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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 473

onetwo of whom shall have significant financial/audit 
experience. 
3.7.1.4 The Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans and the Board of 
Directors—Concordia Plan Services shall have all general and 
incidental powers and duties appropriate for the performance of their 
functions. In addition, the Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans  and 
will have the powers and duties set forth in the respective plans, as 
amended from time to time. The Board of Trustees —Concordia 
Plans/Board of Directors—Concordia Plan Services It may create or 
amend any plan within limits established by the Board of D irectors 
of the Synod so long as such changes are reported to the Synod ’s 
Board of Directors, since such power is finally vested in the Synod’s 
Board of Directors. 
(a) When the Board of Trustees — Concordia Plans is carrying 
out its functions with respect to any such separate plan, it may be 
designated as the board of trustees of such separate plan. 
(b) When the board is carrying out its functions generally, it may 
be designated as the “Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans of The 
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.” 
(c) The board may, at its own discretion,  make investment 
decisions or select and utilize investment counsel and select 
agents and actuaries. 
(d) The Board of Trustees — Concordia Plans/Board of 
Directors—Concordia Plan Services It shall design for the Board 
of Directors of The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod’s 
approval benefit plans which compare favorably with other 
similar plans while meeting unique needs of the full-time church 
workers in the Synod. 
(e) The boardsIt shall provide copies of all audit reports to the 
Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for 
information, advice, and counsel. 
(f) The boardsIt shall settle disputes which arise in enrollment in 
the plans and the payment of claims and benefits. 
(g) The boards shall organize themselves as to chair, vice chair, 
secretary, and other committees at least triennially but need not 
do so more frequently, unless the membership of the boards 
changes or if required by the boards’ policy. 
3.7.1.5 The position of chief executive shall be filled according to 
the process outlined in Bylaw 3.6.1.5. 
Board of Trustees/Directors 
Concordia Plans / Concordia Plan Services 
Ov. 8-02 
To Amend Bylaw Section 3.7 to Include 
Management of Concordia Risk Solutions in 
Assigned Activity of Concordia Plan Services 
WHEREAS, The Synod’s Board of Directors (BOD) has 
authorized formation of an entity, Concordia Risk Solutions, a 
captive insurance company, to provide for property and casualty 
insurance and reinsurance within the Synod (minutes of the BOD, 
May 23–24, 2026, item 199 [M]); and 
W
HEREAS, The BOD has assigned this activity to Concordia Plan 
Services (CPS) (ibid.), consistent with Commission on 
Constitutional Matters (CCM) Opinion 24-3043; and 
W
HEREAS, CCM Op. 24-3043 recommended “the Synod Bylaw 
description of the work of CPS to be amended by the next 
convention to include this new  activity, even if already entered 
into”; therefore be it 
Resolved, That a new Bylaw 3.7.1.2 be inserted as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
3.7 Synodwide Trust Entities 
3.7.1 The synodwide trust entities of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod are collectively known as the Concordia Plans.  
The Concordia Plans 
3.7.1.1 Concordia Plan Services is responsible for managing the 
benefit plans/trusts of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, 
including the Concordia Retirement Plan, Concordia Disability and 
Survivor Plan, Concordia Health Plan,  and Concordia Retirement 
Savings Plan, each of which is a separate trust operated under trust 
laws but collectively known as the Concordia Plans. 
… 
3.7.1.2 Concordia Plan Services also is responsible for managing 
Concordia Risk Solutions, subject to the Constitution, Bylaws, and 
resolutions of the Synod, and subject to policies of, agreements with, 
and further action of the Board of Directors of the Synod. 
3.7.1.23 … 
LCMS Board of Directors 
Ov. 8-03 
To Affirm Concordia Plans and  
To Amend Bylaws to Require Annual ERISA-
Comparable Transparency to Participants 
WHEREAS, “The s ynodwide trust entities of The Lutheran 
Church—Missouri Synod are collectively known as the Concordia 
Plans” (Bylaw 3.7.1) and provide essential retirement, health, 
disability, and related benefits for church workers and retirees; and 
WHEREAS, “Concordia Plan Services is a controlled entity of The 
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod created to manage the 
Concordia Plans,” and “the Concordia Plans, while operating under 
the supervision of the Synod Board of Directors, are trust agencies 
whose assets are not the property of corporate Synod” (Bylaw 
1.2.1[d–e]); and 
W
HEREAS, The Synod’s Bylaws establish an expectation of 
transparency to member congregations, stating: “The Synod and 
each of its agencies shall fully disclose their financial books and 
records to any member congregation of the Synod” (Bylaw 1.5.4); 
and 
WHEREAS, Church plans are generally exempt from many 
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) 
reporting and disclosure requirements, and therefore participants 
may not automatically receive standardized, year -to-year 
comparable disclosures that are common in ERISA-governed plans; 
and 
WHEREAS, Church workers, retirees, and congregations benefit 
from clear, consistent disclosures so they may understand promised 
benefits and plan changes, plan responsibly, and maintain 
confidence through transparent communication; and 
WHEREAS, As Christ’s church, we should not aim to have  less 
transparency than secular institutions when stewarding promised 
benefits for those who serve the Gospel, but rather seek standards 
that meet or exceed widely recognized best practices; therefore be 
it 
Resolved, That Synod in convention thank God for the hard work 
and dedication of the board members and staff of Concordia Plan  
Services (CPS) for the proper management of the plans; and be it 
further 
2026 Convention Workbook
438 FINANCE