Lutheran Church–Canada Adopts 2021 Budget

CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada’s adopted 2021 Budget is available in the March/April issue of The Canadian Lutheran and can be accessed as a printable PDF, Here.

Overview

Our Mission

The mission of Lutheran Church–Canada is to organize, equip, and motivate its members to confess, proclaim, and give witness to the saving work of Jesus Christ, to the glory of God. We do this together in grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, so that believers may grow in their faith and unbelievers be brought into the body of Christ.

Walking Together as a Synod

Committed to a common confession and mission, congregations of Lutheran Church–Canada join with one another as a Synod to share an ecclesiastical bond and to support and work with one another. In this way, we seek to serve our Lord Jesus Christ, the members of His body, and the world which stands in need of the Word and the impact of His redeeming love.

Putting Our Mission Into Action

The work of Lutheran Church–Canada is far-reaching but can only be accomplished with the generous financial support of our members. A portion of all gifts laid upon the altar of local congregations through your tithes and offerings, is remitted to LCC. In total, these gifts make up almost 65% of LCC’s overall revenue and are critical for funding the vital work we do together. Work such as:

• Sustaining & Revitalizing our Congregations – The strength of synod begins with the strength of our local congregations. Together we support and nurture Word and Sacrament ministry across our country, and especially in regions of greatest need. 
• Supporting our Mission Work in Canada – Identify, develop, and support mission efforts throughout the country; assist congregations to explore new opportunities for outreach; and provide works of mercy and relief to those in need.
• Supporting our Mission Work Internationally – Support mission work in Central America, South-East Asia, and Ukraine, including Gospel outreach; theological education; and works of mercy and relief efforts like children’s feeding programs.
• Supporting Theological Education – Provide funding to assist the work of our seminaries in training our pastors and church workers.
• Caring for our Leaders & Members –  Provide ecclesiastical leadership and pastoral care through the work of the Synod President, Regional Pastors, and Circuit Counsellors.
• Building Community – Collaborate with Synod members and partners to enhance mission effectiveness through communications; to promote stewardship in managing life’s resources for God’s purposes; and to encourage spiritual growth through a variety of resources.

Looking at the current year

Each year, we give thanks to God for the tremendous response from our congregations. With and through your commitment to provide LCC with a mission goal, we strive to establish a working budget that best provides for the many mission and ministry requests received annually, as well as the ongoing work we perform year in and year out. Together we have one focus, united in doctrine, and partnering as one church, ready, equipped, and acting to fulfill the Great Commission in Canada and around the world.

Our Budget

As we move past 2020 and all the difficult and unusual circumstances it brought to our congregations, our members, and our synodical family, we look forward to 2021 with excitement and hope. Our Lord Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today and forever. What confidence that gives to His beloved children, no matter what changes we are facing.

Our operating budget for 2021-22 is a slight increase over the previous year. There are currently 286 LCC member congregations who have the potential to support the work we do together as synod. As of this printing, LCC has received mission pledges from 169 congregations totalling $1,830,392. Our prayer is that the remaining 117 congregations who have not yet submitted a mission goal, consider the importance of doing so. The challenges we continue to face are not simple, yet the need for the work our church body does is significant. 

In addition to mission remittances from congregations, LCC receives about 35% of its revenue from individual gifts, CLMS, LWMLC, CLWR, LCC Regions and external foundations.

Stewardship of Gifts

Although finances change, the mission of LCC remains clear and unwavering. The chart in the report illustrates the percentage of revenue allocated to each area of work. We continue with your help, to carry out our common objectives of conserving and promoting the unity of the true faith; strengthening congregations in giving bold witness; extending gospel witness into all the world; training of pastors and deacons; and aiding congregations by providing resources for promoting, expressing, and conserving our confessional unity. Thank you for your prayers and offerings in support of this work we have committed to do together as one.

LCC Board of Directors

———————

Rev. Timothy Teuscher is President of Lutheran Church–Canada.

Dwayne Cleave is Administrator of Lutheran Church–Canada.

Print this article