The 2011 Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO), monetary commitments from congregations to support the work of the synod, came in 1.6 percent, or $340,000, less than the $20.8 million that had been committed by congregations. CMO subscriptions for 2012 are also slightly lower than the actual offerings in 2011. The ministry plan is based on a three percent increase for 2012.

CMO, which covers about 75 percent of synod operating support, provides funding for ministerial education, home and world missions, congregation and district ministry, as well as ministry support services.

The Synodical Council will review planning amounts versus giving for the first half of the fiscal year at its meeting later this month to determine what, if any, adjustments need to be made to ministry programs or services. To sustain the current work of the synod, CMO offerings need to keep pace with the synod’s cost drivers, like wages, benefits, and utilities, which equates to a four to five percent increase annually, explains Todd Poppe, chief financial officer at WELS.

“Praise God for the continuing financial support of congregations during the extended poor economy,” says Poppe. “The blessings are clearly evident, and we pray our congregations and members can provide the level of support needed to fund the ministry plans set by the synod in convention.”

While dollars are slightly down, the number of congregations submitting CMO subscriptions is higher than it has ever been, which facilitates increased planning accuracy.

Rev. Mark Schroeder, WELS president says: “We thank God for the faithful stewardship and generous gifts of God’s people. In very difficult economic times, when congregations and their members are struggling financially, it is remarkable that our congregations only fell slightly short of what they had planned to give for our work together as a synod. Since mission offerings from congregations remain the foundation of support for our work, we pray that God will move all of us to continue to be faithful in our stewardship and that increased offerings will enable us not just to maintain, but to expand our efforts to reach more people with the saving gospel.”