Workbook page: 101
PDF page: 136
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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 136
2026 Convention Workbook 101 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS R19 Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans; Board of Directors—Concordia Plan Services Concordia Plan Services (CPS) manages benefits that improve and support the health and financial wellness of workers at minis- tries of the Synod so that they can focus on spreading the Word of God. Approximately 6,000 ministries, 29,000 workers, 45,000 re- tirees and beneficiaries, and 49,000 covered family members count on CPS to help them be well. A. Responding to Church Worker Needs A.1. Strengthening Retirement The Concordia Retirement Plan (CRP) provides eligible work- ers with a monthly pension income benefit in retirement. On Jan. 1, 2027, the last of three annual CRP contribution increases will become effective. The prior two years of higher contributions have produced the desired impact of improving the CRP’s funding, which is on track to reach 100 percent funded status. In addition, for the year ending Dec. 31, 2025, CRP investments returned 14.6 percent, more than double the CRP’s long-term ex- pected rate of return of 7.25 percent. Over the trailing 10-year peri- od, the CRP has returned 9.6 percent, outperforming its investment benchmarks. This outperformance has resulted in more than $180 million in additional gains above benchmark returns. A.2. Focus on Worker Wellness At CPS our mission is “Serve ministries … care for workers … so that the Word of God spreads,” and we’re pleased to collaborate with others in the Synod with those same priorities. At the 2023 Synod convention, Resolution 1-06A was adopted, directing dis- tricts and the Council of Presidents to establish strategic plans to care for workers and their families. This resolution directed districts to utilize CPS resources, so we have partnered with 12 districts to do an in-depth analysis of their worker wellness metrics and learn about their district culture and available resources. Through this collaborative effort we’ve created a customized wellness plan for each partner district. A.3. Expanded Mental Health Resources The mental health of our church workers is a significant concern that has only been amplified in recent years. At the 2023 Synod convention, Res. 1-07 was adopted, which encourages rostered church workers to utilize the resources available through CPS. Those resources include an enhanced Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Through the EAP, Concordia Health Plan (CHP) members have access to expanded mental health care solutions, in person or digitally, to address challenges. In 2025 more than 6,100 EAP sessions helped CHP members as they addressed their mental health challenges. B. Serving the Synod and Synod Ministries Our staff continually looks for new and better ways to serve and support ministries and workers. Examples include the following: • LCMS churches and schools are facing challenges with property and casualty insurance coverage renewals. To help meet these challenges, in 2024 CPS began exploring the cre- By managing assets collectively for the church, the Foundation offers access to Synod congregations and ministry organizations to a sophisticated, diversified investment model at a low cost. A vari- ety of investment options are available to help meet ministry needs relating to investment timeline and risk tolerance, and to best help those ministries accomplish their long-term goals. Leadership and Organization Mr. David Fiedler has served as president of the LCMS Founda- tion since 2013. Currently, 68 full-time employees serve the Foun- dation in various capacities. Governance Direct oversight of the Foundation is provided by its board of trustees, which meets quarterly to review and monitor the perfor - mance and activity of the organization and to provide strategic direction. The Foundation board is made up of 13 trustees, 8 of whom are elected by the Synod member organizations described below. Two other trustees are elected by the Synod in convention. The remaining two trustees are the Synod President or his repre- sentative, and the chairman of the Board for National Mission or his representative. The Chief Financial Officer of the Synod is an exofficio nonvoting member of the board. The LCMS Foundation is also responsible to 55 member orga- nizations, which represent, directly or indirectly, all the ministries of the church served by the Foundation. These member organiza - tions include the 35 LCMS districts, the member institutions of the Concordia University System, our two seminaries, and auxiliaries such as the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Once a year delegates from this group meet to elect trustees and vote on other official actions at the Foundation’s annual meeting. Strategic Plan As the Foundation looks to the future, we seek to grow our im- pact on the Lutheran Church and its ability to share the Gospel. We continually review the needs of the Church and our Lutheran do- nors to determine how we can better serve the people and organiza- tions of the Synod. We gather input from our board, our leadership team, our staff, and outside experts to identify areas where we can improve our work in this support of ministry. Thus, we have identi- fied six key areas of focus over the next three years: • Improve message clarity and understanding. • Increase awareness of, and preference for, the Foundation’s abilities to support ministries. • Increase retention and realization of revocable gifts. • Expand the ability of organizations and individuals to use our products and services. • Lead collaboration across Synod entities. • Maintain infrastructure vigilance to ensure a balance of pur- poseful growth and high standards of service. As we enter the next triennium, the servants at the LCMS Foun- dation rejoice with the Church in the enormous blessings the Lord has bestowed upon the Synod and its ministries through these ef- forts. We look forward confidently by God’s grace to carrying on our service to the individuals and organizations of the Synod in the future as well. David Fiedler, President