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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 502

and are carefully managed and overseen to ensure security and legal 
compliance. 
But, when the Church strays too far into the left -hand kingdom 
through unrelated business ventures, it goes outside its vocation and 
may be assuming undue risk. 
The Alberta -British Columbia District of Lutheran Church —
Canada, unrelated to LCEF, was forced into bankruptcy due to its 
local church extension fund’s failed investment in an ambitious real 
estate development project, with serious repercussions across the 
entire church body. Concordia University, Portland (CUP) enter ed 
into a significant outsourcing contract with HotChalk, a marketing 
and enrollment company, with negative financial impact on CUP, 
and ultimately, a lengthy lawsuit after its closure. 
Some within the Synod believe that the Synod and its agencies (e.g., 
colleges and seminaries) can benefit by creating new types of legal 
entities, such as holding companies, and are considering adding 
complex new bylaws, policies, and procedures to allow S ynod 
agencies to create multiple new types of entities (e.g., to engage in 
real estate development activities). Yet, experience teaches that the 
more numerous and complex the entities, the greater the difficulty 
to oversee them, and thus, the greater the risk. 
Some have even proposed allowing property of our colleges and 
seminaries—which is currently property of the Synod— to be 
transferred to new entities, with varying levels of control and 
accountability, with the result that such property would no longer 
be property of the Synod. 
Proposals also include placing the Synod Board of Directors (BOD) 
as the authorizer and primary overseer of new entities, with the 
responsibility to perform detailed legal and policy reviews. This 
would impose significant new powers and duties on the BOD, 
requiring additional time, effort, and potential expense for outside 
attorneys’ bills and other professional fees. 
W
HEREAS, The foregoing matters suggest that major changes to 
the Synod’s Bylaws to allow creation of potentially numerous new 
legal entities may be ill-advised; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod recommit itself and its agencies to their 
existing defined roles, focusing on the things of God without 
distraction for secular business ventures; and be it further 
Resolved, That where the Synod or its agencies no longer need 
property or assets, those assets be appropriately sold or disposed of, 
with the proceeds used for the furtherance of their original intended 
purpose and the work of the church at large, rather than as the object 
of speculation, usury, real estate development, or other projects that 
distract time and attention from the core objectives of the Synod and 
its agencies; and be it further 
Resolved, That if there is a legitimate need for any new entity to 
be formed, that any such entity be carefully, deliberately, and 
separately established, in a manner that does not risk or alienate the 
property of the Synod that was funded by God’s grace through t he 
gifts of individuals and congregations over generations; and be it 
finally 
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks for the many temporal 
blessings God has bestowed upon us, as well as for those individuals 
and entities such as LCEF and CPS that have faithfully managed the 
same and pray for wisdom in the continued administration thereof. 
St. Paul 
Brookfield, IL 
Ov. 9-08 
To Amend Bylaws Exclusive to Lutheran Church 
Extension Fund to Clarify That It May Provide 
Real Estate Evaluation and Redevelopment 
Services in Support of Synod Mission and Ministry 
Rationale 
Most congregations and ministries within the Synod are owners of 
real estate. Many of these ministries need assistance evaluating their 
property so they can steward their assets wisely. In some cases, they 
may not have need for some or all of their real estate. In many cases, 
sale of the real estate is the best option to raise funds for future 
operations or to wind up affairs in an orderly way. In other cases, 
ministries want to keep some of the real estate to continue 
operations and divest of other portions. Such divestiture may entail 
a sale or lease of the property to either raise funds for continued 
operations, maintain ministry activity in the divested property, or 
both. Redevelopment of the real estate may occur with retained or 
divested property. 
In most cases, ministries do not possess expertise in the evaluation, 
redevelopment, or re -purposing of real estate. Lutheran Church 
Extension Fund (LCEF) has decades of experience in assisting 
ministries in evaluating, acquiring, developing, and selling r eal 
estate through its church extension activities. LCEF has expanded 
this expertise in the last few years by hiring a team of individuals 
with extensive real estate consulting and redevelopment experience. 
LCEF can provide expanded real estate services that are of great 
value to the ministries of the Synod. 
The requested bylaw changes are exclusive to LCEF and are 
necessary to clarify that it is within LCEF’s purposes to provide 
such real estate services to ministries within the Synod.   
Therefore be it 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.6.4 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
The Lutheran Church Extension Fund— Missouri Synod 
3.6.4 The Lutheran Church Extension Fund— Missouri Synod, 
as established on June 15, 1978, as a corporate entity under the laws 
of the State of Missouri, is operated by its members and Board of 
Directors, in accordance with its Articles of Incorporation and 
corporate Bylaws, to further the objectives and duties of the church 
extension fund by providing provide financial, real estate, and other 
related resources and related services for ministry, witness, and 
outreach within the Synod and, as approved by the Synod Board of 
Directors, beyond the Synod: (1) to and within partner churches with 
which the Synod is in altar and pulpit fellowship; or (2) upon the 
recommendation of the President of Synod, to Lutheran entities 
formed and operating outside of the United States that assist in 
fulfilling the Synod’s ministry and mission objectives in foreign 
countries. 
and be it further 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.6.4.4.1 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
3.6.4.4.1 The assets of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund —
Missouri Synod shall be used exclusively to provide financing and 
services for the acquisition of sites, for the construction of facilities, 
for the purchase of buildings and equipment, for operating expenses, 
for professional church worker education, for the residential housing 
needs of professional church workers, for promoting strategic 
ministry planning and assisting in capital campaigns , for the 
evaluation and redevelopment of real estate; and for other purposes 
2026 Convention Workbook
467STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION