Official Workbook PDF page source text

2026 Convention Workbook 96

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

directly impacted CHI’s ability to preserve and proclaim our shared history.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of Synod leadership, districts, congregations, and individuals whose generosity has strengthened CHI’s capacity to preserve, protect, and share Lutheran history for decades to come.

B.7. 2023 Res. 6-09, “To Recognize and Honor the Pastor’s Wife” At the 2023 Synod convention, CHI was charged with considering the commissioning of a commemorative medal that could be used by LCMS districts, institutions, congregations, and individ - uals.

CHI has now struck a large copper-nickel medal highlighting Katharina von Bora as “loving wife, devoted mother, and a faithful servant of Christ and His Church.” These attractive memorials are now available for use in recognizing and honoring the faithfulness of women in the Church, especially the faithfulness of the pastor’s wife.

C. Strategic Priorities for the Next Triennium By the grace of God and with the prayers and financial support from Synod and CHI members, over the next three years, CHI is positioned to • strengthen long-term financial sustainability amid rising operational costs, ensuring stable staffing and adequate resources;

• process and make discoverable 50 historically significant collections (over 1,100 linear feet) that are currently unorganized and not adequately discoverable;

• produce resources marking upcoming anniversaries, includ - ing o the 150th anniversary of Black Lutheran Ministry (July 2027), o the 500th anniversary of the Augsbur g Confession and the 450th anniversary of the Book of Concord (June 25, 2030), and o the 100th anniversary of CHI (April 28, 2027);

• implement innovative methods to capture and preserve Lutheran historical materials that may otherwise be lost within the next three to five years;

• develop new and engaging approaches—especially for youth and young adults—to rediscover Synod history within the broader context of Martin Luther and Book of Concord Lutheranism; and • begin phase 1 of installing a fire suppression system to better protect archival areas within the CHI building.

D. Summary As we look ahead to this coming triennium in light of the charge entrusted to CHI by the Synod, we do so with gratitude for God’s abundant blessings. By God’s grace, • our financial position continues to strengthen;

• the CHI collection continues to deepen;

• the population we provide with services and resources continues to widen; and materials from Concordia College Alabama; Concordia University, Portland; and Concordia College—New York, as well as the completion of a two-year project organizing the extensive files of Synod missionary and church planter Robert Gussick. These materials are now fully accessible to researchers.

In addition, CHI has launched an initiative to conduct oral history interviews with church leaders and missionaries on the Synod, district, and congregational level, preserving firsthand testimony of our Lutheran faith and life for future generations.

B.3. Expanded Guidebooks with a Stronger Focus on Digitally Accessible Historical Resources In the wake of COVID-era research restrictions, demand for digital access to historical resources has grown significantly. This shift aligns with the increasing volume of historically valuable materials that are now “born digital.” In response, CHI has developed three new and updated handbooks to help congregations, districts, and Synod entities responsibly steward their historical records.

Revised in 2025, these handbooks—Collection Policies and Procedures, District Archivist Handbook, and Record and Archive Management Program (RAMP) Handbook—provide clear, practi - cal guidance for managing historical materials in both physical and digital formats. All are freely available on the CHI website and may be shared and printed at no cost, extending their impact across the Synod.

B.4. Over 20,000 Historical Photographs Digitally Processed and Available CHI is home to a collection of over 200,000 photographs, many documenting LCMS mission work around the world. Beyond digitization alone, CHI carefully embeds detailed descriptive informa - tion into each digital image, making it easier to discover specific people, places, times, and events within LCMS history.

As a result of this work, more than 16,200 photographs from India are now accessible online, along with 2,400 images document - ing mission efforts in Japan and 1,400 from Brazil. These growing digital collections allow global audiences to engage more deeply with the story of Lutheran mission and ministry.

B.5. Strengthened Global Partnerships That Inform and Inspire CHI continues to cultivate meaningful partnerships with Lutheran church bodies and archival institutions worldwide to advance the shared work of preserving and proclaiming Lutheran history.

Memorandums of Understanding have been established with Book of Concord Lutheran church bodies in Brazil, South Korea, and India, as well as with historic archives in Neuendettelsau, Halle, and Gotha, Germany.

These collaborations enrich research, expand access, and strengthen global connections. Additional partnerships are antici - pated in the coming months.

B.6. Completed Renovations and Upgrades to More Efficiently Preserve and Proclaim Our Treasured History CHI gives thanks to the Lord of the Church for the successful 2024–25 capital campaign, For All the Saints. Through the gener - osity of CHI members and Synod entities, $1.6 million was raised to address critical building improvements and aging equipment that