Save the LCMS!

Time for More Cuts at KFUO AM!

Chris Rosebrough of ExtremeTheology.com has a GREAT idea that will save KFUO AM an addition $150,000 per year.  Rosebrough's cost cutting idea is for KFUO AM to cancel Tissues, Etc. (aka The Afternoon Show) and become an affiliate station for the New Issues, Etc.

According to Rosebrough, if KFUO AM did this then they'd be making a profit in the afternoon rather than losing money on employee and production costs.

Mixed Metaphors

Perspective regarding synodical finances is a critical component in the debate and discussion about the cancelation of Issues Etc.

When we discuss synodical budgets and finances here are some key points to keep in mind.

1. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is a non-profit organization. What does that mean? It means that you do not judge the performance of the LCMS based upon the same criteria that you judge the performance of a business. The synod doesn’t produce widgets. It doesn’t have stock holders. It doesn’t have a profit and loss statement.

2. Synodical headquarters is responsible for spending money that we send to it on ministries that we’ve all agreed should be funded such as missions, relief, and pastoral education. In fact, one could make the case that the entire synod lost $100 million this year and that we are okay with that because we collectively gave the synod $100 million for it to spend.

3. Therefore, when we talk about ministries we don’t talk about financial solvency. Instead we talk about funding the on-going expenses that are necessary to keep our ministry programs going. We don’t expect our mission programs to turn a profit. Instead we expect them to prudently spend the tens of millions of dollars they receive and there is no expectation of recouping those monies in an earthly fashion. Instead we believe that those monies reap eternal profits through the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

When David Strand and President Kieschnick cited business reasons for canceling the Issues Etc. program they mixed their metaphors and lost site of the fundamental fact that Issues Etc. was a world-wide ministry of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and the funds budgeted to KFUO AM for their operations were given without the expectation of the KFUO AM turning a profit (it is after all a non-profit venture).

In fact, anyone with a knowledge of the history of KFUO AM and FM knows that the FM station exists to help off set the costs of operating the AM station. There has always been an understanding that the AM station was engaging in the ministry of proclaiming the Gospel and as such needed to be underwritten by both synodical funds as well as funds generated through advertising revenue of the FM station.

Strand’s and Kieschnick’s mixing of metaphors is problematic at best. It raises far more questions than it answers.

When looking at synodical budgets and finances we are not claiming that there is anything illegal that has occurred. Instead, we are challenging the ‘business reasons’ cited for the cancelation of Issues Etc. precisely because KFUO AM and Issues Etc. have always been considered MINISTRIES, not businesses of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

When one considers this fact it adds even further evidence that the decision was not motivated because of money issues, instead it was motivated by politics.