LCEF

LCEF is the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, a unique ministry-through-investment organization that offers Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod members the opportunity to invest their money, earn interest, and help build churches and schools at the same time.

Our Mission

To support the Church in fulfilling its mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ by being a Christ-centered servant partner of the LCMS, ensuring that funds and services are available now and in the future.

Our Guiding Principles

LCEF is committed to the concept of partnership in support of the ministry. The six guiding principles that guide us in our work are:

  • LCEF is a ministry.
  • LCEF serves congregations and a host of other Synod-related organizations.
  • LCEF is a partnership between investors, congregations, and the church at large.
  • LCEF’s investors are fellow Christians who support our ministry.
  • God has richly blessed LCEF through the ministry of volunteers.
  • LCEF’s actions are based on the question, “Will this decision make a difference and further the Great Commission?”

Our History

Over a Century of Service
The year 2000 marked 100 years of Church extension in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. In some districts, church extension has been around longer, but the Synod became directly involved in 1902 when members of several congregations pooled their funds together and raised $400 for a new church.

LCEF, incorporated in 1978, is a continuation of the Synod CEF serving the entire LCMS. In fiscal year 2005, LCEF helped more than 450 congregations build or remodel their facilities with demand for loans topping $223 million.* LCEF partners with nearly 70,000 investors, and the organization’s total assets topped $1.4 billion. For more than 100 years, God has truly blessed the ministry of church extension.

* New loans disbursed in fiscal Year 2005.

The Ministry of Church Extension

Looking back 100 years, LCEF is grateful for God’s blessings on church extension. We pray that by the continued grace of God, LCEF will provide loans and services in ways that further expand His kingdom. In the future, we pray for more and more LCMS members to learn about and support the ministry of church extension as we continue serving the entire Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

While providing financial opportunities for church members and congregations, your investments have also provided spiritual opportunities for the many Lutheran organizations of LCMS wanting to spread the Good News of Jesus.

LCEF Today...

LCEF provides a wide array of investment opportunities including dedicated certificates, term notes, growth certificates, congregational investments, IRAs, gifting opportunities, and more.

LCEF provides funds, consultation, capital funding services, strategic ministry planning, and demographic services to help new and existing congregations buy land and build and improve facilities for more effective ministry.

LCEF works with Synod congregations, seminaries, colleges, universities, and elementary and high schools; partner churches around the world; and Recognized Service Organizations. Many of these ministries would not be possible if LCEF support was not available.

Visit the LCEF Homepage (offsite link)