.
T
hey pray that God continues to bless their work and fellowship that their Little Group may
continue to strengthen our young adults to take God as the leader of all aspects of daily life. May He
continue to use them for His Glory.
Respectfully submitted by:
Rev. Peter Gatluak, Department of Parish Services, EDLYA Liaison
E69
7) Stewardship Committee
(Liaison: Rev. Peter Gatluak)
The Stewardship Committee assists congregations in helping their members grow in discipleship so
that, under the Gospel of Jesus Christ, people are empowered to manage time, talent and treasures for
the fulfillment of God's purpose in their lives. To meet this need, our East District through the
Department for Parish Services, has chosen to support a resource to meet the stewardship needs of our
congregations.
On Saturday, September 8, 2012, a group of pastors and lay leaders from across the District met to
be trained on the program which began beta testing that fall. Twelve congregations requested
introduction packages for congregational review. Two more congregations utilized these resources in
2013.
The training was delivered by Rev. Dr. Glenn Schaeffer, Executive Assistant–Outreach, ABC
District, who was instrumental in the training and launch of “Free & Joyous Response,” a
stewardship program within the ABC District. Assisting Dr. Schaeffer to implement this endeavor in
our East District will be District President, Rev. Paul Zabel, and Gift Coordinator for Lutheran
Foundation–Canada, East District, Mr. Alfred Feth.
The “Free & Joyous Response” stewardship program is based on the need of the giver to give, not
the need of the church to receive. It is not tied to the church budget, and can be used any time of the
year. It raises people to a new level of spiritual commitment and annual giving and congregations
who have committed themselves to this stewardship emphasis have experienced significant increases
in financial gifts.
“Free & Joyous Response” also contains a stewardship education and commitment emphasis that
recognizes that churches that fail to talk about Christian stewardship on a regular basis often wind up
talking about money all year long. It is based on the Biblical principles of percentage based, grace
motivated, sacrificial giving—urging people to take a step forward in their stewardship life without
pressure or legalism. It does not use gimmicks or fundraising techniques. It emphasizes equal
sacrifice, not equal amounts.
“Free & Joyous Response” ties the commitment process to the Sunday morning act of worship by
reaching the maximum number of people in the most spiritual setting. It does not have members
asking other members one-on-one for a financial commitment. And, in addition, it requires minimal
organization for the congregation and utilizes a trained facilitator to keep the process on track,
maintaining Biblical focus and avoiding expensive shortcuts.
If your congregation would like to review the Introductory Package, please email Al Feth at
[email protected].
8) Caring Ministry
(Committee of the Whole – Liaison: Mrs. Jennifer Kitsch)
This Committee is mostly inactive at this time. However, its main focus is to encourage and assist
congregations in developing caring ministries on the local level in areas such as:
P
arish Nursing - focusing primarily on preventative health. Parish Nurses may be involved in
various health related activities geared to all age levels; and
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Stephen Ministry - Stephen Ministry people are ready to serve you and those you care about in times
of personal crisis. They are trained and committed people of the church commissioned to assist our
pastors in the vital ministry of Christian care giving. The Stephen Series is a complete system for
training and organizing laypeople to provide one-to-one Christian care to hurting people in and
around the congregation.
Under this Committee the Department for Parish Services also supported the Ministry as Curiosity
workshop in June of 2013 by offering a registration discount to those attending amounting to $1000.
9) EvangelFest
(Ad-hoc Committee – Liaison: Rev. Dr. David Saar; Chairman: Rev. Dan Kitsch)
O
n an alternating basis with the Department for Outreach, the DPS plans and runs EvangelFest, a
time for fellowship and learning.
EvangelFest 2014 was held on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Peace Lutheran Church, Tillsonburg. The
theme was Boldly Lutheran – The Family of God. There were 63 registered with all sessions well
attended. Morning Worship was led by Rev. Ron Mohr; Evening Worship was led by Rev. Daniel
Kitsch. Keynote speakers were Rev. Gregory Johnson and Joseph Singh and Rev. Paul Pollex.
Breakout sessions were led by Rev. John Trembulak III, Rev. Mark Koehler, President Rev. Paul
Zabel, Rev. Charles Ravelonjato, and Rev. Paul Pollex. Darryll Holland handled the financial aspects
of EvangelFest. We did not spend all of the money budgeted for EvangelFest by The DPS.
A
very special thank you to Rev. Ron Mohr and Peace, Tillsonburg for stepping in at the last minute
to host. Without all their hard work EvangelFest 2014 would not have been successful. Thank you
also to the committee – Rev. Rob Korsch & Jennifer Kitsch for all their work and dedication.
EvangelFest 2016 planning is just getting underway. The DPS is planning to amalgamate the SS
Teachers workshop with our ‘In-Reach’ EvangelFest in 2016.
Respectfully submitted by:
Rev. Dan Kitsch, Department for Parish Services, EvangelFest Committee Chairman
E71
COMMITTEES
E72
REPORT 10
Report of the Abuse Prevention Committee
I have been instructed by the Board of Directors to write a report to the convention regarding abuse
prevention. This is because of my professional experience as an insurance broker and advisor to the
Abuse Prevention Committee of the East District.
All congregations in the district have been contacted at least twice encouraging the congregations to
prepare an abuse prevention policy. Forty One (41) congregations are in partial or complete compliance
with the components recommended by the Abuse Prevention Committee (APC).
The APC is reviewing its existing policy in order to update the policy as the result of pastors and
congregational comments, legislation and precedent law.
In 1996 only 10% of all denomination churches in Canada had a formal written prevention plan. In 2012
this has risen to 80%. While these plans are not perfect, it indicates the urgency to have a plan.
Children and teenagers are vulnerable to abuse by those in positions of power and trust. An abuse
prevention policy is a risk management tool protecting those who are vulnerable, those dealing with
children and teenagers, and those on church boards.
Churches need to understand that there are people who prey on children and they do not look different
than anyone else. Experts have concluded that child molesters cannot be cured. They can be managed but
they should never again be in a position of responsibility for children. We all sin and fall short of the
glory of God. However, I cannot fathom abusing a child as my inclination is to protect a child. But that
does not mean abuse in the world does not exist, nor is it to be ignored.
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. My business experience has provided me with
numerous case studies. An example is a church of a Christian denomination of a different faith, but that is
not relevant to the case. The church has legal action in progress. The church rented a room₁ to a husband
and wife couple, members of the congregation. They taught together, a dance and music program to
children ages four to six years of age. The program closed down over fifteen years ago, the husband
passed away over ten years ago.
A young woman, now aged twenty two years, after seeking psychological counselling, realized that she
had been sexually abused as a child. After seeking legal counsel, legal action was commenced against the
wife of the business and the church, as the landlord.
WHAT?! Precedent law, as set by the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment₂ legal case, has
determined that a plaintiff can bring legal action within two years after she realized she had been
molested; not two years after the molestation took place.
In this case, the husband and wife had insurance in place. However the wife has no idea which insurance
provided coverage, or if physical and sexual abuse coverage was included. Besides being personally
devastated, she is in a retirement home with limited assets.
E73
The congregation has assets. At the time of this event however, there was no insurance coverage in
place and existing insurance does not provide coverage back past the “retro date.” The legal expenses to
date exceed $100,000. There are numerous cases such as this.
It is therefore imperative to have a policy in place and to follow the policy. Do not assume the policy is
being followed.
Criminal Record Checks including Police Information Checks (CPIC), Vulnerable Sector Scans (VSV)
queries are available through local municipal, provincial and federal police services (RCMP) and through
authorized third party providers.
An abuse policy protects the vulnerable, the volunteer, the church board, and the congregation.
Respectfully submitted,
Reg Tiegs
Chairman, Board of Directors
₁What to do about renters?
Be sure they are conducting affairs that are in agreement with our church values.
Obtain a “Certificate of Insurance.” Keep them on file indefinitely.
Be named as an “ADDITIONAL INSURED” on the Certificate of Insurance.
Does the Certificate of Insurance show that the insurance policy includes “Physical & Sexual Abuse”?
If the renter’s use involves youth or children, this is extremely important!
₂Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment were held responsible as they either didn’t do anything about
the abuse they were aware of, or they didn’t provide proper supervision, allowing the abuse to happen.
E74
REPORT 11
Report of the Committee on Constitutions and Membership
The membership of the East District Constitutions Committee was re-appointed after the East District
convention in 2012. The members of the committee are: Mr. Phil Ochs, Mr. Gerald Koeslag, Rev. David
Hamp, and Rev. Robert S. Morley, who serves as chairman of the committee.
In the 3-year period of time since the last East District Convention, this committee has dealt with several
congregational submissions. The actions taken are reflected below.
The Committee recommended to the East District Board of Directors, approval of the constitutional
submissions by the following congregations. The recommendations were then approved by the East
District Board of Directors. (date of approval follows congregational name).

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd/Loving Saviour, Barrie, ON ................... Oct. 15, 2012

Grace Lutheran Church, Kitchener, ON ................................................................ Mar. 18-19, 2013

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Moncton, NB................................................... Sept. 30, 2013

Grace Lutheran Church, Pembroke (Locksley), ON ............................................. Sept. 30,2013

Trinity Lutheran Church, Gowanstown, ON ........................................................ Mar. 24, 2014

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Bradford, ON ...................................................... Jun. 23, 2014

Faith Lutheran Church, London, ON ................................................................... Jan. 19, 2015

Faith Lutheran Church, Kitchener, ON ................................................................ Jan. 19, 2015
Outstanding Work on submissions to this point involve:

Living Faith Lutheran Church, Orangeville, ON

Historic St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kitchener, ON
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Robert S. Morley
East District Constitutions Committee
E75
REPORT 12
Report of the Committee for Communications Services
Technologies change, the means by which we communicate evolve, and yet the life giving message of
the gospel remains the same.
As a committee we are tasked with exploring, discussing and suggesting ways in which emerging
technologies could be used by the District and its congregations. We also try to comb through the fine
print and point out areas which may be of concern to the church.
Major developments in the last triennium have included: bringing the District Board room into the 21
st
century through technological upgrades which allow for e-meetings to take place; development of a
checklist of technological needs for when the district meets in convention; the move towards
communicating district relevant information in a broader and timely manner; development of a new
District website at www.lcceast.ca.
Areas of focus moving forward: further development of congregational splash pages on the district
website improving web presence for our congregations, exploring, giving guidance and developing
suggestions for the use of emergent media, continued improvement in all areas of communication
between District and Congregations.
Thank you to all of the individuals who have given of their time to serve the district on this committee
in the last triennium; Mr. Josh Gajdos (Secretary), Pastor John MacKay, Mr. James Gerber, Pastor Joel
Kuhl, Mr. Paul Beckett. A huge thank you to Ilene Fortin for all of the communicative work that she does
for the district.
Much has changed in terms of the technologies that the church is faced with in the last decade; and
changes continue to occur at break-neck speed. Thanks be to God, that he never changes, and the message
of hope and reconciliation found only in Christ remains the same.
Respectfully submitted,
David Zakel, Chair
Committee for Communication Services
E76
REPORT 13
Report of the District Archivist
"God's Will For Us" I Thessalonians 5:16-18
God's will for us is the same as it has been over the centuries, to continue our worship practices as our
ancestors did when they arrived in this country. Evidence of this can be found within the many records
and files stored in the Malinsky Memorial Archives at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St.
Catharines.
Sir Arthur G. Doughty, a former archivist at the National Archives of Canada, often said, "Of all our
national assets, archives are the most precious; they are the gift of one generation to another and the
extent of our care of them marks the extent of our civilization." This applies to our church archives as
well. Archives are sometimes misunderstood and under-appreciated, however their work serves society in
ways that may be best appreciated decades, even centuries, after the fact. They are the keepers of our
heritage—of our artifacts, our history, and our collective memories. This age, in which the public
demands information at its fingertips, has underlined the importance of preserving and cataloging
documents. Electronic data can be fleeting. Real, non-electronic records must be more permanent.
To expand on our convention theme, we rejoice that OUR congregations continue to send materials to
the archives and give thanks for a repository in which to preserve them. We also pray that the church will
continue to grow and learn through historical experiences recorded in the archives.
Many additions continue to arrive at the archives, including church histories, annual reports, services of
ordinations, installations, dedications and anniversaries. All these are useful bits of information being
added to the life of a pastor or to the history of a congregation. One significant acquisition was a
collection of the late Pastor Howard Kuhl's sermons and Lutheran Hour addresses dating from 1940 to
1960. Another was a copy of a book entitled "Two for the Lord—The Will and Josie Story,” a family
history of former Ontario District President Rev. W. C. Boese and his family.
In March 2012, I attended an Archeion workshop hosted by the Archives Association of Ontario at
McMaster University in Hamilton. At this workshop I learned a simplified system for the publication and
modification of descriptions of the archives holdings. The Archeion service is a cost-effective way of
sharing finding aids online with potential researchers. Over 2012 more than 6,500 descriptions were
revised, 2.771 new ones published, 229 digital objects were added to Archeion by AAO members and the
site was visited by more than 38,500 people. I personally revised all 20 of my current descriptions on the
site but have not had time to add any new ones.
The Committee on Cultural Properties and Archives, of which I am a part, has not had a meeting since
2007, however they did have several conference calls, the most recent being September 2013. Since 2012,
there have been several changes within the committee. One significant change was the closing of the
Central District office in Regina in 2013, which had housed the archives for the district. At that time, their
administrative records went into storage facilities in Winnipeg and the records of closed congregations
were sent to Lutheran Historical Institute (LHI) in Edmonton. Maxine Holm remained the archivist for the
district hut she resides in Regina. The former director of LHI and ABC District Archivist, Karen Baron,
retired in 20 l 4. Her replacement is Dr. Grant Grams, who had been working in LHI as a volunteer under
Mrs. Baron.
E77
Over the last three years, many inquiries have been answered by the archivist. Most requests have been
either genealogical or historical and have come by way of e-mail, telephone or, occasionally, by
correspondence or in person.
Many of our congregations now have their own archivist, however, for those who don't, I urge you to
take immediate steps to secure one. This must be done so that the records may be protected and preserved
for future generations. Only in this way can we learn from the past and go forward as God wills us into
the future.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Nagel, Archivist
Lutheran Church–Canada, East District
E78
REPORT 14
Report of the Handbook Committee
The members of the Handbook Committee for the term 2012-2015 were: Rev. Marvin Bublitz, Dr. Ken
Currie, Mrs. Lois Griffin, Rev. Carl Wagner, and Mr. Ted Von Zuben. The members conducted their
business via e-mail and conference call.
At the first meeting of the committee on April 23, 2013 the committee elected Mrs. Lois Griffin as chair
and Rev. Marvin Bublitz as secretary.
Changes to the Handbook resulting from resolutions adopted at the 2012 East District convention were
implemented by the out-going Handbook Committee.
Due to the new federal Not-For-Profit legislation, it was necessary to make a number of changes to the
Bylaws as well as to the letters patent. The Board of Directors appointed a committee consisting of Rev.
Marvin Bublitz, Mrs. Lois Griffin, and Mr. Reg Tiegs to oversee this process. This committee consulted
with the Handbook Committee in preparing a new set of bylaws and regulations to replace the bylaws in
the 2012 Handbook. The final draft of these documents was reviewed by the Handbook Committee.
These new bylaws and regulations were approved at a special meeting of the members of the East District
Corporation on March 1, 2014 and now form the 2014 Handbook.
Since that time, there have been some amendments to Bylaw 2014 and Regulations 2014 that the
Handbook Committee has discussed. Two of these amendments are the result of resolutions passed at the
2014 Synodical Convention. All of these proposed amendments will be presented to the East District
convention by way of Overtures.
Finally, in November of 2013, the Handbook Committee was requested by the chair of the Board of
Directors to provide an interpretation of section 5.02G of the Handbook which states:
5.02 G No person shall serve on any department to which they are directly accountable, but may
serve on one of its committees if it can be shown that there is no real or perceived conflict of
interest.
The request resulted from concerns expressed regarding the decision of the Board of Directors to
appoint to the Department for Outreach a pastor from a congregation receiving mission assistance and
also a layperson working for a ministry receiving mission assistance. Concern was expressed that these
appointments were contrary to the above section of the Handbook.
In reviewing this matter, the Handbook Committee considered two questions in particular:
1. Is a pastor who serves a congregation or ministry that receives assistance directly accountable to
the Department for Outreach?
2. Is a lay member of a congregation or ministry that receives assistance directly accountable to the
Department for Outreach?
It was the unanimous opinion of the Handbook Committee that the answer to both of these questions is
"No". It is the congregation that receives the assistance and the Pastor is accountable to the congregation.
In the case of a lay person who is hired by a congregation or other entity, that person is accountable to the
congregation or entity that hires him, not to the Department for Outreach.
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The Committee therefore concluded that the appointments were in order and did not contravene section
5.02G of the Handbook. The Committee did note that all appointees should be cautious in avoiding actual
or apparent conflicts of interest, and should declare such interest and not discuss or vote on matters
directly pertaining to their congregation or ministry. However, the fact that they may have a conflict of
interest on a particular item that the Department deals with is not a valid reason for objecting to their
appointment.
Respectfully submitted,
Lois Griffin, Chair,
Handbook Committee
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AUXILIARIES & AGENCIES
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REPORT 15
Report of Ambassadors of Reconciliation
Grown out of the vision from Ambassadors of Reconciliation, “to cultivate lifestyles of
reconciliation,” Ambassadors of Reconciliation–Canada had its beginnings during the
LCC Convention in Winnipeg, June of 2008. Through Peacemaker Ministries and
Ambassadors of Reconciliation, numerous teaching and training events had been held
throughout LCC, and some of those with training saw the formation of a Canadian
organization, closely associated with Lutheran Church–Canada, as a means to better
provide reconciliation materials, as well as teaching/training opportunities to leaders and members of
LCC congregations and organizations.
Thus, Ambassadors of Reconciliation–Canada Inc. became a federally recognized organization under
the seal of office of the Minister of Industry on the 10th day of November, 2009, under the provisions of
Part II of the Canada Corporations Act. Currently, we are in the process of seeking Listed Service
Organization status in LCC.
As with its parent organization, AoR-C seeks to equip Lutherans and their churches for living,
proclaiming and cultivating lifestyles of reconciliation… "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as
though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to
God." 2 Corinthians 5:20 (Web site: http://hisaor.org/)
AoR-C provides resources in a number of ways. First, as availability of materials and teaching
opportunities continues to grow, we host seminars on the Bible studies available (e.g. Blessed Are the
Peacemakers, Getting to the Heart of Conflict). Second, we have a display unit offering books, videos and
Bible studies for sale at our practicums and seminars. We also plan on having the display unit available
and these materials for sale at District conventions. Third, with Certified Christian Conciliators on the
Board of AoR-C, it is also hoped that training events, such as the Coaching Conflict and Mediation
Practicums will be requested more frequently and available to all areas of LCC.
As more teaching and training events occur, congregations will be encouraged to identify those who
have special gifts and abilities within their midst, encouraging them to take further training and provide
opportunities to utilize their peacemaking skills in teaching, coaching, and mediating.
Conflict is inevitable wherever sinful human beings are together. That includes Christian homes,
congregations, and businesses. AoR-C hopes that it can serve the congregations of LCC by providing
scriptural ways of understanding and responding to conflict; ways that will bring Glory to God and
growth to His kingdom!
The Board of AoR-C currently consists of:
Daryl Becker (Interim Chair)
Brian Lewis (Executive Director)
Ted Kober (AoR); Francis Taman; Elton Harper
We are currently seeking representation on the Board by East District LCC.
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We are also pleased to have the services of Angela Honey (Recording Secretary) Lynn Becker
(Inventory control) and Angela Taman (Treasurer).
As AoR-C nears Listed Service Organization status, it is hoped that the makeup of the board will truly
reflect a Lutheran Church–Canada presence.
Peacemaking resources can be ordered through AoR-C by contacting Lynn Becker at 780-477-6571 or
emailing [email protected].
In depth information on seminars and practicums can be obtained at hisaor.org. The link to AoR Canada
is on the home page. The scheduling of seminars and practicums can be done through Daryl Becker (same
contact info).
Respectfully submitted,
Daryl D. Becker, Interim Chair
Ambassadors of Reconciliation–Canada
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REPORT 16
Report of Canadian Lutheran World Relief
Greetings in the name of Christ our Lord.
As the executive director of Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR), it is my pleasure to bring
greetings to the 2015 convention of the East District of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC).
CLWR turned 69 this year, and as always, our mission and vision support a world where people live in
justice, peace and dignity. Inspired by God’s love for humanity, CLWR challenges the causes and
responds to the consequences of human suffering and poverty. This report highlights work made possible
through your generous support over the past three years.
Working with LCC and the Iglesia Luterana Sínodo de Nicaragua
CLWR continues to collaborate with LCC and the Iglesia Luterana Sínodo de Nicaragua (ILSN) in
support of a children’s education program, as well as a health and dental clinic in Chinandega. This
program allows the deaconesses of the Church to tutor hundreds of elementary-age children in classes like
math and science. It has enhanced the lives of the students involved and has resulted in the parents of the
children becoming more engaged with the Church as they take a keen and active interest in the future of
their children’s education. CLWR and its partners are beginning to examine future plans for these
programs and how we can best ensure that these activities are sustained for the long term.
In January 2014, I was pleased to attend the
ILSN convention and meet clergy and lay
people, including the Church deaconesses
who serve as community liaison
representatives for the children’s education
program.
Working with developing communities
O
ur five-year, $12 million community development program, generously funded by the Canadian
International Development Agency and Lutherans from across Canada, came to an end in 2013. Together,
we changed the lives of thousands of rural families in Bolivia, Peru, Mozambique, Zambia and India.
Some of that work includes:



supporting safe water sources like wells, and improved sanitation systems such as proper latrines
to stop the spread of disease;
providing livestock, seeds, farm tools and training in sustainable agricultural practices to prevent
hunger and support people as they make a living by producing and selling food;
supporting education around gender equality and democratic practices to advance community
leadership, governance, advocacy and self-sufficiency
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In mission for refugees
Since the merger of the Canadian International Development Agency with the Department of Foreign
Affairs, there have been few opportunities for CLWR to submit new development-oriented proposals
because more government resources have been shifted to short-term humanitarian projects. In response,
CLWR has proactively changed our focus to supporting refugees in camps and urban settlements, where
there is a great need and where we already have experience in delivering aid.
In January 2014, CLWR received a $2 million grant from the Canadian government to provide 10,000
Syrian refugees with gas heaters, gas bottles and refills, and winter clothing and carpets to keep out cold
and moisture. Three hundred families received upgrades to their housing to create warmer and more
sanitary living conditions. In partnership with Canadian Foodgrains Bank, of which CLWR is a member,
monthly food vouchers were distributed to 8,500 refugees and vulnerable Jordanians.
In September 2013, CLWR launched a special appeal for sweaters for people displaced by the ongoing
conflict in Syria. Your response was overwhelming! Over 70,000 sweaters were sent in three shipments to
the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan.
In December 2014, we received $1.2 million in funding from the Canadian government to help 11,200
people displaced by the violent humanitarian crisis in Iraq. Our project responds to harsh weather
conditions with heaters, kerosene refills and blankets for winter, and new mattresses and hygiene kits
during the dry and hot summer. We are also supporting small-scale renovations to 500 households to
make shelters more livable, including installing walls, windows, fans and drains.
Emergency relief
Your ability and willingness to support those affected by natural and human-made disasters seems
immune to fatigue. Over the last three years, you have graciously and generously responded to appeals for
those affected by drought in East Africa and the African Sahel, and by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
(for which we received over $645,000 in donations). We also received over $480,000 in donations from
Canadian Lutherans to support Syrians displaced by civil war. At home in Canada, you reached out
during the floods in Thunder Bay (June 2012) and in southern Alberta (June 2013). Your gifts enable us
to support the work of partners as they deliver both immediate assistance and long-term redevelopment
aid.
We Care quilts and kits
We are grateful for the continued support demonstrated by LCC congregations for the We Care quilts
and kits program. During the last three years, 14 overseas shipments were completed to places such as
Nicaragua, Kenya, Mauritania, Jordan and Tanzania. They included over 21,500 We Care kits, 18,900
baby bundles and almost 45,000 quilts and blankets, many handmade!
Refugee Sponsorship
Another way Lutheran congregations and groups continue to respond to the call to be in mission is
through refugee sponsorship. In the fiscal years of 2012-13 and 2013-14, their efforts have enabled 167
refugees from places such as Afghanistan, Colombia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Somalia and Sudan to begin new lives in Canada. Moreover, CLWR has assisted congregations and
groups wishing to sponsor refugees to complete a further 51 applications through its status as a
sponsorship agreement holder in the federal Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. CLWR provides
support for congregations embarking on a refugee sponsorship through its satellite offices in Vancouver
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and Waterloo. I invite you to make contact with them to find out how you can become involved in this
important ministry.
Youth Engagement
In August 2012, we created a new youth engagement coordinator position that has led to the formation of
a formal network of youth and young adults knowledgeable in international relief and development
issues, and committed to achieving positive social change. CLWR has strengthened its presence at
workshops and many regional and national youth gatherings, including the 2013 LCC youth gathering in
Winnipeg. In 2013, several LCC youth and young adults participated in the very successful Youth Global
Encounter to Peru and the 2014 Youth Summit in Winnipeg.
I want to conclude by expressing my sincere appreciation for the growing financial commitment of LCC
East District members to the work of CLWR, as well as for the valued support and guidance provided by
East District members serving on the CLWR Board of Directors. Currently giving of their time and
talents are Ms. Lois Griffin and Mr. Nathan Krey. Sincere gratitude is also extended to Rev. Dr. Robert
Bugbee for his inspired leadership in his role as advisor to our Board.
This report has presented some highlights of the ongoing work of CLWR. To learn more about what
CLWR is doing to make a difference in people’s lives, please visit www.clwr.org.
May God continue to bless the work of CLWR and the LCC, its staff and supporters, and the people
around the globe whom we serve together.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Granke
Executive Director
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REPORT 17
Report of Concordia Lutheran Mission Society (CLMS)
St. Paul wrote concerning those who supported his ministry: I thank my God
every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with
joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Phil.
1:3-5) We too give thanks for all of you who are partners in the gospel through
your prayers and support of mission projects funded by the Concordia Lutheran
Mission Society.
Partners in the Gospel
I have said the following to our CLMS Board of Directors: “We have a partnership in the Gospel. We
are partners in mission. I don't only mean this for the ten of us on the Board; we are partners in mission
with all who pray with us and give their gifts of finances and time and talents. Without them and their
response to the grace of God in their lives, we would have no purpose for existing as a board. But also
without us, they would not have the opportunity to give to missions in the specific ways we provide. So it
is not just about us; it is about all of the partners: board and donor members working together in God’s
mission to save the world.”
In a similar way we have a symbiotic relationship with Lutheran Church–Canada and its Districts.
Being an Auxiliary of LCC we exist to aid the Synod, specifically in programs that extend the ministry
and mission of the Synod. In other words, though we are an independent organization, we have no
purpose apart from LCC and its mission program. If Synod did not establish missions in other countries
we would have no LCC missions to support. At the same time, we have a privileged role to play, since we
are able to provide one-third or more of the funds for many of Synod’s mission projects. We are indeed in
partnership with you.
Projects
We raise funds each year for specific projects primarily presented to us by our Synod’s Committee for
Missions and Social Ministry Services through its executive director, the Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel. We
also invite proposals from Districts for their mission endeavors. Our commitment is that every dollar
given goes directly to the project designated with no deduction for operational expenses. If a project is
oversubscribed, the excess will normally be applied to similar projects in the same mission area, carried
over to a similar project in the following year, or reassigned to other projects. Operational costs are often
absorbed in part by board members or by donors who specify operational costs.
While the construction of the seminary building at Usatua, a suburb of Odessa, Ukraine was a primary
concern in a previous triennium, that project was mainly completed, and our focus these past three years
has been on the seminary program itself and other outreach in support of the mission of the Synod of
Evangelical Lutheran Churches of Ukraine (SELCU). We no longer receive grants from the Schwann
Foundation to assist in this. Because of the political instability in the country a seminary program was not
in operation in 2014 but the SELCU has determined to begin a new class in September 2015.
It has been our privilege to support a budding mission in South East Asia, new churches in Thailand
and Cambodia. Our larger focus has been in Central America with the birth of the Iglesia Luterana
Sinodo de Nicaragua and the outreach of this mission-focused church into Costa Rica and Honduras. We
have also supported the PAT (Pastors with Alternative Training) program in Canada. These pastors reach
out to ethnic or multi-cultural people in our own communities. A Foreign Students’ Fund was established
for the purpose of helping a pastor from one of our mission fields receive greater theological training in
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Canada in preparation for more effective leadership in his own country. This has begun with the arrival of
Pastor Alexey (Oleksiy) Navrotsky and his family in Edmonton last September 2014. He will be among
us until mid-2016 when his studies will hopefully be completed.
Trends in Donations
The project budgets for CLMS were $109,465 in 2011, $118,550 in 2012, $121,420 in 2013, and
$135,000 in 2014. In 2011 all project needs were funded. In 2012 all projects except one were
completely funded; therefore $2,905 was carried over to 2013 to fully fund our commitment to the PAT
program. Generous donors subsequently funded this early in the year. In 2013 our income did not meet
our projected goal, and we had to carry over $16,000 on three projects into the 2014 year. We are
however filled with thankful hearts that we have been able to fund all of our 2014 projects because of the
generosity of our regular and new donors in 2014. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Plus we
were able to fund a proposal for Seminary Building Maintenance in Ukraine with $3,150 we drew from
Schwann Foundation funds designated for that purpose.
In 2013 our projects income decreased, following a general trend of decreasing income in recent years.
We haven’t fully analyzed the reason for this. There were, of course, several major disasters in 2013,
which may have caused some donor fatigue. We are also aware that our donor base is aging and
declining. We may well face a similar decrease with the current economic climate in 2015. But God is
faithful and we trust Him to provide for His mission. Our challenge is to seek ways to reach a younger
generation of people who also want to actively participate in missions, and to do so with current
technological means, social media, etc.
Direct Donor Requests
Our Development Committee uses three mail appeals annually and one appeal in the Concordia
Mission Advocate as our main fundraising vehicles. We have made several attempts to send out appeals
via email but have not yet perfected the process. For 2015 we will work with a new Donor Management
system, which should help us with this. We also work in cooperation with the Lutheran Foundation to
help people who wish to leave a bequest for CLMS. A brochure for this, along with a general “Become a
Partner in Mission” brochure, can be found at our Convention displays or can be posted in our
congregations. We are always seeking ways to increase the number of names on our contact list, realizing
that our donors represent less than one percent of our LCC membership. I invite all of you to fill out a
form at our booth at the Convention. While we do not appeal directly to congregations, we are sure there
are many mission-minded individuals who would enjoy the opportunity to participate in specific mission
projects by partnering with us. Our most effective brochures have been our annual Projects Brochures
briefly outlining the mission projects we are supporting that year. Look for them in your congregation’s
display area.
Our Ministries and Projects Committee solicits project proposals primarily from Synod’s mission
executive, but also from emerging church entities, and occasionally from District mission executives and
from sister Synods in the ILC. We prayerfully seek God’s guidance as we prioritize projects and set a
projects budget. It is our constant desire to be led by the Holy Spirit in this work. The Ministries and
Projects Committee also seeks to gather information on the progress of funded projects and report this to
our donors as well as to the church through our website.
Our Mission Education/Communications Committee seeks to facilitate this sharing of information. We
ran into a significant snag when our website crashed in 2012, which became a blessing in disguise. Our
current website www.concordiamissions.org is much easier to navigate and use. We have in the past year
been able to post more mission stories and reports than ever before. The challenge is, of course, obtaining
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such information from the field. You can sign up for updates as they appear on our website by going to
the bottom of our home page and complete the process to Subscribe to receive Email updates.
LCC’s Best Kept Secret
What is surprising as you move about our Synod is the number of people who are not aware of the
tremendous blessings God has showered on our Synod’s mission work abroad in the past decade and a
half. I’ve begun calling CLMS and our Synod’s mission work in general “LCC’s best kept secret.” At a
recent mission festival, a longstanding active member of one of our congregations said, “Why have I not
heard of this before? I want to support this.” I didn’t have an answer for her. With our limited resources
we do what we can to get the word out. But there is always more that can be done. That is why we are
desirous of having volunteers who are conversant with current social media communications and other
ways of spreading the word of what God is doing through LCC missions.
We attempt to attend as many conventions in the Synod as we are able without incurring significant
expense. We have a display banner, power point presentation and brochures to bring our mission and
story to conventioneers. We also produce some resources for groups to use in promoting any particular
project.
2015 CLMS Projects
After prayerful consideration the following projects were adopted for 2015:
Canada
1501 – Foreign Student Fund
1502 – GTA Southeast Asian Broadcast Ministry
$20,000
8,000
Costa Rica
1503 – Children’s Christian Education Program
1504 – Mission Facility Rentals in Cartago & San Jose
6,000
12,000
Honduras
1505 – Mission to Olanchito
6,000
Nicaragua
1506 – 2015 Reformation Countdown Seminars
2,280
1507 – Children’s Feeding Program
8,000
1508 – Children’s Christian Education Program
8,700
1509 – Children’s Vacation Bible School
6,900
1510 – Deaconess Support
8,000
1511 – Desks for Children’s Education Program
4,000
1512 – Mission Centre Agricultural Project
5,000
1513 – Mission Facility Rental in Rivas
6,400
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1514 – New Mission Start in Managua
1515 – Mission Rentals in Sebaco
12,000
6,000
Thailand
1516 – Support for Missionary Rev. Chujit
9,500
Ukraine
1517 – Bible Study Outreach in Dnepropetrovsk
1,100
1518 – “Days of Faith” Conferences
2,900
1519 – Ministry to Village of Bogomazi
1,800
1520 – Outreach to Odessa Students
1,260
1521 – Prison Ministry to Nikolayev
1,260
1522 – Seminary Program in Odessa
2,000
1523 – Summer Camps and Winter Youth Conference
6,900
Our 2015 Projects total is $146,000—a bold and challenging goal in light of the current financial
situation in our Synod. But we trust in God’s provision and see an even greater need for supporting the
mission opportunities God has given our church in these times.
More detailed project descriptions can be found in the new 2015 Mission Projects Brochure, our
Concordia Mission Advocate in the May/June edition of the Canadian Lutheran, as well as on our
website at www.concordiamissions.org. There is also an online Donate facility there with the “Support
Projects Now” button.
CLMS Board working as a Team
Our CLMS Board meets only once annually in a face-to-face meeting. The purpose is to review and
plan the work of the society in the year ahead. We rotate through the three districts seeking a host
congregation for our Annual Meeting. This triennium we have held our annual directors meetings in all
three Districts. In 2013 we met at the Synod offices in Winnipeg, but were hosted by Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Portage la Prairie, MB for our Annual Meeting and Mission Festival with Pastor Assefa Aredo,
our first PAT graduate, as our mission speaker. In 2014 we met at the Providence Renewal Centre in
Edmonton, with Bethel Lutheran Church, Sherwood Park, AB hosting our Annual Meeting and Mission
Festival with Rev. Roland Syens (former missionary to Ukraine) as our speaker. In 2015 we met at the
Guelph Bible Conference Centre, and were hosted for our Annual Meeting and Mission Festival by Faith
Lutheran Church, Kitchener with Dr. Leonardo Neitzel speaking on the current challenges and
opportunities of LCC missions. In 2016 it is our hope to meet again in the Central District. Our sincere
thanks to the congregations and pastors who have hosted us this past triennium and to our speakers who
have shared the news of our Synod’s mission endeavors and challenged and encouraged us to support
them. We also have at least two online meetings each year. The largest part of our on-going work together
happens by email or Skype.
2015 Board of Directors
This year’s Board members include Rev. Cliff Haberstock of Edmonton, AB (President); Jon
Oberholzer of Waterloo, ON (Vice-President and Mission Education); June Barlund of Stony Plain, AB
(Secretary); Barbara Fooks of Kitchener, ON (Treasurer); Reg Zotzman of New Westminster, BC
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(Director of Development); Julie Thompson of Penticton, BC (Assistant Director of Development); Rev.
Roland Syens of Kitchener, ON (Co-Director of Ministry & Projects); Marilyn Witte of Edmonton, AB
(Co-Director of Ministry & Projects), and Lisa Jackson of Waterloo, ON (Assistant Director of Mission
Education). The Rev. Dr. Ralph Mayan serves as Advisor to the Board with his vast experience and
contact with our mission fields.
These Directors are a working board who, with the help of some other volunteers, carry out all the
work of the Society. We have no paid staff, and we work hard at keeping our operational costs to a
minimum. We do that to ensure that when funds received are designated for a mission project no
deduction is made for operational expenses; the entire amount is sent to the project. Operational expenses
are primarily covered by donations specified for operations, with small amounts occasionally required
from funds directed to “wherever needed.”
Luther’s Heavenly Shower
Martin Luther once urged his beloved Germans to make use of God’s grace and Word while they had
it, for the Gospel is like a heavenly shower which travels across the earth, bringing refreshment to the
hearts of men and then moving on to a new area. He said, “God’s word and grace is like a passing
shower of rain which does not return where it has once been.” It had been with the Jews, but was lost.
Paul brought it to Greece, and it was largely lost. It spread over Europe and now is largely there in name
only. It came from Europe to flourish in North America. Now we are privileged to bring the Gospel Word
to other parts of the world. May we not lose it ourselves, but boldly proclaim it in our communities
through our congregations. And may we take hold of the opportunity to take and spread the Gospel to
areas of the world that are hungering for God’s grace in Christ Jesus.
Having had the personal opportunity to visit and travel around His Church in Nicaragua, I can testify how
amazing it is to see the Gospel bearing fruit in the lives of God’s people there when there seems to be
such resistance to it in our affluent society. Thank you for your support of our Synod’s mission through
your prayers and faithful offerings, as well as your support of mission projects through the Concordia
Lutheran Mission Society.
We hope to have a display booth at every District Convention. Drop by our booth to see our material and
talk missions. We will have bookmarks for all and you might find some candies there!
Our Vision: Empowered by God’s own mission to save the world, the mission of Concordia Lutheran
Mission Society is to enlist the prayers, gifts and energies of God’s people in Lutheran Church-Canada
to share the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever God provides opportunity.
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Cliff Haberstock, President
Concordia Lutheran Mission Society
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REPORT 18
Report of Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, AB
Introduction
Many things have happened at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in the past Triennium,
reminding us that while we are in this world, there are many troubles, but that we can take heart, for
Christ has overcome the world. There are many reasons for thanksgiving for God’s guidance and blessing
in the Triennium.
Dr. Norman Threinen served as interim President during 2012-2013. His tenure focused on reestablishing credibility and trust in the Seminary, the implementation of the MOU, fund raising and
financial record-keeping, and preparations for renewal of the ATS accreditation status.
Dr. James Gimbel arrived in January 2014 and has focused heavily on achieving ATS accreditation
renewal; faculty and staff development; student recruitment; financial development, management, and
record keeping; and enhancing the visibility and status credibility of the seminary.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of 2011 called both seminaries “to work together with the
objective of achieving one system of complementary cost effective, sustainable seminary education.” The
financial picture for both seminaries has been clarified and is far less critical than was initially assessed;
with the immediate financial crisis addressed, the focus of the MOU has explored ways that both
seminaries can better cooperate as they share in the singular goal of preparing faithful pastors to serve
Christ and His Church, particularly in LCC.
In accord with commitments under the MOU, the faculties and administrators have held joint meetings
via internet video-conferencing, and the two Academic Deans have worked closely on curriculum
harmonization. The two Boards of Regents met jointly at St. Catharines in January 2013, in Edmonton in
February 2014, and again at St. Catharines January 26-27, 2015. Rev. Nolan Astley, representing the LCC
Board of Directors, chairs a subcommittee designed to monitor progress on implementing the MOU.
Budget, staffing, and debt reduction have been significant topics of deliberation. [Please see his report,
also in this workbook at page E103, for additional details.]
A. Mission and Purpose
Accreditation is an important component of certifying that our programs meet certain academic
standards and align with many “best practices” in theological education and pastoral formation.
Accreditation also allows our students to more easily matriculate to other graduate degrees based upon the
credibility of our program.
In 1998, Concordia Lutheran Seminary received initial accreditation from the Association of Theological
Schools (ATS). This accreditation was renewed for the ten year period 2004-2014. Intense work with a
written report and on-site visit were part of a further renewal of this status, which was completed in
March, 2014. A seven-year accreditation period was ratified by the ATS on June 27, 2014, carrying us
forward to 2021.
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In September, 2014 the Board of Regents made a slight modification of the seminary mission statement
at the request of the ATS that we identify more closely with the LCC. The mission statement now reads,
“the mission of Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, a seminary of Lutheran Church–Canada, is to
form servants for Jesus’ sake.” The primary vision of the seminary is to train Canadian men in a Canadian
context for Lutheran pastoral ministry across Canada. The primary focus is on theological and spiritual
formation for pastors, but this overlaps to all who seek support from CLS in support for ministry within
and outside of LCC, with clergy and laity.
B. Students and Graduates
Over the past triennium, enrollment struggled a bit, but is on the upswing. MDiv enrollment in April
2014 was six; current enrollment is 12. As of mid-February, 2015, we have three qualified early
applications in hand already for 2015-2016, and anticipate there being five or six new MDiv first-year
students in Fall, 2015. We also expect to add one Open Studies student who will enter LCC through
colloquy after two years of study.
We are pleased to present to the church four graduates in Spring, 2015. The net enrollment change is
that we anticipate having 15 full time students for our 2015-2016 academic year. We have one student
returning from vicarage for next year, and will likely need sites for seven vicars during the 2016-2017
year.
The goal of the seminary is to produce solid pastors for LCC, so we remain selective in the admission
process, rigorous on academic grading and the formation model, and focus heavily on faith and pastoral
formation while students are here. We are responsible to the church in recommending certification and
strive to do our best at pastoral formation. We sincerely thank the Church for your partnership in sending
the brightest and best candidates to us for pastoral formation.
C. Faculty and Staff
The end of 2013 saw the third retirement of Dr. Norman Threinen, and Spring 2014 saw the retirement
of Dr. Ed Kettner, two icons of CLS who had served for a combined 49 years of service to CLS (22- and
27-year tenures, respectively). We celebrated those transitions with a deep sense of appreciation for their
individual service and sadness over the institutional loss. Dr. Threinen has recently ended a term as
Rector of our partner Concordia Seminary in Ukraine. Dr. Kettner has taught two courses in the 20142015 academic year using Distance Education technology and in the January term. We also are blessed to
have four other adjunct faculty helping fill the teaching load for the 2014-2015 academic year. The CLS
Board of Regents has carefully assessed our needs and capacities and concluded that we should call a
Systematics faculty member; candidates are currently being interviewed in this process and we hope to
issue a Call in May.
With the faculty changes, current faculty members’ duties have shifted as well, as each person wears
many hats. Dr. Stephen Chambers has served as Academic Dean and Library Director since July 2011.
Prof. Jonathan Kraemer is the Dean of Student Life, Director of Financial Aid, and Director of Placement.
Dr. Gimbel has picked up the Director of Field Education and Vicarage duties.
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The staff needs are served by two high-quality full time people: Rhonda Buck as Administrative
Assistant to the President, and Jeff Nachtigall as Registrar, Director of Admission, and Director of
Technology Services. Rita Jandrey, the half-time librarian, returned to retirement shortly after the fire.
Genevieve LaBrie ended her service as Treasurer October 31, when Amy Thera began that role. Rev. Bill
Ney has been Chaplain this academic year to cover one of the duties vacated by Dr. Kettner.
As the new President, there is a time of transition to learn the nuances of the roles, and develop a strong
collaborative team of faculty/staff, and building a stronger trusting board, working with inter-seminary,
Church-wide, and stakeholder relationships. The President is currently addressing needs in Recruitment
and Development and Church Relations in addition to the Presidential and other administrative and
management duties.
Although the Memorandum of Understanding identifies a priority to “co-ordinate development work for
the endowment funds of each synod, large gifts, and deferred gifts,” and “focus on regular gifts, and
strengthening personal relationships with faithful supporters,” the position of Director of Development
was discontinued in October 2011 and the support staff position was soon vacated as well. Dr. Threinen
served well in that role, we are currently working hard to keep up development and fund raising, even as
we explore other options for this critical role.
The CLS Strategic Planning process recommended a Portfolio Review of faculty and staff duties, which
was conducted in June, 2014. Ultimately, the outcome highlights the reality that a small seminary needs
people to fill nearly all of the same duties and roles required at a larger seminary; this places heavy stress
on each member of a small faculty and staff where each person needs to be a good fit for the job and work
hard or the whole seminary flounders. We continue to explore related pieces as we move forward to
ensure that we have adequate faculty and staff to serve the needs of the Seminary and our church. It is
conceivable that recommendations will be made for additional staffing to address the recruitment,
development, and church relations arena.
D. Governance
The Board of Regents, which is charged with oversight of Concordia Lutheran Seminary, is constituted
by the following members:
 Chairman: Rev. Daryl Solie, Regina, SK
 Vice-chairman: Mr. Christopher Klarenbach, Calgary, AB
 Secretary: Mr. Ian Lande, Stony Plain, AB
 Mrs. Karen Gallas, New Hamburg, ON
 Rev. Ted Giese, Regina, SK
 Rev. Scott Lyons, Victoria, BC
 Rev. Rudy Pastucha, appointed representative of LCC President Dr. Robert Bugbee
 Rev. Donald Schiemann, Stony Plain, AB, ex officio as District President
The regents are organized around a policy-based governance model and guide the direction of the
seminary and its decisions. Current critical foci of the board include the accreditation evaluation and
renewal process, strategic planning, and the transitional components of leadership at CLS.
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E. Finance
At the 2011 LCC convention, concerns were raised about the financial picture of CLS (as well as at
CLTS). By 2012, many steps were already in place to address these concerns. However, it is critically
important to underscore that concerns raised then about CLS were the result of a misunderstanding of use
for the earnings from some of the endowments from LCC-FM. These earnings had not been forwarded
automatically to CLS; the failure to utilize the endowment income led to shortfalls and concerns about
long-term financial viability that created a somewhat false fear. It was not nearly the crisis that the alarm
bells had sounded.
In late 2011 CLS contracted a new bookkeeper who sorted through some of the endowment contracts,
but there were limits to her service and we concluded that contract. Now we are re-evaluating our
financial picture, doing a more careful analysis of resources. We believe that CLS was positioned to be
financially stable with a viable ministry for the future. Careful budgeting, strong fund appeals, and
cautious cost-cutting measures generated mild long-term reserves for each of the past two fiscal years (+
$144,070.75 in 2011-2012 and +$66,485.89 in 2012-2013; and nearly $14,000 for 2013-2014). Good
biblical stewardship dictates careful financial management, and we strive to operate CLS in a fiscally
responsible manner that provides the highest quality education and training/formation of quality pastors to
serve LCC on a minimal budget. It is a wonderful and necessary blessing to have this level of support
from LCC for our ministry.
In the midst our optimistic analysis, the recent ABC District Church Extension Fund insolvency makes a
significant current and future impact upon our financial picture. Roughly 21.5% of our endowments, with
a December 2014 book value of $927,770.69 is tied into CEF. A significant portion of these earnings
were earmarked for current ministry needs, but is now frozen and estimated at 50-55% of its value. This
impacts our current budget, as well as our future income. Whether there is a short term liquidation or a
church-managed reorganization of the assets, significant money has been lost. Furthermore, if donations
decrease around LCC it will impact the amount of our subsidy from LCC (we’ve been forewarned about
this likelihood). We will no longer receive support from ABC. If money is not rerouted around the ABC
District directly to LCC or directly to the Seminary, this will impact our budgeted receipts. If eroded
confidence impacts direct donations to the seminary, this will also hurt our financial picture. We have a
very small and tight budget; we pray that God will raise up support and bless our ministry. We are
thankful for your support.
CLS also was initially hoping to make some electrical, lighting, paint, carpet, and furnishing
improvements which are expedient during the fire recovery but are not covered by insurance. This
financial situation also limits our ability to do so easily. The CLS Board of Regents is strongly
considering a special fund appeal for fire recovery and improvements that may unfold during Lent.
E. Academic Programs
The M.Div. degree is the primary program offered at CLS. A new curriculum, introduced in 2009, is
scheduled for review again in 2014-2015, this current year. The new curriculum stimulates a more
intentional investment in student formation that takes place beyond the classroom, focusing on personal
growth, pastoral skills, and service in uniquely Lutheran contexts. The faculty is heavily involved in
organizing and leading numerous co-curricular “units” that are part of the formative track leading to the
certification for ordination in LCC. CLS has one international student on campus earning the MDiv
degree as part of the broad plan of shaping leaders for the global church with a Lutheran voice of the
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gospel of Christ. CLS has one student earning the MDiv degree who had initiated through the colloquy
program.
The seminary continues to offer an Open Studies Program for students who do not want to enter a
degree program, or do not qualify for a degree program because of non-academic reasons. Some Open
Studies students matriculate into the MDiv program. We anticipate having a full time student on campus
next year in this program. There is also an openness to train students from NALC and CALC for ministry
here.
Distance Education
The two seminaries continue to coordinate in many academic areas, often using distance education
resources. The spirit of cooperation has shaped academic calendars, grading practices, and curricula. Each
seminary offers independent courses, but the seminaries share courses where distance learning methods
provide a solid pedagogical model to meet the course goals and objectives. Between 2012-2015, as many
as seven courses a year were taught by CLS and CLTS faculty and shared between the two institutions,
using the Adobe Connect distance-education platform. Adjustments for faculty include learning how to
use the technology, but also how to reconstruct course activities to be pedagogically sound in a Distance
Education (DE) environment, which can consume significant faculty time. Mr. Jeffrey Nachtigall, CLS’
Director of Technology Services, has been a significant resource for these needs.
F. Other programs and activities
CLS has revamped its Quest program of non-credit, evening classes and had a phenomenal response in
February and October/November, 2014, and January/February 2015, with up to 24 separate online sites
tuning in to sessions in addition to the cluster that gathered on the CLS campus. Now without a
registration fee for participants, Quest serves the church across the synod and around the world.
The Timothy Lecture, featuring a veteran pastor who focuses on his experience in significant areas of
pastoral life, is an important component of pastoral formation. This day-long, hallmark program
supplements regular classes and is open to the community. The 2013 speaker was Rev. Dr. Marvin
Ziprick. The 2014 lecture did not materialize due to scheduling complications. The 2015 speaker was
Rev. Wayne Olson, held on January 22, 2015. The formation process for long tenure ministry continues
through this format.
A number of convocations are offered to students and the wider community each year as well. In
September 2012, Rev. Mark Jasa, LMCS Pastor, shared about Christian Apologetics. A November, 2012
convocation featured Dr. James Lamb, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life, who focused on
providing care for men and women in post-abortion experiences. A March, 2013 convocation involved an
off-site visit to Howard & McBride funeral home (with the help of Kirsten Guggenmos), and an April
2013 convocation featured Sgt. Timothy Arndt (Edmonton Police Service), addressing, "What a pastor
needs to know about the Canadian legal system.” The 2014 convocation brought Rev. Phil Gagnon, Dean
of the Canadian NALC congregations, who addressed aspects of the journey that led him to be part of the
NALC.
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The CLS faculty continued to be active in LCC and international mission and ministry in the past
triennium. Dr. Threinen has spent time each year in the Ukraine, where he serves as Concordia Seminary
rector. Dr. Edward Kettner has taught in Thailand and Ukraine. Dr. Stephen Chambers served on CCMS
until 2014, teaches in Cambodia and Thailand, and has taken students and adult volunteers from across
the synod to an archaeological dig in Israel in 2012 and 2014. Prof. Kraemer serves on LCC President’s
Committee for Care of Church Workers/Family Care and the Board of Governors for Lutheran Historical
Institute, and co-led the 2014 CLS archeology dig in Israel. Professor Kraemer also attended ILC
seminary’s conference in Palanga, Lithuania in August of 2013. Dr. Gimbel serves on Commission on
Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) and the Pastors in Alternate Training (PAT) supervisory board.
Faculty continue to serve as preachers and speakers for conferences and study groups; Dr. Gimbel will
keynote the Central District and East District conventions in 2015.
CLS awarded a Doctor of Letters, honoris causa degree in 2013 to Ms. Lynn Gergens, Walnut Grove
Lutheran Church, Langley BC; the Faith in Life award to Mr. Art Timm, St. Paul Lutheran Church,
Saskatoon; and the Friend of the Seminary award to Mrs. Doreen Christensen, Grace Lutheran Church,
Edmonton. CLS awarded the Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa degree to Rev. Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt,
pastor in the SELK (Germany) and Chairman of the ILC; and the Doulos dia Iesoun award to Rev. Larry
MacKay, Grace, Edmonton, at the 2014 Sacred Convocation.
The most dramatic news of late is the fire in our library, started by an unknown arsonist on the evening
of November 12. The whole building had smoke and soot damage; the library far more extensively, where
all contents have been removed and we are awaiting final bids on repairs so we can let the renovation
begin. With minimal but important improvements (electrical, lighting, security and alarms, and study
furnishings), we will need to raise an additional $40,000 to cover our deductible and those improvements.
We anticipate that rebuilding will unfold in March and April, with the replacement of books in May. We
hope to re-dedicate the library at the time of our Sacred Convocation in May. In spite of the fire, and the
inconveniences involved, we are thankful to God for guiding us in the process and allowing us to
anticipate full recovery of the library … and for being able to carry out our mission with minimal
disruption to our services.
Overall, CLS continues to stand faithful on the historic foundation of 30 years of “forming servants for
Jesus’ sake” for Lutheran Church-Canada. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve Christ and His
Church into the future. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to theological education and pastoral
training for the LCC and the voice of Christ the True Light in a world of darkness.
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. James R. Gimbel, Ph.D., President
Concordia Lutheran Seminary
Edmonton, AB, CA
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REPORT 19
Report of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catharines
History and Purpose
The 1975 convention of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, held in Anaheim, CA,
authorized the establishment of a seminary in Eastern Canada. It was to be an extension of
the Springfield/Ft. Wayne seminary, and the Ontario District in 1976 was asked to determine its site.
From its beginnings in the basement of Resurrection Lutheran Church, CLTS moved in 1984 onto the
campus of Brock University. Subsequently, all seminary degrees have been issued by Brock University.
In 1989, upon the formation of Lutheran Church–Canada, the seminary was received by the fledgling
synod as a gift from her mother.
From the beginning, the purpose of having an LCMS seminary in Canada was twofold: (1) to encourage
more Canadian students to enter the ministry by providing local facilities, thereby also keeping Canadian
pastors in Canada; and (2) to contextualize their pastoral formation to the unique setting of Canadian
Lutheranism. We believe that this seminary, with its intimate facilities, small student body, and highly
qualified faculty, offers a uniquely student-oriented focus, with an emphasis on practical experiences in
classroom, chapel, and local congregations.
Aside from these unique purposes, the seminary holds the common goals of preparing men for the
office of the holy ministry, moulding lay men and women for service, and serving as a theological
resource to the districts and congregations of LCC. In 1991 the seminary produced a three-page
articulation of the seminary’s goals, which included pastoral formation, graduate theological education
(the MTS degree), outreach to the Brock community, continuing education in the church, and providing
library resources. Subsequently it was distilled into the following mission statement, summarized as
“Preparing Servants for God’s Mission”:
Because GOD would have no one perish but all be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and,
in order that we might obtain this faith, has instituted the ministry of teaching the Gospel and
administering the Sacraments, therefore CONCORDIA LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
St. Catharines, exists to serve God’s mission by preparing servants for the Holy Ministry of Word
and Sacrament in order that PEOPLE OF EVERY LAND might be brought to saving faith, be
instructed in the divine doctrine, show forth the goodness of God, and be kept safe in faith to eternal
life with their LORD.
Students and Graduates
In her 39-year history CLTS has produced 209 graduates. Of these, 16 are men and women (mostly lay)
who have attained to the Master of Theological Studies degree. 193 graduates entered the pastoral ministry
through ordination, 191 into a Lutheran Church, and 2 into other confessions. In accord with our history, a
minority of our graduates have entered into service in the Missouri Synod. Some serve sister churches and
missions abroad. The vast majority serve in LCC—including a significant number of Americans, who chose
to receive a call to a Canadian parish at graduation.
After 39 years, it is natural that many of our graduates would no longer be in active service. Of our 193
pastoral graduates, 145 remain in active ministry, while 26 continue to serve on a part-time basis as ermeriti
or candidates for the ministry (CRM). The remaining 22 are deceased, resigned, or untraceable.
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Active
ABC District
Central District
East District
LCC total
LCMS in Canada
LCMS in USA
Other Lutheran in NA
World Lutheranism
Other confessions
Inactive
CRM
Retired
Resigned
Deceased
Whereabouts unknown
Total
13
17
53
83
4
47
3
6
2
13
13
13
6
3
193
We give thanks to God when we observe the role that CLTS has served in the development of LCC,
noting that about one third of her active pastors are graduates of St. Catharines. In the East District the
proportion is significantly higher. We also note that the current seminary president and one LCC District
President are alumni.
The present student enrolment is significantly lower than it reached in the peak years of the 1980s and
early ’90s. Since 2007 the decline has been precipitous and worrisome. In the past triennium the size of
the student body has been, each year respectively, 20, 14, 14 (compared to an historic average of 34). We
regularly note that the most significant support that members of LCC can offer to the seminary is to
encourage young men to enter the ministry. Only the Lord knows which way the trend will head, but we
optimistically note that our lower classes are significantly larger than our upper classes, and that we
anticipate a goodly number of students entering in September 2015. In other words, as we graduate two
small classes and matriculate two large classes, seminary enrolment is expected to return to the low 20s.
Throughout her history, CLTS has been particularly international and mission-oriented. Six CLTS
graduates are currently serving abroad. The current student body is less multi-ethnic than it has been in
past years, but we can still offer resources to churches needing multilingual pastors (including Cantonese,
French, and Indian languages). Secondly, the faculties of both LCC seminaries provide the backbone of
teaching staff for LCC’s mission work abroad (Ukraine, Thailand, Nicaragua, and England), and do so
largely at their own expense. Thus mission and seminary are virtually inseparable.
As a seminary of the church our functions extend far beyond preparing pastors. Firstly we have had a
steady stream of male and female students, mostly but not exclusively from within the Lutheran Church,
who have studied theology for diaconal service or for the sheer joy of it. The Master of Theological
Studies degree is available to qualified students not headed for ordination. We have also held a series of
evening classes for laypeople. Secondly, our faculty serve as a significant theological resource to the rest
of the church, sitting on the CTCR, lecturing to pastors’ conferences and circuit events, teaching at
workshops, preaching and serving vacancies, advising church leaders, and writing theological books and
articles. The seminary also regularly hosts church, university, and community events (e.g. concerts),
lifting the church’s profile in the world.
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Faculty and Staff
Since the last district conventions the faculty and staff at CLTS have remained stable. Dr. Thomas
Winger serves as Academic Dean and Dean of Chapel, and was called in September 2012 to be President.
His teaching specialty is New Testament and Liturgics. Dr. John Stephenson, now in his third decade on
the faculty, is its senior member. He teaches historical theology, and serves as Registrar and Director of
the Library. Dr. William Mundt brings a specialty in the history of missions, and teaches dogmatics and
evangelism, as well as being Dean of Students and Director of Development. He will retire in June 2015.
Meanwhile, the faculty have been extended by the retired Canadian-German pastor, Wilhelm Torgerson,
who brings 40 years of pastoral experience to the practical department. The faculty are supplemented by
adjunct professors Rev. Duane Peters (dogmatics), Rev. Dr. James Keller (world religions, philosophy of
religion), and Rev. Warren Hamp (preaching, Nicaraguan director), as well as guest instructors Rev.
David Duke (OT), Rev. Dr. Jon Grothe (NT), and Rev. Dr. Roger Winger (pastoral practice).
The CLTS faculty have a significant international reputation as productive scholars who “punch above
their weight” in writing and lecturing. Two faculty members have contributed volumes to the Concordia
Commentary series, with Dr. Wilch’s, Ruth, published in 2006 and Dr. Winger’s, Ephesians, due in 2015.
Together with Drs. Humann and Stephenson they also contributed to The Lutheran Study Bible. Former
president Dr. Jon Grothe has produced a major commentary on Romans that is now in its second edition.
Dr. Winger served on the Lutheran Service Book liturgy committee, and continues to write for the LSB
Pastor’s Desk Edition. Dr. John Stephenson’s literary output is even more prodigious, with two volumes
in the Confessional Dogmatics series (which he also edited), a Löhe translation in print, and a Löhe
biography in process. His CV lists over 60 published articles. (Faculty publications are now accessible
from the seminary’s website.) Dr. Stephenson has been co-editor on two Festschrifts, in addition to
collaboration with Dr. Winger on a collection of essays on Hermann Sasse (1998) and a Festschrift for
Dr. John Kleinig (2013). The LCC seminaries’ journal, Lutheran Theological Review, remains a major,
respected forum for disseminating our seminaries’ scholarship. Confessional Lutheran theological
scholarship is thus a unique contribution of CLTS, St. Catharines, to the benefit of her students and world
Lutheranism.
CLTS staff have also been a blessing. Since 2008 CLTS has not had a full-time Development Officer,
but has relied on an External Relations Team consisting of Dr. Mundt and other staff members. We have
also coordinated our development work as much as possible with CLS, Edmonton. Thus, for example, we
now hold a joint “Seminaries Sunday” with common materials used across synod, and have created a joint
display for convention use. In addition, we rely greatly on the staff of the LCC Foundation (particularly
Al Feth in the East District), who conduct workshops and visits on our behalf to encourage and aid
members to plan gifts and bequests for seminary work. All CLTS staff work part-time, and we are
thankful to them for providing a great service to the seminary in limited hours for modest reward. The
following staff members constitute roughly 2.5 full-time equivalents: Mike Bauer (Business Manager),
Linda Lantz (Administrative Assistant), Deaconess Bonnie Stephenson (Registrar’s Assistant), Christel
Haeck and Sarah Cavanaugh (librarians). Janitorial work and IT support is handled by students. We are
also grateful for volunteers, who work mainly in the library, and for the generous support of the Seminary
Guild.
Major Events in the Past Triennium (2012-15)
The opening service of the 2012-13 academic year was the occasion of the installation of the seminary’s
fourth president, Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger. Dr. Winger had already served as Acting President for four
years during a period of critical examination and strategic planning that led to the signing of the
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Memorandum of Understanding (2011) between CLTS (St. Catharines), CLS (Edmonton), and LCC’s
Board of Directors.
CLTS, St. Catharines, through emeritus professor Roger Humann, has taken responsibility for the
pastoral education programme of LCC’s mission in Nicaragua (now constituted as the ILSN) since the
first classes were held in June 2000. In recent years, owing to Dean Humann’s declining health, LCC’s
mission executive, Dr. Leonardo Neitzel, assumed responsibility for coordinating this programme.
Administration of the programme has now returned to CLTS. Rev. Warren Hamp, adjunct faculty
member, has been appointed as coordinator of theological studies in Nicaragua.
In March 2014 the seminary received a team of visitors from the Association of Theological Schools.
The visitors were impressed by the seminary’s progress since the first accreditation visit in 2011.
Although there are always tasks imposed by such visits, we were pleased to receive a five-year
accreditation with no notations.
Drs. Winger and Stephenson, together with Revs. Warren Hamp and Nolan Astley, have represented
LCC in ecumenical dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church. Designated as the national Lutheran–
Roman Catholic dialogue, the meetings have taken place in the Niagara area with RC participants from
St. Catharines and Toronto. Dr. Stephenson is also the official LCC representative on a dialogue with the
North American Lutheran Church and the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA). In October 2014
the ACNA dialogue was hosted on the seminary campus, and was accompanied by an open conference on
“Militant Secularism.” Videos of this event are available on the seminary’s YouTube channel.
Governance and Accreditation
Serving on the CLTS Board of Regents in the current synodical triennium are: Rev. Robert Krestick,
chairman (2017); Rev. Nolan Astley, vice-chairman (2017); Rev. Dan Abraham, secretary (2020); Rev.
Cam Schnarr (2020), Mr. Bruno Korst (2020), Mr. Ivan Boles (2017), Mr. Wayne Timm (2017), and Rev.
Paul Zabel (ex officio). Rev. Dr Thomas Winger, President, is the board’s executive officer.
CLTS is an accredited member of the Association of Theological Schools (see above). Concordia’s two
degrees, MDiv and MTS, are granted by Brock University, of which CLTS is an affiliated graduate
college.
Finances
A major contributing factor to the creation of the Task Force on Cost-Efficient, Sustainable Seminary
Education in 2008 was this seminary’s ballooning long-term debt that had reached $800,000. Prior to
signing the resulting Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the seminary administration had already
put in place significant cost-cutting measures with the aim of achieving a balanced budget. Under the
terms of the MOU, the seminary was obligated to cap its expenses and generate continued annual
surpluses with the goal of eliminating the debt in a decade.
By the grace of God, with careful financial management and ongoing support from LCC members, the
seminary was able to make great strides in paying down the burdensome debt, reducing it to less than
$500,000 by the end of the 2012-13 fiscal year. Over the past triennium, we have also attained budget
surpluses every year. Gifts to the revitalized 1000 Club, intended to pay down the debt and increase the
Foundation holdings, have exceeded the $100,000 mark. Bequests continue to surprise us, and
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unrestricted giving from our individual donors continues to match ten-year historic averages. At the same
time, income from three major areas has declined significantly: (1) Suffering from its own income
shortfalls, LCC has had to reduce seminary subsidy from $205,000 to $174,000 annually. In view of the
current financial crisis in the ABC district, it is possible this subsidy will be further reduced. (2) The
seminary’s Foundation has seen reduced income since the stock market crash of 2008, but is improving.
(3) Tuition fee income has declined with the smaller student enrolments. On balance, however, the
seminary’s finances are back on a stable, though modest footing.
But the Lord of the Church has again surprised us with His goodness. In early 2014 the seminary
received the largest single donation in its history. This remarkable gift—whose humble, faithful donor
wishes to keep a very low profile—eliminated the seminary’s historic debt in one fell swoop. In
addition, it enabled us to tackle some major deferred maintenance issues such as the roof replacement and
handicapped accessibility. The significance of this gift cannot be easily overstated. The elimination of the
debt has the knock-on effect of removing some $25,000 of annual interest payments from the seminary’s
budget, as well as removing the need to dedicate large portions of annual income to debt reduction.
Furthermore, it enables the seminary to become proactive in addressing pressing issues like recruitment,
staffing, and educational resources.
While the elimination of our debt will lead to certain obvious changes to the financial terms of the
MOU, the seminary administration remain committed to its concept of “cost-efficient, sustainable
seminary education”. It is our intention to continue our co-operative ventures with CLS, Edmonton, to
maintain our lean financial operation, and to produce budget surpluses each year. We give thanks to God,
and pray that He will continue to bless us through His faithful servants in His Church. We are enormously
grateful to LCC for the generous support we receive through both our subsidy and private donations.
However, we also note that only a very small portion synod’s members donate directly to either seminary.
There is much room for growth in financial support.
Looking Ahead
At the time of writing this report it is too early to judge the impact of the financial crisis in the ABC
district on this seminary. CLTS, St. Catharines, is not directly or immediately affected, as it has no
investments in the ABC CEF. However, the anticipated decline in synodical resources will inevitably
affect our income. Nonetheless, we believe that careful financial management and continued generous
support from the church will enable us to weather the storm.
The most pressing concern at both seminaries and in LCC as a whole is the decline in enrolment. While
this affects the viability of the seminaries, the ultimate concern is that LCC be provided with sufficient
pastors to care for her congregations and missions. With this in mind, the two seminaries have worked
with the LCC Board of Directors on a number of “vocational recruitment” initiatives. One campaign was
inaugurated at the Vancouver convention (2014). A series of posters has been sent to all LCC
congregations, presenting the pastoral ministry as a manly, fulfilling, joyful, and aspirational calling. The
same images are being disseminated on social media. In the works is a revival of the RSVP campaign. Of
course, we continue to do what we have always done: make personal contact with potential students and
host their visits to the seminary, visit youth and young adult gatherings, speak at pastors’ conferences and
attend conventions, publish intriguing and intelligent theological writings, and whatever else can be done
to hold the pastoral ministry and seminary studies before the eyes of the church.
While the seminaries occupy a front-line position in “recruiting” students, we observe that very few
students choose to enter the ministry because a seminary persuaded them it was a good idea. The front
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line is in the congregation and the home, where pastors, parents, Sunday school teachers, and youth
workers have the opportunity to expose young men to the joys of the pastoral office and encourage them
to consider it as their lifelong vocation. We look forward to working with these influential people as we
develop strategies for what we inadequately call “recruitment”. Pray the Lord of the harvest to send
workers into His harvest. There are many other ways in which we are committed to working with our
sister seminary in Edmonton and the synodical leadership in Winnipeg to become more efficient in our
use of churchly resources. The terms of the MOU are currently being reviewed to bring the document up
to date.
CLTS, St. Catharines, occupies a building that has passed its thirtieth building. While fundamentally
sound, it has needed some major repairs. In the past year, owing to resources provided by a major gift, we
have been able to replace the flat roof, provide handicapped accessibility to the outside doors and
washrooms, upgrade the network infrastructure, and complete a number of smaller projects. We have put
in place a maintenance schedule that will ensure the building and its equipment are maintained at the level
necessary to sustain our mission.
The CLTS faculty stands at a depleted strength of three full-time members plus one nearly full-time
adjunct. Dr. William Mundt will retire in June 2015; the seminary is in the process of calling a
replacement. After filling this position, we will look to calling a fourth faculty member to replace Dr.
Wilhelm Torgerson, as he steps back from full-time teaching. An advertisement for a new faculty member
has been published in LCC and LCMS news outlets. We do not anticipate returning to our one-time full
capacity of five faculty members.
We are immensely thankful to the members of LCC for their ongoing support of her two seminaries in
prayers, good will, labour, and gifts. We pray that we may continue to work together as partners in
Christ’s mission. In the midst of our hard work and occasional anxiety, we must not forget that the
primary mandate of preparing men for Christ’s office in His Church continues unabated at CLTS. The
Word of God is taught and proclaimed. And as it is likewise taught and proclaimed in LCC, we believe
that your support for our work will also continue unabated as the Lord gives us all strength for our labour.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas M. Winger
President, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catharines
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Report of the MOU Committee
February 2015
For the past four academic years the seminaries of Lutheran Church–Canada, together with the Synod’s
Board of Directors have been working together to achieve the objectives outlined in the Memorandum of
Understanding that was signed at the 2011 Synod Convention in Hamilton. The MOU Committee has met
regularly over this time we are pleased to report to the District Conventions some of the progress made in
the past few years. In particular we are pleased to report the following highlights:




Continued fiscal responsibility on the part of both seminaries
Greater sharing of resources through increased use of technology
Renewed focus on recruitment of students
Responsible approach to need for new faculty members
Looking Back
Below you will find the text of the more important sections of the MOU and a more detailed review of
the progress achieved.
OBJECTIVE
1.
The parties agree to work together with the objective of achieving one system of complementary
cost effective, sustainable seminary education.
2.
The parties
agree that the Seminaries will coordinate their activities so as to provide a full
complement of training and educational services between them to individuals who wish to serve as
pastors and professional church workers within the Synod.
The MOU committee is happy to report our seminaries are operating in a closer partnership than
at any other time in their history. While there is not unanimity on every question, the atmosphere
between the seminaries themselves and between the seminaries and the Synod has become
stronger and there is a strong sense of common purpose. For this we thank and praise the Lord of
the Church!!
As will be noted later in this report, formal institutional unity is still a long way off. However,
even more important for our Synod are things like a common sense of purpose, mutual respect
and a clear shared focus on pastoral formation. These qualities are flourishing and the leaders of
the seminaries are to be thanked for their hard work which has contributed to this renewed
cooperation.
CURRICULUM
3.
The parties agree to work together to establish an integrated curriculum for the Seminaries so as
to avoid duplication in delivery of programs as much as possible. Each seminary will identify
courses to be offered residentially taking into account the residency requirements established by
accrediting agencies and didactic need.
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Seminary curricula have been harmonized in the following areas:
o
o
o
Historical Theology
Old Testament Theology
New Testament Theology
Ongoing review of the curriculum is occurring the in the areas of Systematic Theology and
Practical Theology. A number of years ago CLS adopted some new teaching strategies which
brought changes to the way Systematic (Doctrinal) Theology is taught. Merging this with the
older model still used at CLTS has proved a challenge. It must be emphasized however, that the
content is the same at both schools; the method of teaching the content has been a challenge to
harmonize. Due to the nature of course work in practical theology this is probably an area that
will remain unique to each setting, though again it is not a matter of different content, but here the
need is for in-person classroom and field-work opportunities.
4.
The seminaries also agree to the use of telecommunication technologies to avoid or minimize
duplication of training and educational services, as well as the use of alternate teaching methods in
order to deliver cost efficient distance education courses and programs. The seminaries also agree
to explore distributed learning models offered by ATS accredited schools.
Over the past 4 academic years seminary classes have been shared via internet. Edmonton
students are able to take courses taught in St. Catharines and vice versa. Better equipment has
been purchased and both students and faculty are growing more comfortable with the use of
technology.
5.
The Seminaries agree to investigate compatible student information systems, enrolment and
record keeping procedures that satisfy ATS standards and streamline cross-seminary enrolments
and transfer credits.
Together with the registrar at CLS, the MOU committee has reviewed record keeping questions
and for the time being at least, each school will continue to keep its own academic records.
6.
All parties agree to coordinate activities so as to avoid duplication of administrative functions by
creating single programs to serve both Seminaries in areas of recruitment, development,
registration, support and maintenance of training and educational services.
Please refer to #5 above as well as notes under #10 below
7.
The Seminaries agree to establish a program of professional education and ongoing training and
guidance for faculty and instructors that will ensure a quality distance education program.
The seminary faculty and staff have all participated in training events designed to assist them with
teaching classes using distance learning technology.
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FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
8.
The Seminaries agree to adopt as an objective and to pursue initiatives so as to limit their
combined operating budgets to an aggregate amount of $1.45 million per annum by the 20122013 fiscal year including an annual contribution from LCC. The combined aggregate operating
budget amount is to be reviewed annually.
Strictly speaking the goal of keeping expenses to under $1.45 million was not met. However
while the MOU was not fulfilled to the “letter (number) of the law,” the spirit of what it sought to
do has been achieved in these past three years. Both schools have demonstrated a strong
commitment to fiscal responsibility and sustainability. Both have sought out opportunities to
reduce expenses, but have also been diligent in developing donor support for their programs. Both
schools have finished recent fiscal years in surplus position. Thanks to a very generous gift CLTS
has completely paid off its accumulated operating debt while Edmonton has begun to restore its
surplus funds. We praise God for the tremendous financial blessings He has showered upon our
seminaries!
9.
All Parties agree to establish a joint committee composed of representatives of the Seminary
Administrations, Board of Regents from each Seminary and the Board of Directors of LCC to
oversee implementation of this MOU and to make recommendations to each Board of Regents and
as necessary to the Board of Directors of LCC for action. This committee will also review the
combined aggregate operating budget on an annual basis and may also explore further methods by
which the parties may cooperate in achieving the objectives set out in this Memorandum of
Understanding and Agreement. This committee will meet at least annually.
The MOU committee has met 9 times over the past four years.
10.
The Board of Directors of LCC will develop specific initiatives to enable the membership of the
Synod to increase their support for seminary training in Lutheran Church–Canada, focusing
specifically on our mutual responsibility to recruit suitable candidates for pastoral ministry and our
mutual responsibility to ensure that the necessary financial resources are provided for high quality
academic and pastoral formation of those candidates.
The BOD continues to grow into its responsibilities under the MOU. In the area of recruitment we
have worked with the following basic presupposition — Recruitment of suitable seminarians is best
addressed through a sustained, long term effort to keep this matter before the eyes of the Synod,
cultivating a greater awareness of the need for seminarians as well as an awareness of the gifts and
skills that are typically found in such individuals.
Some strategies undertaken in this triennium to contribute to achieving a greater awareness
around the issue of recruitment include:
 Articles in Canadian Lutheran focusing upon pastoral ministry as a vocation. Specifically we
note the January/February 2013 issue which featured recruitment as its main focus.
 The National Church Worker Conference in the fall of 2013 recruitment of pastors and
deacons was a topic for one session, focusing on the role of the pastor/church worker in raising
up candidates for church work vocations.
 Seminary presence at the 2013 National Youth Gathering
 The ABC District has developed a website focusing on recruitment
 CLTS and CLS have produced a number of high quality posters for display in churches
E106
11.
Lutheran Church–Canada Financial Ministries will coordinate development work for the
endowment funds of each seminary, large gifts, and deferred gifts, while development staff at
each seminary will focus attention on regular gifts, and strengthening personal relationships with
faithful supporters.
Representatives of Lutheran Foundation Canada and together with Synod Treasurer Dwayne
Cleave have participated in MOU committee meetings to clarify roles and responsibilities. Since
2009 the Foundation has identified in excess of $4.5 million in future gifts for the seminaries.
Approximately 75% of that total has been designated for CLS Edmonton.
OTHER
12.
The parties agree to work together to investigate in further detail the steps that would be
necessary to undertake a formal institutional merger which would entail one Board of Regents,
one President, and a single administration.
One of the most persistent questions following the 2011 Synod Convention has been “When will
the seminaries merge and become one organization operating on two (or one) site(s)?” Part of
the confusion doubtless comes from the Final Report of the Seminary Task Force. The executive
summary of that document states the following:
That the administration and operations of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary –
Ontario and Concordia Lutheran Seminary Edmonton be integrated such that there would
be a single Board of Regents, single president and administration, single budget and nonoverlapping academic program for seminary education in Lutheran Church – Canada.
However, when one looks at the full report it becomes clear that while this was the ultimate goal,
its implementation is fraught with challenges:
Here is an excerpt from the report itself:
The Task Force has explored in detail the possibilities for outright corporate merger
between the seminaries and has discovered that there are at least two ways in which such an
amalgamation may take place.

Option 1 would involve approaching the Alberta Legislature via a private member’s Bill
asking for an amendment to the Special Act which establishes the Edmonton seminary,
allowing that Corporation to merge with the Ontario Letters Patent Corporation which
establishes the St. Catharines Seminary. This process while cumbersome and costly,
would allow the seminaries to continue and amalgamate as “equals” with all rights and
privileges intact, including in Edmonton’s case, the ability to grant degrees.

Option 2 offers a somewhat more economical route to the same corporate destination. In
essence, the Edmonton Corporation would, under the provisions of its Act, wind up its
operations. According to the Act the assets of the Corporation would then revert to LCC,
who would in turn, pass on those assets to the Ontario Corporation. What remains
somewhat uncertain in this option is whether the Ontario Corporation would be allowed
to offer degrees in Alberta or, alternatively, whether Brock University (CLTS currently
does not have degree granting status, but offers the M.Div. under a special arrangement
with Brock University) would be willing to grant degrees to graduates from the
Edmonton campus.
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While these possibilities for amalgamation exist, and ultimately need to be pursued, the Task
Force is recommending that operational integration of the seminaries precede formal
organizational integration.
Since the 2011 Convention, further discussion on this issue has taken place.
Here is what has
been learned:


Option 1 is very expensive. The estimated the cost for an amendment to the Act is in the
10’s of thousands of dollars, and would take a year or more to achieve. Given that the budget
for each BOR is about $10,000 per year and that the new merged corporation would still need
a BOR (and the Board would likely be expanded), this option costs much initially and saves
little on a year-to- year basis.
Option 2 would require negotiation with Brock around the issue of degree granting status for
a satellite campus in Edmonton. There is no guarantee that Brock would have any interest in
this, and furthermore there is a distinct possibility that once the agreement between CLTS and
Brock were opened for discussion Brock would seek changes of its own, such as raising the
cost of the annual lease to something at least remotely close to real estate values today.
Thus, at least for the foreseeable future, the actual merger of the corporations is not a “frontburner” issue.
13.
The Boards of Regents of the seminaries will meet jointly on an annual basis. The parties agree to
provide a joint report to LCC on the results of such meetings.
The Boards of Regents’ have met together annually for several years, even before the MOU was
adopted and this will continue into the future.
Looking Ahead
As we look forward, it is the opinion of the MOU Committee that the current document be amended to
serve as an ongoing guide for our seminaries and Synod to work together in continuing to provide costeffective, sustainable seminary education in Lutheran Church–Canada. There is also a strong feeling a
more permanent committee be established to focus attention on the education of pastors and deacons.
While it would be a mistake to go back to the old method of having a Board for Higher Education which
reduces seminary autonomy and that does not report to the Synod’s Board of Directors, there is a strong
case to be made for having a committee of the Board similar to the Committee for Missions and Social
Ministry Services to coordinate our work in the training of future church workers. The MOU committee
has set September 2015 as a target date for the completion of a new document to guide seminary
education in LCC and progress toward this goal will be reported to the church in due course.
In closing we give thanks to God for our seminaries and for the many ways in which He has blessed
them in this past triennium. Looking back over the years since the 2008 Synod Convention, it is clear we
have come a long way, by God’s grace alone. Thanks to the Regents, faculty, staff, students and
supporters of the seminaries for their patience and prayers during stressful times. Thanks also to the
various members of the MOU Committee who have, even in times of disagreement shown passionate
commitment to the work we have entrusted to our seminaries.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rev. Nolan Astley, Chairman, MOU Committee, 1st Vice-President, Lutheran Church–Canada
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REPORT 20
Report of Concordia University College of Alberta
Message from the President
Concordia University College of Alberta has changed from the time it was founded and
continues to change in order to meet the needs of its current students. Today, Concordia is proud to lay
the foundation for student success. Cultivating collaboration and innovation, we are building a
community of student success, academic and research excellence and community engagement.
Change will continue as we seek to make Concordia the kind of university that will be an agent of
change and transformation of God’s world through graduates and alumni who become independent
thinkers, ethical leaders and ref lective servants in their occupations, and citizens for the common good.
This Concordia Yearly Review 2014 publication is all about the past and the future: what we have done
in the recent past, and the people who are the future of one of the best small universities in Canada. I am
sure you will find the Concordia of today is part of the Concordia you, as alumni and supporters, helped
make it. The reputation of this university is shaped by the excellence and quality of its students and the
accomplishments of its graduates.
Dr. Gerald Krispin, President, Concordia University College
Looking Back, Looking Forward
For over 90 years, Concordia has evolved and adapted to the changing world, without abandoning its
founding roots. Now, the institution is moving through the final decade before its centennial birthday.
Concordia is looking forward to a future that’s bigger and brighter than what any person would have first
imagined.
Named after the Lutheran writings called the Book of Concord, Concordia officially opened on October
31, 1921, with the motto ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.’
To accommodate an overflowing class of 35 students, administrators rented space in Edmonton’s
Caledonian Temperance Hotel, and converted a dilapidated building on 95 Street & 110 Avenue. With
enrollment increasing at a steady rate each year, it became evident that a permanent location was needed.
In 1924, Concordia’s Board of Governors purchased eight acres of land situated atop the North
Saskatchewan River, kitty-corner to the Highlands Golf Course, and 10 minutes to the city’s downtown
core. By July 1925, contractors broke ground on the new building. On January 10, 1926, Schwermann
Hall was officially completed. Named after the institution’s first president, the building’s classic brick
exterior continues to be Concordia’s hallmark.
As the roots of its campus deepened, Concordia continued to grow and expand its enrollment numbers
and program offerings. Originally operating as an institution that prepared young men for preaching and
teaching in ministries, in 1939 Concordia officially expanded to include women – though it did welcome
its first female student prior to that, in 1925.
E109
By the late 1960s, Concordia—in affiliation with the University of Alberta—began offering first-year
university classes, and it added second-year classes by the mid-1970s. 1987 marked a substantial
milestone, when the then ‘college’ started to offer full Bachelor Degrees. This change significantly
impacted the university’s standing. It led to a break from the U of A and a name change from ‘Concordia
College’ to ‘Concordia University College of Alberta.’
The Campus continued to grow with the addition of the Robert Tegler Student Centre (1991), and the
Hole Academic Centre (2007). Now, 20 years after the first name change, Concordia offers over 30
different programs – including Masters programs – and is set to change its name again.
In June 2014, Honourable Dave Hancock, Premier and Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education,
made the decision to permit Concordia University College of Alberta to change its name from ‘University
College’ to ‘University.’
Concordia has advocated for this change for many years. Dropping the ‘college’ out of its name
acknowledges its standing as a nationally and internationally renowned institution that is recognized for
quality programming and a commitment to research.
Plans are in the works for what the exact new name will be. A tentative date for the formal
announcement is set for May, 2015.
Sourced from the 2014 Concordia Yearly Review. Used with permission.
For more information from the Concordia Yearly Review 2014, Comprehensive Institutional Plan – 2014 to 2017,
and the Annual Report 2013-2014, please visit http://governance.concordia.ab.ca/resources-and-links/
E110
REPORT 21
Report of Haiti Lutheran Mission Society
Blessings
The year 2014 has had many blessings, especially in Haiti.
The Lutheran Church of Haiti now has 58,000 members and 220 congregations. It is a real blessing to
see the growth of the Christian message.
A gain this year Haiti has been blessed with no major damage from nature.
The people of Haiti have been blessed by the goods we shipped in the two 40 ft. containers.
Because of the DVD picture of the stick frame church in Jubilee, a couple from the USA came up with
$8,000 to pay for most of a new block church building. This new church is a real blessing for the people
to worship in and also a place being used for sewing classes with machines we shipped.
A girls orphanage was opened in May giving 14 girls a place to call home. What a blessing for these
former homeless girls of all ages. This work was done by the society in Florida.
Three hundred Creole New Testaments with Psalms were sent in one of the containers. This will be a
blessing for them to read God's word in their own language. More Creole books are wanted.
Funds were sent to purchase more water filters to help prevent cholera breakouts.
During 2014, $14,000.00 was sent for pastoral support.
The groundwork has been done for educating the lay pastors in Haiti. What is needed now is for pastors
to go to Haiti and teach for one week. This teaching is very much needed for continued Christian growth
in Haiti. A house has been purchased and converted for use as a seminary.
We were to have a Haiti Mission Festival in the spring which was cancelled due to Rev. Revenel
Benoit, president of the Lutheran Church of Haiti, becoming very sick. President Benoit now knows that
he cannot work as hard as previously and must eat more regular meals. In November he looked healthy,
but will need an assistant to help with the work load, which means extra costs.
The hydro project (for the TV / radio station and quarry) has been worked on during the year and is
close to being ready for use. The TV/radio station was not broadcasting for part of the year due to lack of
funds. When the hydro becomes available the costs will be reduced substantially allowing for year round
broadcasting.
E111
A t the quarry good marble has been uncovered in the hill side. A personal loan has been made to
purchase equipment from Italy to cut large blocks of marble which will be sold to companies from the
Dominican Republic. This project should be a real blessing in generating funds as well as creating jobs.
A year ago our society was made aware that we are the beneficiary of an estate. Most of the funds were
received right at Christmas. How to best use this gift will be decided in 2015. An account was set up at
the office of RBC in St. Catharines, for the purpose of receiving stock or mutual funds donations for
Haiti. This is an excellent way to save taxes on a gain, save taxes with your donation, and help the
mission in Haiti—win-win.
Our website is being maintained. Check it out at www.haitilutheranmissionsociety.ca and see what we
are doing to help in Haiti. Much has been accomplished in 2014 and with the help of our faithful Lord and
all of you, blessings and growth will continue to abound in 2015.
A BIG blessing is having supporters in any way—prayer—financial—or your thoughts.
Respectfully submitted,
Wally Bogusat, chairman
Haiti Lutheran Mission Society
E112
REPORT 22
Report of Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots (L.A.M.P.)
ANNUAL REPORT – 2014-2015
L.A.M.P. – LUTHERAN ASSOCIATION OF MISSIONARIES AND PILOTS, INC. - Canada
L.A.M.P. - L’ASSOCIATION LUTHERIENNE DES MISSIONAIRES ET AVIATEURS INC.
LAMP MINISTRY INC. - U.S.A.
LAMP is…
The official title of our organization is referenced in the Letters Patent, registered with the Deputy
Registrar General of Canada, signed and dated in Ottawa on July 9, 1976. We are L.A.M.P. –
LUTHERAN ASSOCIATION OF MISSIONARIES AND PILOTS, INC. and L.A.M.P.–
L’ASSOCIATION LUTHERIENNE DES MISSIONAIRES ET AVIATEURS INC.
LAMP Ministry Inc. was incorporated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA and received 501(c) 3 from the IRS in
2003. LAMP and the airplane logo are our registered trademarks in both Canada and the USA.
LAMP offers exciting and strategically planned cross-cultural mission opportunities.
LAMP is committed to provide…

Spiritual witness and nurture within remote northern communities

A spiritually enriching experience for donors and volunteers
In partnership with LAMP…
Sending Churches
 Create renewed mission awareness
 Help prepare members for mission work
 Become prayer partners for the missionaries
Missionary Volunteers
 Grow in personal faith,
witnessing skills,
leadership skills and
cross-cultural
understanding
“In judging the amount
of time we were there,
the people who
benefited most were
ourselves...”
Donors and Prayer Partners
 Become partners by financially and prayerfully supporting cross-cultural ministry
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

Are an integral part in the mission as they pray and share financial resources
Become encouraged as they hear faith-building stories of how God is working through
people’s hearts and lives
Communities
 Work towards developing local Christian
leaders
 Implement Christian education through
VBS, youth and sports programs, Bible
study and worship
 Foster cross-cultural relationships and grow
in personal faith
The needs of people in the North are many…
 Poverty and social problems have taken a toll
 Suicide, drug and alcohol rates are high
 Very few churches are staffed
 Sunday school and regular church programs are rare
LAMP missionary volunteers and staff from Canada and the United States…
 Provide Vacation Bible Schools and Christ-centered
sports camps
 Minister to people in the North on a daily basis while
on site
 Continue to minister to people in the North through
technology such as Facebook, Skype and chat rooms
 Pray for the First Nations people
 Generously contribute financially
 Experience cross-cultural missions
 Prepare for a lifestyle of mission work at home and
abroad
LAMP’s Vision
We anticipate gathering together on the last day, when we will behold “a great multitude that no one
could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the
Lamb.”
(Revelation 7:9)
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From our Executive Director
Dear Members and Stakeholders:
The population in remote areas of northern Canada continues to grow much more rapidly than that of
the rest of North America. Because of the young population and current birthrate, half the population in
northern Canada is under the age of 14.
Traditional churches that existed in the North are closing, because of lack of clergy. There are virtually
no Sunday Schools or child-evangelism programs in the North. The work that LAMP does is often the
only Christian witness provided to the children and youth in northern Canada.
Elders and Christians in these communities know and trust LAMP as a faithful Lutheran organization
that has supported Christian ministry in the North for nearly 50 years.
LAMP currently provides active Christian ministry in over 50 communities in the far north. Each year,
we reach over 5000 children, youth and adults with the Gospel message.
LAMP employs nearly 500 volunteer missionaries each year. These volunteer missionaries commit to
serve for a minimum of five years. LAMP provides-cross cultural training, a culturally appropriate
curriculum, and support in the mission field. Our missionaries are extremely committed and gifted. Their
love for the people, and the people’s response to the VBS teams, has borne much fruit, as thousands of
children happily tell of Jesus love for them.
LAMP’s committee on year-round ministry has put forth several proposals to support Christian
missions in these communities throughout the year. Many volunteer mission teams make multiple trips to
the communities they have committed to serve.
This summer, we worked with two First Nations men living in northern communities in Manitoba. We
began to outline a program to seek and mentor local mission partners. We believe that these mission
partners can greatly assist LAMP in its goal to provide year-round ministry in northern communities.
LAMP is actively seeking to call additional full-time mission staff to meet the demand of many more
communities that are asking LAMP to serve them.
There is an opportunity to do so much more ministry in northern Canada. There is a need to provide
year-round ministry in communities we serve. However, without staff living in the North this will be
impossible. LAMP is in a very strong financial position. This will allow us to go forward with
confidence bringing on staff as God calls them.
Thank you for you faithful partnership in missions.
In Christ’s service and yours,
Ron Ludke, Executive Director / Missionary Pilot
Canadian Board of Directors:
Dr. Al Anderson – Mayne, BC
Mr. Keith Bohlken – Condor, AB
Rev. Harry Huff – Owen Sound, ON
Rev. Gery Luck – Fullarton, ON
Mrs. Judy Luckhardt – Stony Plain, AB
Rev. Marv Ziprick – Sherwood Park AB
Note: Financial statements available upon
request
U.S. Board of Directors:
Mrs. Sue Folger – Lakeville, MN
Mrs. Joan Gehrke – Lodi, WI
Dr. Kent Kaiser – St. Paul, MN
Mrs. Dana Naumann – Portage, MI
Mr. David Schneeberger – Fergus Falls, MN
Dr. Cory Shea – Weehawken, NJ
We believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ can heal and transform people and communities.
Through LAMP you can help.
Below is a pie chart of expenses related to the ministry of LAMP including Canada and the USA. This
chart includes the value of an estimated 73,000 hours that volunteers sacrificially give in order to provide
encouragement and hope to people in Northern Canada. It also includes an estimated $240,000 that the
volunteers tell us they pay directly that is not part of the direct expenses of LAMP. We are very blessed to
have such committed volunteers.
Breakdown of Cost for the Ministry of LAMP
Including Volunteer Time & Expense Contribution
7%
5%
13%
43%
22%
10%
Volunteer's Time Value
Expenses Paid Personally By Volunteers
Spiritual Witness and Nuture
Donor/Volunteer Enrichment
Fundraising
Administration
News from the Mission Field: November 03, 2014
Sometimes it's just as easy as giving a simple reminder.
E116
This past spring, one of LAMP’s long-time volunteers got in touch with Cross
the World, a faith-based ministry located in north-central Minnesota. This
organization provides hand-crafted wooden crosses free of charge.
Our volunteer received wooden crosses from Cross the World, and distributed
them in her LAMP community. Upon returning from the mission field, she
spoke about how God worked through this sharing. She wrote that they gave
some crosses away during their fund-raising. A person who received one of the
crosses said, “My husband died three weeks ago, and I am so lost.” [The woman] held the cross to her
heart and said, “Bless you for sharing."
While in the community, the LAMP team went door-to-door. "After spending time in prayer with the
Lord, we set out, knocking on doors and offering the cross, saying, “We would like to bless you with this
cross,” which opened up conversations with people [such as] we never imagined. No one turned us away
and many asked for prayer."
A Special Thank You from Kincolith, BC August 10, 2014
Shining for Jesus in Canada — Hello, I am from Kincolith. I just
wanted to touch base with your organization & express my gratitude
for the group that was here in July. My grandchildren were so excited
going to the daily programs that your team put on. The group, I
believe, was from Spokane, Washington. They were awesome with
our children, we found them very friendly, kind & full of life & that
really showed in the children.
We were so happy to share our salmon with the group & we were
even more grateful they accepted it. We usually have other groups
come to our community & we love to share our seafood if we can &
some don't eat it or even try it. I know for a fact that the children are looking forward to seeing the groups
come back. I know I am! As a grandmother, I see the anticipation in my young grandchildren. Thank you
ever so much for the work you all do & for sending the people here to teach our children about the Bible.
Love & prayers, Arlene
LAMP VOLUNTEER ELLEN KEHE – Grace Lutheran Chapel, St Louis, MO July 31, 2014
Ellen Kehe, a frequent short-term missionary with LAMP
[Lutheran Association of Missionaries & Pilots], brings the
Gospel to villages in the remote northern regions of Canada.
Ellen has a heart for reaching children and has conducted
VBS mission trips through LAMP for the past 11 years.
Though she faces challenges in villages that have not heard
of Christ’s love, she — along with countless others —
shines the light of God’s Word in dark places.
Ellen writes:
“LAMP is a fantastic organization that tries to do
the impossible. With few people and few resources,
they are trying to shine the light of God’s love to remote, dark areas all over northern
Canada. They are a faithful few who trust in a God who fed 5,000 with five loaves of bread
and two fish. They know nothing is impossible with God.”
The fact is, the need is even greater now than in years past:
“Each summer, LAMP has more requests for teams than there are teams available to go.
The villages up north are experiencing a baby boom, and there continues to be
hopelessness as evidenced by a high alcoholism rate and a very high suicide rate. These
E117
villages desperately need the light, love, and hope of Jesus Christ! I feel blessed to be able
to coordinate volunteers so we can reach as many people as possible, and I look forward
to celebrating in heaven with many Cree Indian believers.”
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REPORT 23
Report of Lutheran Bible Translators–Canada
Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada is an independent, pan-Lutheran mission
organization and recognized Listed Service Organization of LCC.
T
he Mission of Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada is to help bring people to faith in Jesus Christ
through Bible Translation and literacy work.
To carry out this mission, LBTC:
conducts linguistic research;
translates the Bible;
facilitates literacy;
promotes Scripture use;
trains indigenous people;
cooperates with local governments and educators, national church leaders and the local
community;
involves Lutherans in Canada in building awareness through recruitment;
and by seeking partnerships for prayer, financial support and encouragement.
Some Current Statistics
World Language and Translation status
6 Billion - Current world population
6,912 languages currently spoken in the world (SIL Ethnologue)
2,454 languages with all or a portion of the Bible
1,998 language/translation projects in progress
2,393 language groups with probable need of translation
LBT's Response (Including LBTC)
47
19
2
17
26
50
4
52
80
31
LBT missionaries, 32 LBT associate missionaries
LBT US Service Center full time staff, 2 LBTC full-time staff
LBT US Service Center part time staff, 1 LBTC part-time staff
Countries in which LBT is working
Bible translation programs in process
Scripture Engagement and related programs in progress
Language Development programs in progress
Different language groups involved
Total LBT programs
New Testament and other translations completed as of 2008 giving 7 Million people access to
God's Word.
From the above statistics, one can see that God has blessed the work of LBT/LBTC since its beginning
over 50 years ago. (LBT was founded in 1964, LBTC in 1974.) We think it vital that this work continue
so that the saving Word of God made available to millions of people who do not yet have God’s word.
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It is worth noting that LBT/LBTC is rather unique in the world of Bible translation in that we
intentionally work within the structure of Lutheran church bodies. We seek to equip Lutheran churches
around the world with the Word of God; almost all of our work is carried out within the context and
structure of a Lutheran church. This has a great advantage in that there is already a plan to use the
translation before the project even begins. Scripture use follows naturally upon the completion of a
translation.
For the most part LBT/LBTC works in Africa. There are many opportunities for Bible translation and
literacy now, most notably in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Botswana and Cameroon. The challenge before us is
great. Not only are there hundreds of translations needed, but Bible translation and literacy work is quite
challenging. The average time to complete a New Testament project is 12-15 years. It requires thorough
preparatory training and well as fairly long term commitment.
LBTC has four Canadian missionaries and their families working on long-term projects in Cameroon
and Botswana. Martin and Joan Weber are moving their translation teams closer to completing a
lectionary in the Kwanja language. Mike and Kara Kuhn welcomed their third child, Gloria Joy, in
October, and are currently on an educational furlough. Eshinee and Rob Veith are continuing their work
among the Wayeyi people in Botswana.
LBTC plans to continue its recruitment efforts in Canada but is also looking at other ways of fulfilling
its mission and reaching its goal. Recent discussions in Cameroon have opened up the possibility of
supporting and equipping Cameroonians and others for projects there.
Like all charitable organizations, LBTC depends on the prayers and financial support of Lutherans
throughout Canada. We thank all or you for your many years of support for this ministry. And we ask
you, the pastors, teachers and leaders of the Church to continue to promote and fund this vital ministry.
Not only this, you can inspire young men and women to consider this missionary vocation.
Thank you and the Lord be with you!
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Dr. Jim Keller
Executive Director
Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada
137 Queen St. S., Kitchener, ON N2G 4E3 [email protected] 519-742-3361 1-866-518-7071
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Ways to serve as an LBTC missionary
Language Survey Specialist
Completing a language survey is the first step in the translation process. Language Survey Specialists
help determine the needs of language groups where Scripture is not available. They ask questions like:
“How many speakers are there?” “Are the children being taught the language?” The answers to these
questions and others help determine a group’s translation needs.
Translation Advisor
In translating, the biblical texts are carefully studied and then written into the heart language of the
people. The translation advisor forms relationships with a team of national people who commit
themselves to translating God’s Word accurately, beautifully and clearly into their own language. He or
she then leads them through the many steps needed to bring the translation to publication.
Literacy/Scripture Use Specialist
Literacy specialists train and equip national co-workers to teach others to read and write their own
language. Closely tied to literacy is Scripture Use. Scripture Use specialists help develop and advocate
activities that encourage the use of translated Scriptures in churches and homes.
Vernacular Media Specialist
These specialists assist indigenous people in the production of audio/visual and other tools to spread
God’s Word. They employ a variety of tools to make Scripture available to those who may not be reached
through written text. The focus is on non-print media such as audio recordings of Scripture, dubbing
existing video, writing scripts in the vernacular to accompany film strips, videos and more.
Ethnomusicologist
Many churches and congregations in other cultures use Western hymns, liturgies and worship styles in
their services. They may believe their own music is inappropriate for worship. The Bible says we should
“make a joyful noise unto the Lord”. The ethnomusicologist helps national people set Scripture in their
own language, to their traditional music styles, developing worship songs that speak to the hearts of the
people. Worship is more meaningful when people express themselves in their own way. They sing and
worship God with more elation.
Missionary Kid Tutor
For many missionary families, teaching their children is a full-time effort. Having a tutor provides these
families with the opportunity to be more fully involved in their primary mission such as translation,
literacy or Scripture Use. Tutors do all the things any teacher would do, but without the structure of a
traditional school setting. In international settings, creative, hands-on t teaching is the way to go!
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REPORT 24
Report of Lutheran Braille Workers (final report)
This is the final report from Lutheran Braille Workers-Canada.
M
ay 3, 2014, was the date of the final gathering of the LBW-C voting membership, Board of Directors,
past Board members, volunteers and friends. The 21st and last Annual meeting was held at St. Paul’s
Lutheran church in Elmira and opened with a brief business meeting whereby two motions were carried
allowing the Board to complete the business of LBW-C by December 31, 2014.
During the business part of the meeting a letter from Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee, President of Lutheran
Church–Canada was read to the entire assembly. Dr. Bugbee acknowledged the work of Lutheran Braille
Workers and encouraged all those involved to honour the memory of LBW-C by using their time and
talents in other much needed ministries.
A plaque celebrating the 40 years of braille production at Work Centre #78 was presented on behalf of
the LBW-C Board by President Judy Obelnycki to Mabel Brown, a 40 year volunteer and Leader and also
to Pastor Richard Frey who, during the end months, had taken on the leadership.
The meeting was followed by a Volunteer Appreciation catered lunch. So many dedicated work centre
volunteers as well as Board members that gave of their time and faithfully remained on Board, term after
term, to keep up with the work at hand. Friendships were made over the years and the bonds from being a
part of this worthwhile ministry will forever tie us together. The blessings of having been involved with
God’s ministry to the blind and visually impaired are too numerous to count.
A cheque for $5,000.00 was issued to LWML-C in appreciation for all their help and assistance in the
earlier and lean years of LBW-C. As per the LBW-C Constitution and By-Laws, materials were
dispersed, and Treasurer, Darryll Holland reports that a final cheque in the amount of $ 48,180.01 was
forwarded to Lutheran Church–Canada.
To God be the glory!
Judy Obelnycki, Board President
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REPORT 25
Report of Lutheran Layman’s League/Lutheran Hour Ministries
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
G
reetings from the men and women of the Lutheran Laymen’s League. We are “People of Christ with
the Message of Hope.” As the newest auxiliary of Lutheran Church–Canada, it is our purpose to “assist
the church in word and deed.” The dictionary defines auxiliary as giving or furnishing aid so we claim to
be “Bringing Christ to the Nations and the Nations to the Church.”
Lutheran Church–Canada in June 2014 at its National Convention in Vancouver, voted unanimously to
accept the LLL of Canada an official auxiliary. The Int’l LLL has long been an auxiliary of LCC but until
this convention the Canadian organization, affiliated with but separate from the Missouri based Int’l LLL,
did not have this status.
Our LLL congregational “Ambassadors” are key to keeping awareness of the League and the resources
of Lutheran Hour Ministries available for use in our congregations. Many congregations do not presently
have LLL Ambassadors and I would strongly encourage these congregations and pastors to find someone
for this role as I believe this would only benefit your ministry and outreach efforts.
Some of the LHM resources available include the radio and internet broadcasting of “The Lutheran
Hour” with speaker Rev. Gregory Seltz heard not only on radio stations here in Ontario but across North
America and the world. This is made possible by the prayers and financial support of our members.
“Project Connect” booklets are great for use not only within the congregation to encourage and equip the
members but also to reach out to delinquent members and the community at large. These booklets have
traditionally been available in English and Spanish however LLL of Canada is now in the process of
translating a number of booklets into French and Chinese. LCC, East District has congregations serving
these two language groups. These two languages are in widespread use globally with French being one of
Canada’s official languages. Booklets can be viewed and downloaded at www.lll.ca/booklets. New
booklets from LHM include “First Class Faith Sharing: Methods & Motivations” and “The Mormons”.
Children’s resources such as booklets like “The Christmas Journey,” “The Easter Story,” “The Bully,”
and the newest booklet, “Learning to Pray,” are great for use in Sunday School or for your own children
or grandchildren. For children who go “online” be sure to have them try JCPlayzone.com a website with
Bible stories, games, music, crafts and more.
An LHM Outreach Conference was held on July 24 to 27, 2014, in Detroit having the theme, “SENT,”
with over 700 in attendance including a number of Canadians. This conference took the place of the usual
Int’l Convention with no official business being conducted. The intent is to encourage more lay people
and non LLL members to attend. In 2015 “ROC’s” (Regional Outreach Conferences) will be held in New
York (Mar.13-14), Seattle (Sept. 25-26) and Orlando (Nov. 13-14). Everyone I know who has attended
one of these events has said it was a great experience.
Our East District LLL is comprised of local areas called “Zones.” These LLL Zones are involved in
various activities. They sponsor The Lutheran Hour over local radio stations, celebrate the Annual
Lutheran Hour Sunday with special presentations, displays and events in local congregations. They hold
Zone Rallies featuring a meal or BBQ, guest speaker or presentation giving those in attendance a chance
to learn more about the LLL and work of LHM. Zones have sponsored booths at county fairs and when
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possible the Int’l Plowing Match, making good use of LHM hand outs and booklets. The Hanover Zone
for example has placed ‘Project Connect’ stands at the Owen Sound hospital from which around 2000
booklets find their way into people’s hands. Our Zones also raise funds for the East District LLL
Nicaragua Mission Project which provides printed materials that LHM Nicaragua uses to spread the
Gospel in that country.
Anyone can become a member of the Int’l LLL, merely send an annual donation to the LLL-C office.
To become a voting member of LLL Canada you need to be a member of an LCC or LCMS congregation
and sign an application form.
Please take time to visit our display at this convention or check online at www.lll.ca or phone 1-800555-6236 to find out if we have resources that would be helpful to you and your congregation in sharing
the soul saving message of the Good News of Jesus.
Robert Wilson,
President, Lutheran Laymen’s League – East District
[email protected] 519-875-4804
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REPORT 26
Report of Lutherans for Life
By the time of this convention, LFL-C will have celebrated 12 years of existence. What
began as a small group in Ontario soon morphed into a national organization. With members
in all of our affiliated districts, we have shown minimal growth but have a strong group of
dedicated people who stand up for life issues and core biblical beliefs.
Our mandate is to educate fellow Lutherans on such issues as abortion, stem-cell research, chastity, and
end of life issues, based on the Word of God.
The current hot-button item in Canada is assisted suicide or euthanasia. The opponents like to use more
sophisticated and polished clean sounding phrases such “dying with dignity,” “aid in suffering,” “assisted
death,” and so on. This is a topic that not only plagues Christians but affects non-Christians as well. This
is an area that has presented a real challenge for LFL-C to provide scriptural information in contrast to
secular thinking. We often find ourselves in debates or battles that are not winnable. Those in support of
euthanasia seem to have the media convinced and running interference on their behalf. Autocratic Judges
and clever lawyers seem to grab all the public attention and many people are convinced that suicide is the
way to go. This is exactly why we exist today — to bring the opposite message to counter the world view.
We continue to support the scriptural position of natural life to natural death.
We strongly encourage Lutherans to talk to their pastor, read Scripture, and to pray about difficult end
of life issues. LFL-C has numerous resources to guide you into making good choices. This is where we
can be of valuable assistance. Remember, God is a loving and forgiving God who understands your
dilemma.
LFL-C has helped to support the annual Love Life conference in Edmonton. We have information
booths at many District and National conventions where important information is available on pro-life
issues. We have attended the NYG, offering our youth vital biblical information on such issues as chastity
and other life issues related to teens and young people. We support and work with Word of Hope, a crisis
pregnancy help line which assists people in post abortion predicaments.
LFL-C participated in the 2014 March for Life held in Ottawa. About 30 – 35 Lutherans joined us
including several Youth from the East District. There were approximately 23,000 walkers. We plan to
participate again in 2015. We feel this is a worthwhile endeavor giving us the opportunity to witness to
the Sanctity of all human life, and support pro-life issues. You are invited to join us in future walks, or
participate in your Province with local walks, and to become active in community pro-life events such as
40 days for life and Life Chain.
Submitted on behalf of current board members:
President Cliff Pyle
Secretary Judith Obelnycki
Life Ministry Coordinator Linda Welke
Pastoral Advisor Rev. James Luke
Treasurer Alan Schmitt
Members at Large: Rev. David Mellecke, Rev. Richard Juritsch, Marian Obeda
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REPORT 27
Report of LWMLC, Laurentian District
The Laurentian District is one of two LWMLC districts within the East District of
Lutheran Church–Canada, and corresponds to the Ottawa Circuit.
Within the district are 3 zones, each of which holds an event every fall. These events include Bible
Study, guest speaker or special program, an ingathering of items for a local agency, and fellowship.
Business is kept to a minimum with inspiration and service being the key components.
Outreach through mission grants is the main focus of LWMLC and at each district convention
recipients of these grants are chosen. At its triennial convention held in 2013 the following grants were
selected:
 To assist assisted congregations and congregations with under 50 worshipping members to
engage in children's ministry
 To encourage youth and others in short-term mission teams
 Mission opportunities
 To support ministry in Atlantic Canada by partially covering the costs of cell phone, internet
services and literature.
 Mission assistance to Cartago and San Jose, Costa Rica
During the current triennium, LWMLC has produced an excellent seminar, Heart Melody, which is an
in-depth look at Lutheran Service Book. This has been held in the district in various forms, as district and
zone events and also within local congregations. This has proven to be very beneficial in discovering just
what is in the hymnal and the numerous ways in which it can be used.
The national convention of LWMLC will be held in Waterloo July 10-12, 2015, at which time officers
and also mission grants for the 2015-18 triennium will be chosen. The theme Fan into flame the gift of
God will be developed through guest speakers and interest sessions. The Laurentian District will be
represented by a delegate from each of the 3 zones, a Young Woman Representative, Pastoral Counselor,
those serving in elected/appointed positions on the General Council of LWMLC, and also those who
attend just for the inspiration and fellowship.
The next Laurentian District convention will be held at Christ Risen, Kanata, on April 29-30, 2016,
under the theme Glorify God Through Prayer, Service, Love. This theme will be developed through Bible
Study and guest speakers. Because our district is small in numbers, this is a special time for the women as
long-standing friendships are further developed and new ones are made.
The motto of LWMLC is Called to Serve, a motto which could also serve each one of us. As an
organization LWMLC has been a blessing for the church, and also for individuals in their daily lives. God
has called each and every one of us to serve Him using the gifts He has given us, not for ourselves but in
service to one another, in the place where He has placed us. May we do that with great joy!
In His Service
Eloise Schaan, President
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REPORT 28
Report of LWMLC, Ontario District
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. “Psalm 119:105”
As president of LWMLC Ontario District it is my pleasure and privilege to extend greetings
to all who are assembled for the 10th convention of LCC, East District in Kitchener Ontario and to all in
their “home” congregations.
LWMLC Ontario District is an active organization with 7 zones, 67 societies 937 members and 5
associate members. Our mission is to equip, motivate and encourage women to Grow in God’s Word,
Serve God’s People, and Share God’s Son.
Using our personal mite boxes to gather funds enables us to support mission grants that are selected at
our triennial conventions. At our district convention in Toronto in 2013, the delegates voted to designate
$55,000 to support nine projects.
• Funds for Medical Missions shipping cost
• Lamp Missionary and Pilot start-up funding
• Purchase of construction materials for two smaller churches in Licey, Dominican Republic
• Mission Centre kitchen upgrades for Iglesia Luterna Simodo De Nicaragua (ILSA0)
• Funds to encourage youth and counsellors in short term mission teams
• Support and encouragement with children’s ministry to assisted congregations and those with a
worshipping membership of less than 50
• Continued broadcasting of the Christian message to the South Asian Community in the GTA over
the internet
• Support of the Windsor Essex County Lutheran outreach (WELCO)
• A Mission Opportunity fund
At the time of writing $34,000 of this commitment has been paid.
The ladies in our societies continue to support the many mission opportunities locally, nationally and
globally as they gather funds and supplies for many organizations. In this triennium they have contributed
quilts, blankets, sweaters, hygiene products and medical needs to both CLWR and Medical Missions as
well as to local hospitals and shelters. Through the collection of stamps, Campbell’s soup labels, pop tabs
and milk bags they are able to support The Canadian Bible Society, LCC District schools and day care
centres, and provide sleeping mats especially for Haiti. Many societies also financially support seminary
students on a monthly basis.
One hundred and nineteen of our Ontario District ladies took advantage of the opportunity to participate
in the LWMLC prepared retreat, “Heart Melody,” in September 2014. We gathered at the Quality Inn in
Woodstock Ontario for Friday night and Saturday sessions. Rev. Robert Clifford very ably guided us
through the Lutheran Service Book and gave us a new awareness of the wealth of this resource to enhance
our worship and prayer life along with the collection of dearly loved hymns. Warm fellowship, excellent
accommodations and delicious meals added to this great weekend.
The 2015 LWMLC National Convention will take place in our Ontario District July 10 -12 in Waterloo.
The theme scripture verse is taken from 2 Timothy 2:6 — Fan Into Flame the Gift of God. The guest
preacher for the opening worship service being held at Messiah Lutheran Church in Waterloo will be
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LCC President, Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee. The keynote speaker will be Donna Pyle from Texas. Other
guest speakers will be Rev. Dr. Bugbee, and Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel. There will also be several
interest sessions led by the women of LWMLC.
The 2016 LWMLC Ontario District convention will be held in London Ontario June 2-4 at the Four
Points Sheridan Hotel. The guest speaker will be Elaine Bickell from Michigan and the mission speaker
will be Rev. Ron Mohr from the LCC East District. The convention scripture verse is taken from Luke
24:32, Were not our hearts burning within us on the road while He talked and opened the scriptures to us
and our theme will be “Hearts Afire”.
In closing I would like to thank the out-going LCC, East District executive for their dedicated efforts to
lead our district. We truly appreciate your work. Thank you for your service to our Lord in the mission of
His church.
In His service,
Janice Buchner
President LWMLC Ontario District
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REPORT 29
Report of Lutherwood
I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and
I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak.
(Ezekiel 34:16)
Introduction
I was talking to a colleague recently who told me, “Systems are designed to achieve the results that they
get.” As I thought about this astute observation, I realized it is as true about children’s mental health as it
is about other systems of care. Those who work in the field have the best of intentions and stakeholders
all have the same goal: to improve services for children and youth. Yet for children and families, getting
the right care at the right time is confusing and difficult. Now, for the first time in Ontario, everyone has
come together to change the system at every level.
I was reminded of how confusing it can be for families to seek help when I met Jeremiah’s family.
Before he came to us, Jeremiah couldn’t handle disappointment and frustration. When something
bothered him he would stuff it deep inside allowing it to build up until eventually he would explode,
lashing out violently at everyone and everything around him. The teenager described his past life as
“chaotic, dysfunctional, moody, not sleeping, fighting.”
His life changed at age 12 when he had an explosive altercation with his father, who had temporarily
confiscated something as punishment. “I was really frustrated with Dad,” he told me. “I am very
protective of my stuff and need my space so I lost control. My parents were scared, my three younger
sisters were scared…” he paused and his mother calmly finished, “so we called 911 because safety was a
concern. The police took my son away in handcuffs and he was charged.”
Jeremiah’s mother had tried for some time to find the help she needed. She had gone to his teacher, her
physician, the local hospital, a community agency and now the police in her desperate search for mental
health support. She couldn’t get a complete picture of what was wrong, what services were available and
how to access them.
After a night in jail, a few weeks at Lutherwood’s Safe Haven youth shelter and some time in foster
care, Jeremiah arrived at Lutherwood’s Woodlands residential treatment program. “I didn’t have a lot of
options. My family wasn’t willing to take me back until I made some changes,” he continued.
“When I first arrived I was impulsive, angry and spiraling out of control. I broke things and set off the
fire alarm. Then something changed and I saw others building trust with the staff and earning privileges. I
wanted that trust, I wanted those privileges and I wanted to be back with my family.” Jeremiah learned to
see both sides of a situation, control his emotions, negotiate and make better choices. He also came to
accept that he has complex mental health issues and that he can manage them.
After a year at Lutherwood, his parents welcomed him home again and the police dropped the charges.
“I am rebuilding trust with my family. I can be alone with my sisters again and I play guitar with my Dad.
I honestly don’t know how I would have survived if I hadn’t changed.”
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In 2014, Lutherwood strengthened more than 24,000 lives through our services in children’s mental
health, employment, housing and family counselling – lives like Jerimiah’s.
Mental Health Services
Last year was one of the most important years for children’s mental health in Ontario’s history. A few
years ago, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, our funder for children’s mental health programs,
launched their “Moving on Mental Health” initiative to make children’s mental health services better and
more accessible for kids and families across the province.
A key component of this initiative is the appointment of “lead agencies” in each region to be
responsible for the children’s mental health services system in their community. As the Ministry chose its
lead agencies, they were looking for recognized leaders with a commitment to service quality and
practices; good community partners that build consensus, make difficult choices and take a system-wide
perspective; and experts that have demonstrated commitment to preventing people from falling through
cracks and administrative excellence.
In August 2014, the Ministry identified the first 14 lead agencies and we were honoured to learn that
Lutherwood was designated as the lead agency in Waterloo Region. I see this wonderful news as a direct
reflection of the excellent work our staff have accomplished with children and families in mental health,
employment and housing for the past 45 years.
As the lead agency, we can now make a real difference in how kids and families access and experience
mental health services. We are responsible for identifying community needs and planning service
delivery, negotiating with and funding other agencies and ensuring they deliver quality services, and
building stronger connections with other sectors including education and healthcare to make clearer
“pathways” to services. To accomplish this, we will work collaboratively with and earn the trust of our
local service partners, parents and youth, the Ministry, and many others so that children and families have
confidence in a system that is designed to serve and help them in a time of greatest need.
While being selected as lead agency is our most significant achievement of last year, we also had many
other successes, some of which I am highlighting for you below:
As part of our strategic planning, Lutherwood did some sincere soul searching. While we have made
great strides in improving service access and quality, we have not progressed in our quest to attract a
more diverse client base. As a result, our strategic plan identifies a need to develop a more diverse and
culturally competent organization. We are learning from peer organizations across Canada that have more
experience in this regard and the knowledge we are gaining will help us develop a plan that will include
employee and leadership development and recruitment, as well as more diverse human resource policies,
procedures and practices. This will put us in a better position to offer services that meet the needs of a
diverse population.
We are involved in an initiative designed to improve “service pathways” for treatment offered to
hospital patients by Lutherwood and Grand River Hospital. The goal of “Kids in Emerg” is to streamline
service efficiency so the Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (CAIP) at the hospital can more
easily move adolescents to Lutherwood once they are stabilized and reduce its waiting list for service.
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Employment Services
Our present day economy continues to be a significant obstacle for people looking for work. With the
local Maple Leaf Foods (formerly Schneiders) plant closure, more than 700 workers will have lost their
jobs by March 2015. Lutherwood was chosen as the provider of on-site outplacement services for these
displaced workers and is striving to find work or training options for every one of these workers, many of
which have worked there for decades.
In March, Lutherwood’s Guelph office organized two networking events for Internationally Trained
Professionals called “Bridge the Gap.” The events were held to address the challenge of connecting
employers and internationally trained professionals. Both events – one specifically for the healthcare
sector and the other for the banking and finance sectors – were a success and received positive feedback
from employers, participants and the federal government.
Innovation and entrepreneurship are critical components to surviving in today’s business world.
Knowing this, Lutherwood proposed a partnership with the local YMCA and Wilfrid Laurier’s Schlegel
Centre for Entrepreneurship to deliver a program that will draw on the strengths of all three partners to
help entrepreneurs launch a small business. The youth entrepreneurship program called BizU received
funding from Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment and will eventually
serve 36 youth in Waterloo Region.
Housing Services
Our current economy not only affects those looking for work, but also those in need of safe and
sustainable housing options. The Region of Waterloo, the local funder of housing services, made
significant changes to the administration and access to services. Lutherwood was honoured to be offered a
significant increase in funding that allowed us to hire five additional service staff and one supervisor to
increase our capacity to reduce wait lists, improve service access and add services that will divert
individuals and families from shelters. It will also help us work with landlords so that we can prevent
crises before they lead to homelessness. We are now able to offer these critical services across the
Region, including Cambridge.
Seniors’ Services
Luther Village on the Park maintained high levels of occupancy over the last year despite growing
competition, a temporary dip in the demographics of older adults due to the effects of the Great
Depression and new provincial legislation regulating retirement homes. It continues to be a vibrant social
enterprise for Lutherwood and helps almost 500 retired and semi-retired people enjoy independence and
maintain good health. Our staff have done a good job of meeting the stiff competition we are facing from
new retirement communities with renewed marketing strategies, including social media activity, a new
presentation suite and a series of well-attended Open House events. Customer service training for
employees was updated to become even more responsive to the needs of our residents, and new resident
care computer software has allowed us to enhance care, increase communication amongst departments,
become more efficient and reduce the use of paper. It is nice to cap off this section by telling you our
work has been noticed by others; we were proud to learn in June that Luther Village won top honours in
the Readers’ Choice awards held annually by our local newspaper.
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Institute
We are blessed to be able to deliver our mission from an extensive foundation of knowledge and
experience. Being a good steward of this knowledge means sharing it with others, so three years ago we
launched our Institute for Children and Youth Mental Health. The Institute held three very successful
events that allowed us to share valuable knowledge with others and strengthen our network.
On November 13
th
, we partnered with the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth
Mental Health to deliver a one day symposium called Operation: Implementation. Seventy-five
people from children’s mental health agencies across Ontario came to learn how to increase the
likelihood of success in implementing initiatives. The program included a keynote speaker who
brought meaning and relevance to her implementation science research, six of our peer agencies
that freely shared their successes and struggles, and facilitated workshops where participants
shared their experiences and brainstormed solutions. By all accounts the symposium was a huge
success.
During Children’s Mental Health Week (May 4-10, 2014), we expanded our popular “Shh… It’s
Children’s Mental Health” speakers’ series to include an exposition of 15 partner agencies. This
opportunity promoted some of the wonderful children’s mental health services that are available
through our partners across Waterloo Region. In addition, we continued with our public education
series with three presentations entitled: Social Media Impacts on Teenagers, Teen Suicide and
Self-Harming Behaviour, and Managing Anxiety in Children and Teens.
And finally, we partnered with Renison University College’s School of Social Work to invite
their Field Instructors from agencies across Canada to come and learn about leadership in social
work. Over 45 clinicians who supervise MSW placement students gathered for a professional
development session led by Canadian leadership researcher and trainer Stephen de Groot as he
spoke to the impact instructors can have on students through a needs-based responsive leadership
approach to supervision.
Conclusion
A single organization cannot achieve an ambitious vision like ours: A community where all children,
youth, adults and families experience mental wellness, financial stability and a safe place to live. For as
individuals, we are limited. Yet as a collective we are capable of so much more. As Jeremiah observed,
listened and learned from those around him, he found a new perspective and new approach. He worked
with others to overcome what once was insurmountable and achieve goals that seemed beyond his reach.
As the lead agency, we can take a page from Jeremiah’s book. We can learn from other agencies around
us to gain the perspective and wisdom we need to improve the children’s mental health system locally and
provincially. We can listen to and learn from clients like Jeremiah’s mother to gather insights that will
enable us to be more accessible and deliver even higher quality services that will meet the needs of our
community.
We are truly excited by this opportunity to work with other community service providers and build a
stronger, more reliable and more accessible system that uses each agency’s strengths to deliver the best
services possible and ultimately a community where all children, youth, adults and families experience
mental wellness, financial stability and a safe place to live.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. John A. Colangeli, Chief Executive Officer, Lutherwood
E132
REPORT 30
Report of Malabar Mission Society
www.malabarmissionsociety.org
The Malabar Mission Society, formed in 1988, provides financial support to the Gospel Workers for their
outreach ministry among the people along the Malabar coast in Kerala State, India. The Gospel Workers,
pastors and evangelists, are part of the India Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC). The Gospel Workers,
along with the churches and mission stations, form the Malabar Mission Circle. Recently a 32 page booklet
“Your Entry to a World of Service” was published to illustrate the work and activity in Malabar and beyond.
In 2011 Dr. Miller wrote, Two Decades of Service, The Story of the Malabar Mission Society, a 94 page
history of the Malabar Mission Society. Both publications are available for distribution.
The Malabar Mission Society assists the Gospel Workers in sharing the Good News of Jesus in their
communities. The Gospel Workers and Evangelists reach out to the Hindu and Muslim people through
Vacation Bible Schools, Bible correspondence schools, Reading Rooms and Medical institutions at
Wandoor and Malappuram. Since the IELC has limited funding the Malabar Mission Society provides a
small salary subsidy for the Gospel Workers and assists them with outreach activities in their villages. In
recent years some funding was provided to repair some church facilities. Recently the Gospel Workers of
the Malabar Mission Circle formed the Malabar Gospel Mission Society to “undertake evangelistic work
in the Malabar area”. Several training seminars equip the gospel Workers and lay people to share the Gospel
in their community.
The opportunities to share the love of Jesus are great! The Open Door (for men), a student library and
reading room in Kannur, was established in 2001. Since 2004 the Vanitha (women) Friendship Center,
including a Chapel, Reading Room, residence for staff, Conference Room, literature storage and kitchen,
was established in Kannur. Daily the Friendship Centre provides an opportunity for many college students
to visit this centre and learn about Jesus. Staff greet and assist the students to find materials and share their
love of Jesus. An ESL (English as a Spoken Language with accent reduction) was conducted in 2007 and
2009. The annual costs for operation are $4,643.00. Future funding for this project is needed.
In April, 2011 there were 31 Vacation Bible Schools held with 1,419 students (420 Hindus, 270 Muslims
and 450 Christians). These children heard and experienced the Gospel. Praise God!
Anantapur, in nearby Andhra Pradesh State, has seen tremendous growth with many Muslims and Hindus
baptized. There are 4 Leaders and 18 Gospel Workers who regularly visit several hundred villages and
freely distributed about 50,000 Gospel portions and 70,000 tracts and booklets every few months. In 2011
there were 12 new Gospel Workers who were trained and now share the Good News of God’s love in the
various communities. Support is needed for this powerful work of the Holy Spirit.
The new mission station at Naduvil is progressing very well under God’s blessing. The new congregation
also sponsors an outstation at Chengalai, where a Canadian businessman assisted with constructing a new
church building.
The Rev. Dr. Roland Miller, missionary from 1953 to 1976 in Malappuram, Kerala, India, served as
Project Officer from 1988 until January 31, 2008. The current Project Officer is Rev. Carlton Riemer,
former missionary in India, from Stillwater, Oklahoma. He communicates regularly with Rev. T. Joy,
current India Program Director, and Rev. K.M. Victor, our past India Agent, who supervise the work and
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distribution of funds. Annual visits are made to the Gospel Workers and churches of the Malabar Mission
Circle. We give thanks for the faithful prayer support and financial support for this outreach ministry in
India.
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Howard Ulmer, President
[email protected]
E134
REPORT 31
Report of Philoxenia / Hospitality Ministry
The mission of Philoxenia-Hospitality Ministry is to reach out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those
of other faiths, to Muslims especially, but also to Hindus and Sikhs. The Ministry also exists to equip
Lutheran Church-Canada members and pastors and other Christians with educational materials, tracts and
Bibles in both English and foreign languages useful for evangelism toward people of other cultures and
religions. The Ministry has extensive literature and tools to help equip the church for outreach to
Muslims.
When Rev. Dr. Ernest Hahn and his wife Greta returned to the Greater Toronto Area in 1978, after 25
years of service as LCMS missionaries in India, the Hahns realized that the mission field had come to
North America. The GTA and other large Canadian cities had become home to many newcomers to
Canada, many of whom held to the same religions and cultures the Hahns had been witnessing to in India.
Philoxenia (which is Greek for “friendship to strangers”) Ministry was born: loving, understanding
and faith-sharing with your neighbour.
Currently, the Ministry is at a crossroads without an acting missionary-at-large. Our plan to call a fulltime missionary-at-large for campus ministry in Ontario did not materialize due to lack of funds. The
Ministry is solely supported by donations of individuals from Lutheran Church-Canada and members of
the LCMS. The Ministry realizes that in order to call a missionary-at-large she needs to gather more
donations and continue to remind and teach members of our congregations the importance of the need of
sharing Christ with Muslims and neighbours of other religions.
To this end, the short-term plan of the Ministry is to revitalize herself through the creation of a website
that will be a platform for sharing resources for equipping Lutherans to share their faith with Muslims and
those of other faiths and to build functionality into the website to receive donations through credit cards
and debit cards.
These steps will, Lord-willing, be helpful to congregations and interested Christians and provide the
means for the Ministry to more easily receive donations to eventually call a missionary-at-large in the
future.
The Ministry realizes that education is a key component to equipping pastors and lay people to reach
out and share their faith to members of other religions. To this end, the Ministry plans to put material on
her website pastors can use in their confirmation classes and Bible studies to teach young and old
effective ways to witness Christ to Muslims. We hope these materials will fill an important void in
catechesis and evangelism preparedness today.
If you would like to learn more about sharing your faith in Christ with Muslims or members of other
religions please feel free to contact Rev. Rob Korsch at the convention or email him at
[email protected].
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Rob Korsch, S.T.M.
On Behalf of the Philoxenia-Hospitality Board of Directors
E135
BUDGET & FINANCIAL REPORTS
E136
Lutheran Church - Canada, East District
Budget 2015/16
Receipts
(1) Congregational Receipts
Partner to Partner
(1) Direct Appeals
Interest Income - Endowment
District Missionary Hsg, Grant
(1) Memorials
CEF Administration Services
(1) Donations to ED Missions
Prior year's surplus/District Fund Balance
Non-cash depreciation
Total Budgeted Receipts
1,057,000
12,000
75,000
7,500
50,000
75,000
74,500
5,000
157,192
4,950
1,518,142
Disbursements
Synodical Support
Gift Planner
(1) Synodical Support (40% of Unrestricted Gifts)
Total Synodical Support
Department for Outreach
CEF Surplus
Assistance funded by other sources
Total funds from other sources:
Assistance funded by core offerings
Mission committee - Assistance
Department administration
Mission Committee
Campus Ministry Committee
Evangelism committee
Social Ministry Committee
EvangelFest
Mission Executive Office
Total Department Administration
Total Department for Outreach
Department for Parish Services
Department Administration
Specialized Ministries Administration
Caring Ministries
Children's Ministry Committee
Sunday School Teachers Workshop
EDLYA
Family Life Education Ministry
Older Adults Committee
EvangelFest
Campus Chaplancy
Deacon's Retreat
Lutheran Schools Committee
Recruitment & Student Loans
Stewardship
Worship Committee - Rev. Voege
Youth Committee - Smilek
Total Department for Parish Services
Adminstration Expenses
Department for Finance
President's Office
VP's & Circuit Counselors
Board of Directors
Archives
Communications Services Committee
Special Committees
District Office
Office Building
Total Administrative Expenses
Total Budgeted Disbursements
Surplus (deficit)
75,000
454,800
529,800
20,000
181,000
-201,000
430,115
430,115
6,500
1,000
750
0
0
4,000
104,733
116,983
547,098
1,500
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2,500
0
0
0
4,000
1,500
120,642
7,115
14,000
6,500
10,950
250
259,477
16,810
437,244
1,518,142
0