THE CAMPAIGN FOR CONCORDIA SEMINARY

THE CAMPAIGN FOR CONCORDIA SEMINARY

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV

God help us through this campaign to provide coming generations with confidence and cheerful courage in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! Dr. Dale A. Meyer, President Dr. Dale A. Meyer and his grandson Connor gaze at the cross atop the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. 2

FROM THE PRESIDENT ear Friend of Concordia Seminary, D This is a different world from the one in which I grew up. You ve probably experienced the changes as well changes in the world, our country, our communities and our congregations. What will it be like for our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and the generations that follow? The follow-up question lies deep in the heart of every Christian: Will there be healthy, loving, Gospel-proclaiming congregations to nurture and sustain them in their heavenward way? Answering yes to that question under God s enabling grace is the special responsibility of Concordia Seminary. Numerous studies tell us what to expect in the years ahead. Many Americans will continue to believe that all roads lead to heaven, that Jesus was just another great religious leader and that there is no absolute truth. Concordia Seminary will equip future pastors, deaconesses and leaders to witness in this vastly changed and eternally dangerous cultural mindset. Pastoral leadership will be more important than ever. Expanding cross-cultural experiences will prepare Concordia Seminary graduates to learn the community s culture to which they will be called so that they can best share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastoral leadership will demand that seminarians be formed for ministry with an appreciation for the priesthood of all believers. We want our graduates to model and manifest servant leadership in all they do. Christianity will continue its amazing growth outside of Europe and North America. Many of these growing churches will continue to look to Concordia Seminary for theological leadership. Given the long-term unpredictability of the economy, will Concordia Seminary have dependable resources to serve the church in uncertain economic times? Will we be ready in season and out of season with our programs, technological capabilities and facilities? This campaign is designed to help Concordia Seminary meet those challenges. Our descendants and their generations will face a far different world from that which many of us have known. How deeply satisfying it will be to know we ve made provision for Gospel ministry in their time, just as sainted Christians made provision for us in our time. Dr. C.F.W. Walther, first president of Concordia Seminary, told his students, I wish to talk the Christian doctrine into your very heart, enabling you to come forward as living witnesses with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power. I do not want you to be standing in your pulpits like lifeless statues, but to speak with confidence and cheerful courage, offering help where help is needed. God help us through this campaign to provide coming generations with confidence and cheerful courage in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! Your participation in this effort is essential and I thank you for giving time, thought and prayer to your response. Most cordially yours, Dr. Dale A. Meyer President 3

We are blessed with so many wonderful people at Concordia Seminary who all have the same goal: to get the message of the Gospel out to as many people as possible. What greater service can we do than to support the education and formation of men going into ministry? We ve also had the opportunity to spend some time on campus, visit the chapel, meet the faculty and listen to students practicing their sermons. We have seen the final product and believe this campaign is an important cause to support. It is our duty to support future pastors who will send the Gospel message to all of our children and grandchildren. We can do this through the Generations Campaign. Eugene and Mary Sukup Luther Tower, Concordia Seminary s iconic landmark, soars above the beautiful campus in Clayton, Mo. 4

CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES o fulfill our promise to our T students and build upon the tradition of excellence that has defined our institution, we invite you to join us in Generations: The Campaign for Concordia Seminary. Your support will help ensure that future generations will be served by faithful, relevant and relational pastors who share the Gospel message in ways that advance the Great Commission. Through the Generations Campaign, the Seminary is inviting you to help: Endowment Funds and Estate Gifts $110 million Annual Support and Scholarships $60 million Ensure the Seminary remains steadfast in its mission Continue the Seminary s vibrant tradition of confessional Lutheran theology Give pastors and other church leaders tools for ministering in caring ways to their congregations and others in their communities Instill a deep sense of servanthood for Christ and His Church Advance excellence in scholarship and education Equip graduates to serve diverse cultures in a changing world Promote continuing pastoral education and lay leadership training Enable the Seminary to encourage strong, thriving congregations Library and Learning Technology $10 million Total: $180 million Seminary wife Ashley Bayless, left, deaconess intern Stephanie Jones and Vicar Kyle Jones are all smiles following the vicarage and deaconess internship assignment service. 5

SEMINARY REVENUE rends in supporting Concordia Seminary operations and student aid have changed, and it has become necessary to focus on the Seminary endowment. In 1970, a significant portion of our revenue came through a Synod subsidy. Today, that subsidy amounts to 1 percent of our revenue. Over time, to fill that void, the Seminary has become heavily reliant upon annual gifts. This model is unsustainable. Advisers to academic institutions recommend the diversification of revenue sources. The Generations Campaign is intended to grow the endowment from approximately $100 million at present to more than $200 million by 2025. This will allow for a new flow of revenue to offset predicted decreases in traditional giving. Also, growing the Seminary s endowment presents the greatest opportunity for helping to sustain and expand our God-given mission. With your help, the Seminary will remain a leader in academic excellence and sustain our mission of pastoral formation for generations to come. Opposite page, top left: Student Caleb Cox takes a quick break from his ushering duties to look through the commencement program. Opposite page, top right: A statue of Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation, stands like a vanguard at the east end of the campus. Originally dedicated in 1903 at the old Seminary campus in South St. Louis, it was relocated in 1926 when the present campus was established. Opposite page, bottom: The academic quad, in the shadow of Luther Tower, provides a quiet respite for studying and reflection in the heart of the campus. Endowment Revenue Direct Gifts & Grants Service Fees & Other Revenues Net Tuition and Fees Synod Subsidy Revenue 1970 Historically, Concordia Seminary received its primary revenue directly from the unrestricted budget of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). Revenue 2015 Direct funding from the LCMS has gradually declined. Loyal donors, largely born in the 1920s and 1930s, have risen to meet the challenge. Revenue Goal 2025 1% 11% 26% 18% 44% 15% 56% 8% 20% 1% 32% 37% 10% 20% 1% With the help of the Generations Campaign, revenue from endowment gifts and bequests will balance the Seminary s revenue sources and enhance financial stability. 6

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The future of our church, and how it s funded, is changing. Longtime Seminary donor Marilynn Peters believes endowed giving will be crucial. Many members of my congregation and family wanted to give to the future of our church. Rather than spent and gone, they value a stays and works approach. I believe an endowment fund is perfect. I started the Helping Hands Operational Endowment to enable people to give endowed gifts at any level. There s an old saying, Many hands make light work. This operational endowment allows funds to be used where most needed to support the immediate needs of the Seminary. Anyone can contribute to this fund, at any time, in any amount. Marilynn Peters A student carrying the crucifer leads the processional for the Call Day service in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. 8

ENDOWMENT FUNDS AND ESTATE GIFTS Goal: $110 million ince the founding of Concordia Seminary in 1839, alumni, friends and congregations have provided a means to ensure the mission of the Seminary. Endowment funds provide perpetual funding that sustains our historic excellence, and the significance of estate gifts for endowments is key. Concordia Seminary s vision is to be the world leader in Lutheran formation and scholarship. In our quest to achieve this vision, the endowment of Concordia Seminary will be strengthened through additional gifts, wise investment policies and the careful stewardship of earnings. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are funding operations including generous amounts of student aid through current giving and endowment income, with the intent to grow total endowment from approximately $100 million at present to more than $200 million by 2025. Over the life of the Generations Campaign, we will seek to secure $110 million in additional endowment and estate gifts to contribute to that goal. Increasing the size of Concordia Seminary s endowment will provide blessings not just for this generation, but also for generations to come. Concordia Seminary recognizes and appreciates that donors give for a variety of reasons. Those who choose to participate will experience the joy of making a gift that will have enduring benefit as they support the Generations Campaign. Endowment and estate gifts may address a number of priorities, including: Operational endowments Endowed faculty chairs Scholarship endowments These gifts are your opportunity to: Leave a legacy Honor or remember a loved one Honor or remember a pastor To attain true sustainability, endowed funds are invested to manage risk, achieve reliable returns and grow. A robust endowment is essential to ensure the Seminary s ability to advance confessional theological education and act boldly in ministry for generations to come. Dr. Joel Biermann, professor of systematic theology, top left, meets with students in Wartburg Hall during new student orientation. Bonvolium et, Catuidessi ta nos egereis uliquam. Ex noste conitabem miur amdi corum auciis num te consi. 9

ANNUAL SUPPORT AND SCHOLARSHIPS Goal: $60 million oncordia Seminary is blessed with ongoing gifts given directly by individuals and congregations each year. These gifts serve as the foundation for the Seminary s annual revenue needs. Our supporters who make sacrificial gifts are eager to ensure that the Seminary provides students the best theological education in the world. We are committed to the residential Master of Divinity (M.Div.) model of seminary education as the signature program of pastoral formation in The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), and we will continue to lead the way forward in providing education and resources onsite and through exciting new technologies. Annual gifts help to ensure excellence in three key areas: Sustain and grow scholarships Retain and develop world-class faculty Maintain our beautiful, iconic campus Your annual, ongoing gifts strengthen our ability to recruit and prepare those who will serve with us, our loved ones and future generations. Gifts that are unrestricted provide funding for the areas of greatest need each year. Over the life of the Generations Campaign, we will seek to secure $60 million to meet these ongoing, annual needs. Please prayerfully consider a gift. Top: Calvin Kapels ( 15) and his wife, Melissa, with two of their three children, lived on campus while Calvin completed his theological training. Bottom: LCMS President Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, center, looks on as seminarians review their call documents with friends and family. 10

James Wilshusen, left, and Andrew Wilson stand in line as they wait to be awarded their diplomas at commencement. 11

LIBRARY AND LEARNING TECHNOLOGY Goal: $10 million oncordia Seminary has long been a trailblazer when it comes to technology, being an early adopter of Web-based courses and online resources. In 2014, more than 1 million downloads of Seminaryproduced materials were made by students, church workers, scholars and researchers here and abroad. Through the Generations Campaign, we will invest $10 million to bolster our position as a global leader of confessional Lutheran theological education, research and resources to help those who interact with the Seminary grow in faith and, in turn, share that faith with others all over the world. The Seminary aims to keep pace with technological advances so that on-campus learning and off-site continuing education programs can effectively be delivered to students and the broader church. Improvements are planned in two main areas: Digital accessibility Digital Accessibility $4 million One key responsibility of Concordia Seminary is to serve as a resource to the church. The Generations Campaign will expand the Seminary s digital capability and create new avenues for academic endeavor and continuing education. Facility Enhancements $6 million Through library renovations, the Seminary will create a state-of-the-art learning environment for students, ensure our vast collection of precious materials and extensive academic collections will be preserved for the future, and create an appealing educational destination both locally and virtually for scholars, church leaders and laity that is befitting the Seminary s long and rich history. Opposite page, top: The renovated skylight will be a focal point of Concordia Seminary s library, illuminating the facility with natural light and brightening the lobby and gathering places. Opposite page, bottom: The newly renovated library is prominently located at the main entrance to the campus. Facility enhancements The addition of two ultramodern collaborative learning centers in Concordia Seminary s renovated library will offer students unparalleled opportunities to work together and learn from one another. 12

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AN INVITATION Message from the Campaign Chairs e are delighted to serve as chairs of Generations: The Campaign for Concordia Seminary. As Lutheran Christians, we have benefited mightily over the years from many faithful and effective pastors, most of whom graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Their theological understanding, clear proclamation of the Gospel and evangelical zeal to reach the hurt and lost have served as an inspiration to us and made us eager to help the Seminary form more pastors like them. Each generation has its own attributes, attitudes and priorities. As baby boomers, we value the lessons taught and examples given by our parents, members of The Greatest Generation. Loyalty to local churches and Christian values, voluntary service in the name of Christ and generosity in support of the Great Commission are just a few of them. We are committed to carrying forward these values and priorities as chairs of this campaign and urge you and your congregation to join us in the cause. We live in a society and world that have largely turned away from the message of hope and salvation offered through Jesus Christ. We have a whole generation of young people who are seeking meaning and purpose in life, and the church must be the place where they ultimately find it. Concordia Seminary is shaping pastors who will lead this evangelical effort. Producing high-caliber pastors for ministry in today s world is not simple and it comes at a price worthy of sacrifice. Your participation through prayer, service and generosity is essential. Now is the time for Concordia Seminary to secure its future in the name of Jesus Christ! Let us move forward with boldness, firm in the knowledge that Concordia Seminary is in God s hands. This is His work, and it is our sincere privilege to be a part of it. Craig and Jane Olson Members of Salem Lutheran Church Orange, Calif. 14

The seed to attend Seminary was first planted by my wife s home church pastor during adult instruction. Life moved quickly over the next seven years marriage, house, children, jobs. Still, the pull to ministry continued to grow. After much prayer and heart-to-heart discussions with my wife, Jill, I left a successful career in banking to start this new journey. We ve never looked back. Heeding Scripture, we counted the cost for forgoing an income and made the decision to enroll at the Seminary. Thankfully, financial assistance from the Seminary has helped ease these burdens and concerns. Jill and I are grateful for the prayers and generosity of all those who support the Seminary and for the gifts that make this adventure possible. It has truly been an answer to prayer! Eric Hauan ( 16) Piedmont, S.D. Second-year students Peter Williamson and Travis Ferguson prepare Communion for the Feast of the Epiphany celebration in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. 15

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL Rev. Ralph and Mrs. Jan Blomenberg Seymour, Ind. Rev. Timothy and Mrs. Barbara Klinkenberg Orange, Calif. Mr. Robert and Mrs. Ruth Ann Rauscher Hobson, Mont. Rev. Eloy and Mrs. Sofia Gonzalez Irving, Texas Mr. Craig and Mrs. Jane Olson Orange, Calif. Rev. Dr. Jeffery and Mrs. Joyce Schrank Phoenix, Ariz. Mr. Glenn and Mrs. Kay Hasse Naples, Fla. Mr. Louis and Mrs. LuAnne Pabor Spring, Texas Mr. Robert and Mrs. Marcy Shuck Clearwater, Fla. Mr. Kelly and Mrs. Cheryl Keithly Yuma, Ariz. Mrs. Marilynn Peters Mesa, Ariz. Mr. Todd and Mrs. Donna Strubbe Great Falls, Va. Mr. Eugene and Mrs. Mary Sukup Hampton, Iowa 16

Concordia Seminary 801 Seminary Place St. Louis, MO 63105 800-822-5287 www.csl.edu/generations