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The DonorsReportJuly 1, 2008 - December 31, 2009
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This donors report is a transitional version of the
seminarys
annual report. It is different in three very distinct ways.
The first way is that this is an 18-month report instead of
the
usual 12 months. This is the result of an intentional desire to
create
a more donor-friendly report in the future by changing from a
fiscal
year report to a calendar year report. Next year, plans are in
place
to have a Janurary-December 2010 report. Please bear with us
as
we make the transition in our reporting to you and also keep
in
mind that this report is for June 1, 2008 - December 31,
2009.
The second transition is that for the first time, the report
is
primarily an electronic publication available at www.ltss.edu.
In
an effort to help save the earths resources, and the gifts you
have
entrusted to the seminary, the report is not being mass produced
and
mailed. A limited amount of printed copies are available by
calling
803-461-3296 or sending an email to [email protected].
The third is the separation of the report to donors and the
lists
of donors. This separation enables you to download the
documents
more quickly and makes them more printer-friendly if you choose
to
do so. The documents also have a search feature to help you
easily
find the information that is most important to you. You may
view
each of these documents at www.ltss.edu/donorreport.
About the Donors Report
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Dear Friends,
Greetings in the name of Jesus, the Christ.
We could not have done it without you.
I am always careful about sentences like that since it is often
easy to overstate the case and overestimate the present at the
expense of the past. But the sentence is true. Without your help,
without your gifts, without your words of encouragement, without
your advocacy for the seminary, without your invitation to others
to be donors, I simply dont know how we would have been able to
continue through the past eighteen months.
During the past eighteen months, we have seen a decline in
synodical support and the yield from invested funds has nearly
disintegrated. Our students continue to shoulder their portion of
the load through tuition payments (often made with student loan
money), faculty and staff have taken voluntary 10% salary
reductions, and we defer maintenance to another time.
Your generous gifts, though, have filled enough of the vacuum so
that our mission of teaching, forming, and nurturing women and men
for public ministry continues. And we are not just limping along
this mission continues in strength with professors who are
dedicated to preparing the best leaders for service and a staff
that learns every day how to do more with less and work together to
support the work of the seminary.
Thank you seems too small a comment to make, but I know no other
words. You have made a difference: in the life of the Seminary, in
the lives of students, in the vocation of dedicated teachers of the
church, and in the well-being of the church.
We trust Gods promises and this year you have been a part of the
way in which the promise of 2 Corinthians 8.9 has been fulfilled
for us:
God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so
that by always having enough of everything, you may share
abundantly in every good work.
Thank you for being a part of Gods providence and may we learn
from your example how to share abundantly with others.
In Christ,
Marcus Miller, President Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminary
From the President
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Its no secret that the 18 months represented in the report
represent one of the worst global economic environments in
almost a
century.
However, things are not all bleak for Southern Seminary.
Your gifts enabled the seminary to make significant gains in
key
areas, including overwhelming support of the New Life Fund,
the
seminarys annual fund for operational support. You helped
lessen
the blow caused by the major decline in endowment income.
Thank
you!
In the areas the seminary can most control, like Gifts and
Grants,
Operations, Tuition and Fees, you see stability and growth. Its
our
goal to keep this momentum going as we look forward to a
more
stable and growing economic climate.
It is also important to note that the rise in tuition income
in
2009 was not due to tuition increases (your seminarys
Trustees
acted boldly to freeze tuition and rent levels to lessen the
burden
on our future Christian leaders), but rather an increase in
student
enrollment. Thanks be to God!
While its not all good news, please take a moment celebrate
with
the seminary and the 1,960 other donors in the success that you
have
enabled for this special place.
You make the seminary what it is todaya place to teach,
form,
and nurture the future leaders of Christs Church.
LTSS at a Glance
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Resource Stewardship
By The Numbers*Sources of Support$1,004,383Total Gifts the New
Life Fund
$2,109,834 Gifts for Endowed Scholarships &
Student Assistance
29%Alumni Giving Percentage
4,708Gifts made to the seminary
1,961Total donors to the seminary(1,268 to the New life
Fund)
$386.60Average Gift Amount to
the New Life Fund
* Data from July 1, 2008 - December 31, 2009
Student Education & Support Programs $1,853,714
Student Support & Administration$1,466,793
Grants & Scholarships$400,000
Physical Plant & Maintenance (including debt service)
$1,230,831
$4,951,338
2009-2010 Budget
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September 2008162 students begin the academic
year, a 5% increase from the previous year. As the year
begins,
the seminary community held a Rite of Naming and Dedicating for
the Hillcrest Apartment Complex. At the worship service and
ceremony, the playground and 12 apartments were named after
seminary donors and friends and was representative of more than
$1.2 million of gifts.
December 2008With the worlds economy reeling, donor gifts pour
in to help offset losses from endowment income. Total calendar year
2008 gifts to the New Life Fund reached $469,200.97 by 880
donors.
January 2009The seminarys operating budget is cut significantly,
eliminating 20% of non-classroom staff positions.
Over 80% of the remaining faculty and staff voluntarily agree to
a
10% pay reduction and reduction in pension contributions.
March 2009
May 2009Anniversary classes gave gifts in
excess of $35,000 at Alumni Day. The following day 41 women
and
men received theological degrees at commencement , including 2
honorary degrees to President
Michael Creed Maxey of Roanoke College and Bishop Philip Lok
Oi
Peng of the Lutheran Church of Malaysia and Singapore.
June 2009
Grants for seminary operational support from St. Paul Lutheran
Church, Columbia, SC, and the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trusts
totalling a combined $150,000.
As the fiscal year ends at the end of June, donors give total
gifts of $709,546 to the New Life Fund, a 43% increase from fiscal
year 2007-2008. This represents the best year on record for the New
Life Fund.September 2009
168 students begin the Fall semester, a 3% increase from the
previous year. For the second straight year, the seminary
takes
significant strides in reaching the an enrollment goal of
200.
October 2009The Board of Trustees adopts a proposal to create a
seminary futures group to develop a new economic model for
theological education at LTSS. The committee will report back the
board of trustees at the March 2010 meeting.
December 2009During 2009, $700,449.86 was
given by 1,028 donors to the New Life Fund, a 34% increase
in dollars and 14% increase in donors from calendar year
2008.
July 2008With momentum from the 2007-2008 fiscal year, which was
at the time the second best year on record for the New Life Fund at
$407,651, the seminary is hopeful for a prosperous 2009 fiscal year
to include growth of annual gifts to the New Life Fund, growth
through endowment income, and accelerated debt retirement on the
Hillcrest Apartment Complex.
18-Month Timeline
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From the Chair of the Board of TrusteesDear Friends of Southern
Seminary,
In the 1970s Andrew Gold wrote a popular song entitled, Thank
You for Being a Friend. His song captures my gratitude for your
friendship with Southern Seminary.
The recent global economic crisis has proven to be a wake up
call to Southern Seminarys Board of Trustees. At our October
retreat we surfaced a number of issues needing attention. To
address these issues, we directed that the Pres-ident and Board
Chair form a futures committee to develop a new economic model for
theological education at LTSS. This committees initial meeting was
held on December 2. A final report is due to the LTSS Board at its
March meeting.
Your continuing friendship will be vital to the implemen-tation
of our new economic model, because we cannot count on increased
support from either churchwide or synodical sources. Neither can we
turn to large tuition increases.
How can you help? Here are some possibilities: Increase your
contributions to the New Life Fund. Thanks to you, in recent years
your gifts have
grown this fund to the $500,000 level. We need to double this
response. Make another friend of LTSS. Invite others to join you on
an annual basis in designated support
of Southern Seminary. If you are an LTSS graduate, encourage
another graduate to become a friend through contribu-
tions to the Annual Fund. Advocate with your congregation to add
an LTSS line item in your congregations annual budget.
Help your congregation to become a more active friend of LTSS.
Include Southern Seminary in your estate plans.
All This and Heaven Too was the name of Andrew Golds album that
included Thank You for Being a Friend. The album title reminds me
of Gods amazing grace that surrounds and empowers us in this life
and ushers us into the life to come. I thank God for these and all
good gifts, even as I thank God for your gifts already given and
your willingness to raise new friends of Southern Seminary.
Your seminary board is committed to these and other initiatives
that will strengthen our seminary in its mission to teach, form,
and nurture women and men for public ministry in a context that is
Christ-centered, faithfully Lutheran, and ecumenically committed.
Thank you for being a friend of Southern Seminary!
Your Friend,
William B. Trexler, ChairLutheran Theological Southern Seminary
Board of Trustees
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Ways To GiveUndesignated Gifts
Undesignated gifts support the general operating expenditures of
the seminary. These gifts help the seminary today as funds are
applied to current financial priorities.
PledgesMonetary gifts may be pledged over a period of time that
the donor arranges with the semi-nary.
Designated GiftsDonors may designate their gifts for a
particular purpose or program, and the seminary ap-plies those
funds in accordance with the givers stipulations. Common
designations include scholarships, faculty chairs, and perpetual
funds that provide an-nual operating funds.
Stocks and SecuritiesLong-term appreciated securi-ties or stocks
are a convenient method of contribution and may be advantageous to
the donor pursuant to IRS regulations. Gifts of stocks and
securities can be designated or undesignated as the donor
chooses.
Real PropertyMarketable real estate, personal property,
long-term capital as-sets, or gifts in kind of estab-lished value
may be contributed with tax benefits accruing to the donor. As with
any other gift, the purpose can be designated or undesignated.
Planned GiftsMany of our donors choose to make legacy gifts
through ben-eficiary arrangements on new or existing life
insurance, annuities, IRAs, and other retirement pro-grams. Other
donors include the seminary in their last will and testament.
Donors who desire to receive income from an asset during their
lifetimes and leave a remainder at the end of their lives often
choose to use a Chari-table Gift Annuity or a Chari-table Remainder
UniTrust. Both vehicles provide tax deductibility for eligible
donors and an in-come stream for the donors for as long as they
live. The semi-nary is the beneficiary of several of these planned
charitable giv-ing vehicles through the ELCA Foundation and the
Lutheran Community Foundation.
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Giving Societies ReportsAnnual Giving by Individuals
The Rev. John Bachman Club, $10,000+
17 members, gave $660,658.95, including 9 giving $143,854.93
to the New Life Fund
Founders Club, $5,000+14 members, gave $91,447.90, including 10
giving $46,276.00
to the New Life Fund
Trustees Club, $1,000+147 members, gave $238,968.94, including
105 giving $140,759.94
to the New Life Fund
Presidents Club, $500+111 members, gave $74,493.90, including 87
giving $53,203.00
to the New Life Fund
Deans Club, $250+141 members, gave $45,852.61, including 119
giving $37,031.61
to the New Life Fund
Faculty Club, $100+524 members, gave $69,454.14, including 393
giving $49,643.00
to the New Life Fund
Stewards Club, $1+603 members, gave $21,774.15, including 404
giving $14,297.65
to the New Life Fund
The Greever Societyfor Lifetime Giving
Visionary Club, $100,000+23 members have given lifetime
gifts
totaling $36,643,914.05.
Sustainer Club, $50,000+76 members have given lifetime gifts
totaling $14,379,618.65.
Founder Club, $25,000+140 members have given lifetime gifts
totaling $7,043,177.94.
Other Gifts
Southern Legacy Society189 members have arranged a planned
gift to the seminary.
Estate, Foundation, & Trust Gifts
39 estates, foundations, and trusts made gifts to the seminary
since July
2008, totaling $2,225210.16.
Businesses, Corporations, and Other Groups
27 businesses, corporations, and other groups made gifts
totaling $85,216.94.
Alumni Giving474 alumni gave $401,986.58,
including $265,861.47 to the New Life Fund.
Annual Givingby Religious
Organizations
The Rev. John Bachman Club, $10,000+
12 groups, gave $1,808,003.59, including 9 giving
$1,90,178.37
to the New Life Fund
Founders Club, $5,000+2 groups, gave $$14,326.39,
including 2 giving $14,326.39 to the New Life Fund
Trustees Club, $1,000+38 groups, gave $74,448.73,
including 22 giving $47,237.83 to the New Life Fund
Presidents Club, $500+43 groups, gave $24, 274.33,
including 17 giving $9,283.94 to the New Life Fund
Deans Club, $250+26 groups, gave $7,946.10,
including 11 giving $2,988.96 to the New Life Fund
Faculty Club, $100+32 groups, gave $4,707.06, including 19
giving $2,644
to the New Life Fund
Stewards Club, $1+25 groups, gave $763.00
including 19 giving $548.00 to the New Life Fund
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FacultyThe Rev. Dr. Marcus J. Miller
President
The Rev. Dr. Virginia C. BarfieldDean and Vice President
of Academic Affairs
The Rev. Dr. Daniel M. Bell Jr. Professor of Theological
Ethics
The Rev. Dr. Julius Carroll
Associate Professor of Contextual Education
Dr. I. Brent Driggers Associate Professor of New
Testament
The Rev. Dr. Daryl S. Everett Dewey F. Beam Professor of
Pastoral Care
Dr. Lynn A.Feider Director of the Library & Professor of
Bibliography
The Rev. Shauna HannanAssistant Professor of Homiletics
The Rev. Dr. Mary B. HavensH. George Anderson Professor of
Church History
Dr. Robert D. HawkinsLeonora G. McClurg Distinguished
Professor of Worship and Music, Dean of Christ Chapel
The Rev. Dr. Lamontte M. LukerProfessor of Hebrew Scriptures
Dr. Susan W. McArver
Professor of Church History & Educational Ministry, Director
of Center on Religion in the South
The Rev. Dr. Brian K. PetersonAssociate Professor of New
Testament
Dr. Michael J. RootProfessor of Systematic Theology
The Rev. Dr. James ThomasAssociate Professor of Church &
Ministry, Director of African American Ministries, North
Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission
Professor of Bible of Mission
Dr. David S. YeagoMichael Peeler Professor of
Systematic Theology
Fall 2009 EnrollmentEnrollment: 167
112 Full-time 55 Part-time
Programs of Study116 Masters of Divinity
26 Master of Arts in Religion7 Master of Sacred Theology
18 Non-degree or other
Ecumenical Student Body:
118 ELCA22 United Methodist
17 Baptist4 Episcopal1 Catholic
1 Presbyterian4 Other
Diverse Enrollment:101 men
66 Women139 Caucasian
24 African-American2 Asian
1 Tanzanian1 Swedish
Widespread Ministry:24 ELCA Synods are represented
Region 9 Synods:30 South Carolina29 North Carolina
20 Southeastern11 Florida-Bahamas
4 Virginia
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From the DeanTo All of Our Partners in Mission,
It is a privilege to pause and thank each of you for your
participation in this ministry we have at Lutheran Theologi-cal
Southern Seminary.
Each of you help us daily as we teach, form, and nur-ture women
and men for public ministry in a context that is Christ-centered,
faithfully Lutheran, and ecumenically com-mitted.
As I gazed out my office window a few weeks ago, I saw the blue
sunlit sky and the campus was fairly empty and quiet. The three
J-term courses were nearing their end; some students were literally
spread across the globe and the nation as they participated in
cross cultural experiences; and faculty were reading and writing in
preparation for the start of a new semester.
Now, this campus has come to life again. The 70 stu-dents who
were new in the fall semester have returned with the nearly 100
colleagues who walked with them through their first classes. An
invigorated faculty walks into newly arranged and freshened
classrooms to do what they do better than many could imagine. The
staff and administration are once again reminded why we do what we
do.
The sky is still blue and sunlit and the winter chill hangs on,
but the spring semester is in full swing and the campus is once
more full of life. Seniors just received their regional first call
assign-ments and middlers await internship site announcements.
Your contribution may have paid a portion of tuition for the
junior who traveled to a Hon-duran village to assist in a medical
clinic and help repair homes. The endowment fund provided by your
family may have assisted one of our professors as she researched
the material that is now part of a brand new course offering. Your
gracious gift may have paid the power bill that kept the lights on
and the computer running in my office. Your gift may have helped
control the cost of continued lunch service in the refectory.
Some of these things may not seem that glamorous to you, but to
those of us who live, work, play and pray here on campus, these
gifts are our lifeblood.
Your encouragement, gifts, and prayers make all of these life
moments possible for all of us. For you and your generosity, we
offer out thanks to God.
Sharing in Christs service,
Ginger BarfieldDean and Vice President of Academic
AfffairsLutheran Theological Southern Seminary
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4201 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29203-5863803.786.5150
www.ltss.edu
The Seminarys Mission:To teach, form, and nurture women and men
for public ministry and Christian leadership in a context that is
Christ-centered,
faithfully Lutheran and ecumenically committed.
