[m-m-online] May 4, 2007

[Minister to Minister online]

MINISTRY CALLS

P A S T O R S

ACCEPTED

Greg Finke, Messiah, Bullock Creek, MI to Gloria Dei, Houston, TX

UNDECIDED

Mitchell W. Gowen, Our Savior, Aiea-Oahu, HI to Memorial, Katy, TX

Brad Heintz, Gloria Dei, Houston, TX to Good Shepherd, Cedar Park, TX


C O M M I S S I O N E D M I N I S T E R S

UNDECIDED

Leta Brown, Grace, Menomonee Falls, WI to Crown of Life, Colleyville, TX

DESIGNATED

Jason Phelps, Concordia University Seward, NE to Trinity, Houston, TX

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TEXAS LUTHERANS, CAN YOUR CHURCH AFFORD TO PAY AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES 
ON YOUR PARKING LOT, YOUR SOFTBALL FIELD, OR YOUR FELLOWSHIP HALL?

(The bill has gone to the Calendar Committee, and we only have FOUR days 
to get it out of Calendars to the second reading on the floor.)


Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Your local tax district will seek property taxes from you in the coming 
years. This is a fact which we cannot ignore. Several aggressive 
districts in Texas have already attempted and succeeded to levy and 
collect ad valorem property taxes 
(http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=ad+valorem+taxes&spell=1) 
from our LCMS congregations.

NO, we are not “automatically exempt.” The Property Tax Code in our 
great state is written so that a local tax district (not the elected 
Assessor/Collector) can arbitrarily force a religious organization to 
pay property taxes on land they consider not used “for worship.” (There 
is a link below to the tax code.)

Do you have a ball field or a soccer field?
Does your church own excess parking not used on Sunday morning?
Do you have an education building not used as a day school?

Then the door is open for your local tax district to target your 
congregation.

This is not a “big church” issue. Pastor Brian Cummins at Beautiful 
Savior in Arlington has fought with the Tarrant Appraisal District for 
over four years. BSLC has about 90 folks in worship on a Sunday morning, 
but the local property taxing authority has billed them for over $20,000 
just for one tax year. (Questions about this? Call Pastor Brian Cummins, 
817-692-5223)

What can you do?

Presently there is a bill that should reach the floor of the Texas House 
of Representatives next week. It is HB 1606. It grants all Texas 
churches a ten year (if they own over three acres) or fifteen year (if 
they own less than three acres) exemption for all their contiguous 
property. It is not a perfect solution, but it buys us time to change 
the law.

1. Follow this link to the committee chairwoman for “Calendars 
Committee.” Chairwoman Beverly Woolley is the chair of the committee 
that will allow HB 1606 to be scheduled for floor debate. In your email 
simply ask her to make sure that HB 1606 is not overlooked and gets to 
go to the House floor.
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=136&rep=beverly.woolley

2. Follow this link http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/zip.aspx to the 
phone number of your House Rep’s Austin office.

3. Call their Austin office number and ask to speak with your rep’s 
legislative aide. Inform the legislative aide that you wish your rep to 
support HB1606, granting Texas churches an exemption from paying ad 
valorem property taxes. If they ask questions, use the information in 
this email to educate them on the bill (remember, they work on hundreds 
of different pieces of legislation during each session).

It’s that simple.

Thank you for your time and your willingness to call your rep’s office.

I will bring further updates as this legislation moves through the 
House, the Senate, and to Governor Perry’s desk. The 80th Legislative 
session ends soon, so we must act quickly if we are to protect our churches.

Joy & peace in Jesus,
Rev. Randall Bard
Christ, Fort Worth
fastpastor at hotmail.com
817-896-0744 (cell #, and I am happy to talk with you on this issue!)


ADDITIONAL READING:

To read the Property Tax Code as it relates to churches, follow this link:
http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/tc06/ch11b4.htm#11.20

Notice the wording for exemptions,

“The real property that is owned by the religious organization, is used 
primarily as a place of regular religious worship, and is reasonably 
necessary for engaging in religious worship;

The property owned by churches includes much space and many items which 
are not specifically used “in worship.” This is the open door that at 
least three tax districts in our state have used to pursue Christian 
congregations.

To follow HB1606’s progress follow this link:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB1606.

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SUMMER 2007 RETIREMENT PLANNING WORKSHOP
June 11 - 12, 2007
Lutheran High North, Houston, TX

Professional Church Workers and spouses, please join us for this two day 
workshop to help you plan for retirement. This workshop includes 
sessions on budgeting and finance, retirement income, envisioning your 
retirement lifestyle, health concerns, where to live, and what to do 
with your time in retirement. Upon registration, you'll receive a 
pre-workshop financial planning worksheet that needs to be completed 
prior to the workshop.

Church worker and spouse are strongly encouraged to attend. The fee is 
$20 per person, $40.00 for a couple.

To register go to the Texas District website at www.txdistlcms.org. For 
more information contact Rev. Dr. John Hirsch or Lois Wolf at 800-951-3478.

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2007 RETREAT FOR PRAYER AND SPIRITUALITY
October 1 - 3, 2007
Canyon of the Eagles Lodge and Nature Park, Burnet, TX

This prayer retreat for Texas District professional church workers and 
spouses will focus on time for prayer, meditation, reading, Bible study, 
etc.

For more information or to register online visit the Texas District 
website at www.txdistlcms.org.

Questions? Call Lois Wolf at the Texas District office, 1-800-951-3478,
or email nswolf at txdistlcms.org.

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PROFESSIONAL CHURCH WORKERS CONFERENCE
November 18-20, 2007
Redeemer, Austin, Texas

Hundreds of church workers from all over the Texas District will meet at 
Redeemer in Austin to discuss what it means to be missional. This 
conference will include dynamic speakers, practical workshops, inspiring 
worship, and a whole lot of fun.

$90 for Early Bird Registration!

Dates to Remember:
July 15: Registration packets mailed; web registration opens
September 15: Early Bird Registration ends (cost increases to $100)
October 15: Final Registration deadline, and Hotel deadline
November 18-20: MP3!!

Save $10 by registering before September 15!

For more information or to register online visit the Texas District 
website at www.txdistlcms.org.

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**PROFESSIONAL CHURCH WORKERS, WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE!

The Professional Church Workers Conference Planning Committee would like 
your input for Sectionals to be offered at the Conference being held 
Nov. 18-20 in Austin. Please click on the link below to complete a brief 
questionnaire that would provide valuable information. If you have 
questions about completing the questionnaire, please contact Dr. Lou 
Jander at ljander at aol.com. Thanks for taking the time to provide this 
important feedback.

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB226EESHFYR7

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Concordia University at Austin Seeks:

DIRECTOR, CAN DO

Supervises and administers the Can-Do missionary activities. Responsible 
for budget and staff registration for mission trips; coordinates mission 
trips of congregations; prepares newsletter; coordinates conference 
exhibits, develops and produces training materials; recruits trainers; 
develops site specific information, contacts National Church leaders & 
LCMS mission staff; visits potential sites; recruits volunteer personnel 
and participants; coordinates trip logistics to include van rentals; 
airline tickets; disbursement of funds. Prepares congregational manual.

Requires Bachelor’s degree and 3 years experience coordinating events, 
one of which was in a lead or supervisory role. DCE experience 
preferred. Should be familiar and proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, 
and Publisher.

Send resume to jobs at concordia.edu or fax to 512-486-1359.

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SYNODICAL CONVENTION INFORMATION

As many of you are aware, our Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's 
Convention is in Houston this summer at the George R. Brown Convention 
Center. For the OPENING SERVICE, on Saturday, July 14, at 4:00 p.m., we 
are looking for a MASS CHOIR of 300 voices to lead worship!! We will 
rehearse on the four Thursdays preceding the Convention, June 21, June 
28, July 5, and July 12, from 7:30-9:00 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran 
Church, 800 Houston Avenue. If you would like to be a part of this 
choir, please email the following information to 
mmountford at trinitydt.org, or call 7l3.224.0684, or 7l3.825.7352.

Name | Address | Home Phone # | Work Phone #
Cell Phone # | Email Address

Voice: (Circle one) S A T B

Prayerfully consider this commitment of rehearsals and worship leading 
at the convention. We will try to help with the transporting of the 
choir to/and back from the convention hall on Saturday, July 14. This 
will eliminate the necessity to park and drive downtown. Come, make some 
wonderful music together!!

Questions? Call Mary Mountford
Trinity Lutheran Church
800 Houston Avenue
Houston, Texas 77007
713.224.0684
713.825.7352

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ABLAZE! TEXAS www.txdistlcms.org/ablaze/ CHECK IT OUT!!!

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS...

Synodical Convention
July 14-19, 2007 | George Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas

National Youth Gathering
July 28-August 1, 2007 | Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida

Pastors' Wives Retreat
September 28-30, 2007 | Camp Lone Star, La Grange, Texas

For more information on Texas District events visit the District's 
website at www.txdistlcms.org.

Subscribe to our online calendar in iCAL format at 
www.txdistlcms.org/calendar