[m-m-online] May 25, 2007

[Minister to Minister online]

MINISTRY CALLS

P A S T O R S

ACCEPTED

Art Hill, Trinity, Tyler, TX to Sr. Pastor, Trinity Tyler, TX

RETIREMENT

Eldor Harmann, Bethlehem, Brenham, TX
Del King, Faith, Laredo, TX
Ken Baisden, Genesis, Buchanan Dam, TX

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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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63rd SYNODICAL CONVENTION
July 14 - 19, 2007 | George Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas

In an effort to proclaim worldwide the One Message - Christ! Rev. Dr. 
Gerald Kieschnick is inviting congregations and individuals to 
participate in the gathering of gifts through a special National 
Offering. This offering is dedicated to Preparing Pastors Worldwide to 
proclaim boldly that Jesus Christ alone is Savior of the World!

These gifts are used for students attending our seminaries in the US and 
for support for seminary students overseas. Please encourage your 
congregation to participate in the National Offering. More information 
can be found at www.lcms.org/PastoralEducation. Should you have any 
questions please contact Cindy Simpson at 314-996-1675.

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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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Have You Mailed Your Campus Ministry Survey Cards?

The greatest challenge for our LCMS campus ministries is getting current 
home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for students that 
will be going to their campuses in the fall. The best time to reach 
students is BEFORE they leave for summer jobs, etc. As soon as the 
campus ministries have the information, they will contact students 
individually to invite to participate in Bible study and fellowship 
activities that will be available when they arrive on campus in the 
fall. Students have the opportunity not only to establish new 
friendships and increase their spiritual growth, but also to develop 
into the LCMS lay leaders of the future.

Your help is urgently needed to acquire this information. When you 
receive your packet, please give it to the appropriate staff member for 
completion. They are printed on bright yellow card stock with a cover 
memo. As our office receives the completed cards from you, they are 
sorted and mailed to the campus ministries or churches in the cities and 
towns where students will be living and going to school.

An alternative to completing the physical cards is to complete the form 
on line. Just go to the District website at www.txdistlcms.org. Click on 
the Mission & Ministry link and select Campus Ministries from the drop down.

Questions? Call Carole Stevenson or Keith Howanitz at (800) 951-3478 for 
assistance.

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FINAL CHURCH PROPERTY TAX ALERT

Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

I wanted to thank the many of you who responded to my plea several weeks 
ago to call your state representative and again last week to contact 
your state senator. I do appreciate you willingness to be involved, and 
I believe that it will pay dividends in the long run.

Unfortunately all efforts to protect Texas churches from ad valorem 
taxation have now failed in this legislative session.

Our House Bill, 1606, died in the Senate Finance Committee last Friday. 
Two other bills were amended with HB1606’s language, but one died on the 
House floor, the other on the Senate floor earlier in the week.

So what happened? Speculation by the House Rep we work with (Zedler, [R] 
Arlington) is that because of the upcoming `08 elections, many 
legislatures are looking to make statements, posturing for better 
positions in the next session…in other words, politics. Just as our news 
has carried the story of four who want to be the Speaker of the House in 
the next session, so others too are vying for better appointments in `09.

So what does this mean to me? Hopefully, nothing! Most local area tax 
districts ignore churches and the land they own. It seems that in 
smaller communities there remains a greater appreciation for what local 
congregations bring to the community. For those located in the largest 
Texas counties though, this may well open the floodgates. While I do not 
wish to be an alarmist, all local area tax districts are under pressure 
to raise revenue. With many sources capped or stagnant, Christian 
congregations could well be targeted, as some already are in Harris, 
Travis, Dallas, and Tarrant counties.

So what do we do if we receive a property tax bill? (Remember, I am a 
church professional as you are, so this is my opinion…) Fight it first, 
then pay it. Just as you would with your home, if you believe that the 
valuation is too high, or you are not receiving the proper exemptions, 
fight it! If your local tax district will not bend to reason, then legal 
council may well be advisable. Secondly, call your local House rep and 
report to them what is happening to you and your displeasure with this 
(essentially) double taxation. I would also suggest that you request 
that they come to your campus for a personal meeting. Give them the 
opportunity to see what you are doing with your property, show them your 
budget, and your tax bill! Remind them that most churches in Texas are 
small congregations serving local people and that few have live TV feeds!

So where do we go from here? Sadly, all Texas churches are bare for `08 
& `09. Plans are already underway for work in the 81st Session, with 
strong support from five House members and two Senators, to allow all 
Texas churches to own a reasonable size plot of land tax free.

Again, thank you for your calls to your legislators. May the Holy Spirit 
continue to empower your life and your work.

Rev. Randy Bard

Christ, Fort Worth

fastpastor at hotmail.com

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ABLAZE! TEXAS

Share your story at www.txdistlcms.org/ablaze/

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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