Should the LCMS Stop Selling Off Church Property?

https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelc... Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter) Stay up to date. Resolution 9.11 may sound like a technical bylaw issue — but it could have major implications for the future of mission, ministry, property, insurance, and institutional trust in the LCMS. In this special Lead Time episode, Tim Ahlman sits down with Bart Day, President and CEO of Lutheran Church Extension Fund; Kevin Herweck, President of Concordia Plan Services; and Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson, President of the Pacific Southwest District, to bring clarity to one of the most important resolutions heading into the 2026 Synod Convention. They discuss why Resolution 9.11 is being proposed, how it could help LCMS agencies respond more quickly to ministry opportunities, what it means for real estate development and closed church properties, why Concordia Plan Services needed more flexibility for insurance solutions, and whether this resolution impacts RSOs. If you are an LCMS delegate, pastor, church leader, or layperson who cares about the future of mission in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, this conversation is worth your time. This is not just about bylaws. It is about whether the church can steward its resources creatively, responsibly, and missionally for the sake of the Gospel. Chapters 0:00 — Introduction 1:40 — Bart Day Explains the Background 4:23 — Cleaning Up Old Bylaws for New Opportunities 7:46 — Why LCMS Agencies Need More Flexibility 8:47 — Kevin Herweck on CPS and Insurance Challenges 13:40 — Mike Gibson on Mission, Property, and Districts 16:02 — Why Selling Church Property Is Not Always the Best Answer 18:20 — The Riverside Campus Ministry Example 21:58 — How Special Purpose Entities Would Work 23:06 — Bart Day Explains the Board of Directors’ Role 27:29 — Why This Opens New Doors for LCMS Ministry 29:42 — Does Resolution 9.11 Impact RSOs? 31:44 — Could This Have Helped CUAA? 32:44 — Final Thoughts: A Changing Church and a Mission Opportunity 34:15 — Bart Day: “The Best Is Yet to Come”