The preponderance of the business, legal, and administrative responsibilities of the Board of Directors (BOD) are carried out by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). During this past triennium, the BOD reappointed the CAO to a new three-year appointment that commenced in October 2020. In addition to the day-to-day business and management of other administrative responsibilities, the BOD identified two main areas of strategic importance for the CAO: (1) act as the interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) following the pending retirement of the CFO effective January 2020 until the position is filled and (2) manage the day-to-day operations during the government-mandated COVID-19 shutdown along with the Chief Mission Officer.
Service as Interim Chief Financial Officer
The CFO’s retirement in January 2020 started the search process to find an individual to fill the position permanently. While I was not intimately familiar with the duties of the CFO, I relied on my master of business administration, public accounting experience (having passed the Certified Public Accountant exam), and over 30 years of business experience to fulfill the duties. A CFO Search Committee was established, consisting of the BOD Personnel Committee, chairman of the BOD, Unit Executive of Human Resources, and myself. The search for a permanent CFO got off to an exceptional start with a good pool of qualified candidates. Unfortunately, the government-mandated office shutdowns related to COVID-19 created too many obstacles, causing the search to be
Establishment of Foreign Entities. In order to execute our global mission strategy, it is important to have the right legal presence in foreign countries. This is accomplished by registering the LCMS in foreign countries or creating separate legal entities in foreign countries to carry out our ministries. The CAO coordinates this work with the Office of International Mission, LCMS general counsel and local legal counsel as necessary. This strategy focuses on supporting the work of our international missionaries while protecting the interests of the LCMS. Operations Team. establishes an Operations Team which shall assist the President and the Board of Directors of the Synod in carrying out their respective responsibilities for oversight supervision management, and coordination of the operations of the national office and acceding to the triennial emphases adopted by the convention of the Synod. The Operations Team shall consist of the Chief Mission Officer, the Chief Administrative Officer, and the Chief Financial Officer and shall be convened by the Chief Administrative Officer. The Operations Team meets monthly along with selected subject matter experts to coordinate and support the ministries of the Synod. This has resulted in better coordination of the ministry initiatives, more efficient processes, and growing cross-unit support within the national office. Administrative Team. establishes an Administrative Team which
shall assist the President and the Board of Directors of the Synod in carrying out their respective responsibilities for oversight, supervision, management, and coordination as set forth in the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod and according to the triennial emphases adopted by conventions of the Synod. The Administrative Team shall consist of the President, the First Vice-President, the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Mission Officer, and the Chief Administrative Officer and shall be under the leadership of the President. The Administrative Team meets monthly to coordinate and support the ministries of the Synod. During these meetings, the CAO gives a summary of the actions and topics discussed by the Operations Team. This ensures clear communication and coordination within the Administrative Team. Other functional areas. The CAO is responsible for several service units which are comprised of dedicated individuals whose service to the Synod is more often measured in decades than in years of service. These areas include human resources, operations and event planning. A brief overview of their responsibilities and activities follows.