Lutheran Church–Canada Financial Report 2019 & Budget 2020

CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada’s 2019 Financial Report and 2020 Budget were sent out to congregations today, May 28, 2020, and can be accessed as a printable PDF, Here. The full report will also be included in the May/June issue of The Canadian Lutheran magazine.

Overview

Our Mission

The mission of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) 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

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 can only be accomplished with the generous financial support of our members. Through your tithes and offerings, a portion of all gifts laid upon the altar of local congregations is remitted to LCC. In total, these gifts make up almost 62% 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.

Our Giving

We give thanks to God for the tremendous response from our congregations in the fourth quarter which resulted in LCC ending fiscal 2019 with a surplus. Over $750,000 in missions came in which translates to about 35% of the total mission remittances for the year. In addition, significant financial support came from East District Corp. and Central District Corp. for domestic missions; and Concordia Lutheran Mission Society (CLMS), Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada (LWMLC), and the Schwann Foundation for international missions.

Looking at the current year

Creating an operating budget for 2020-21 during a time of incredible uncertainty was, without a doubt, quite a challenge. As it is difficult to predict what the financial impact will be on the economy, on financial markets, and on our congregations, we have reduced our budget to a level we think is reasonable.

There are currently 286 LCC member congregations who have the potential to support the work we do together as a synod. Prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus, LCC had received mission pledges from 160 congregations totalling $1,745,000. Our prayer is that these 160 congregations who have submitted a pledge, together with the 126 that have not yet submitted a pledge, will be able to send mission remittances to the level needed to accomplish the important work our church body does together.

Our Hope is in the Lord

Although finances change, the mission of the LCC remains clear and unwavering. This is so because Christ’s ascension commission and promise remains unchanged regardless of the tumultuous and uncertain times in which we live. As such, LCC continues, with your help and support, to carry out our common objectives of conserving and promoting the unity of the true faith; strengthening congregations in giving bold witness by word and deed and to extend that 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 that we have committed to do in our walking together as a Synod.

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

Dwayne Cleave is Administrator of Lutheran Church–Canada.

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