The Convention, Conference, and Event Planning Group provides exemplary event planning services, including hotel negotiation, travel, housing, transportation, and conference needs for all LCMS organizations, resulting in enormous cost savings and more efficient event planning. The services are provided for national and international events, including Synod conventions, Youth Gatherings, and a variety of organizational needs. Since the 2019 LCMS convention, this department has deftly renegotiated for hundreds of meetings and the cancellation and rescheduling of the 2022 Synod convention due to COVID-19 as well as planned and assisted with nearly 1,000 off-site events, accommodating an estimated 200,000 people.
to evolve, the department remained up to date on new and changing safety protocols and managed the process and communication when employees tested positive for COVID-19 positive or were exposed. In June 2021, we coordinated the safe return of employees to the International Center (IC). While we are thankful COVID-19 appears to be reaching its end stages as a pandemic, we continue to be mindful of its impact on our most valued resources, our employees. The HR department was successful in carrying out a number of accomplishments this triennium, starting with the acquisition of a new human resources information system. This HR system allowed our department to better coordinate efforts and deliver comprehensive services amongst our cohort of entities at the IC while providing significant cost savings. From a recruiting standpoint, we have seen a number of employees retire in the last couple of years, which has created opportunities for new talents and voices in the organization. I specifically call attention to the successful long-term recruiting efforts to select a new Chief Financial Officer in January 2021 and Executive Director of Communications in January 2023. A restructuring of HR service delivery with IC entities has allowed the Synod HR department to redirect more targeted services to our missionaries around the world, with a specific focus on recruiting and talent development. This endeavor will continue to blossom over the coming years. Lastly, I am proud of our team’s efforts to create a best-in-class on boarding program to ensure employees are properly en cultura ted into the organization, enhancing engagement and long-term retention. The Department of Human Resources is well-positioned to execute the strategy for the next triennium. Our objectives include the following: create a learning culture with the specific goal of developing leaders; enhance engagement as long-tenured employees retire and new talent is hired; and provide support and education for employees that assists them in all stages of their vocational life cycle. Accomplishing these objectives will lead to enhanced service delivery to the boards, commissions, agencies, departments, and corporate entities we support so that they can focus on their mission. Nathan D. Thomas, Executive Director