After reading the following letter, we are still waiting for some basic information from Victor Bryant who is now threatening a lawsuit.

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Lutheran Church Extension Fund

October 24, 2000

The Reverend Jack Cascione
31011 Greater Mack Ave.
St. Clair Shores, Michigan 48082-1988

Dear Pastor Cascione

Once again I am forced to write you because of your loose handling of facts in your October 9, "Reclaim News" article. One would think that you had not really read the CCM ruling regarding PLI, but simply jumped to the conclusion you wanted. In LCEF's opinion, and agreed to by our attorneys, the Committee on Constitutional Matters determined that LCMS policies are not precise but found no specific fault with LCEF.

There are so many misstatements and factual errors in your story it is almost difficult to know where to start. The CCM did not rule that LCEF has no authority to grant funds to PLI. Had you printed the summary statement to the question listed, you would have been forced to state the following:

"Thus, to summarize: (1) Eligible recipients of LCEF grants and funds are limited to those within The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, namely: members of the Synod, the Synod itself and its component parts, auxiliaries, and recognized service organizations, (2) The assets of LCEF must be used exclusively for: [a] acquisition of sites; [b] construction of facilities; [c] purchase of buildings and equipment; [d] operation expenses; [e] professional church worker education; [f] residential housing needs of professional church workers; and [g] other purposes only if approved by the governing board of LCEF consistent with the ministry and mission of the Synod under policies approved by the Board of Directors of the Synod."

Obviously point G gives LCEF the authority to grant funds to PLI.

The entire story about Brad Hewitt "instructing LCEF to continue funding PLI" is a complete fabrication. LCEF has not and is not ignoring the CCM ruling. You use my name in vain indicating that I reported that the LCEF portion of the LCMS Foundation loss is "only $15 million." I would never described $15 million as only and the correct number is actually $24 million.

You imply that LCEF has "different sets for rules for different groups and different individuals." That, of course, again, is simply not true. Please provide any factual statements that would confirm your implications. I am forwarding a copy of your article to our attorneys to determine if there would be cause for libel.

We again make the same offer as we have in the past. If you persist in writing further about LCEF, it might aid your credibility if you would bother to check the facts with us.

Sincerely,

Victor Bryant
Executive Vice President

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Thursday, November 9, 2000

Victor Bryant
PO Box 229009
St. Louis, MO 63122-9009

Dear Victor Bryant:

Thank you for your response to my article and your effort to clarify any misinformation I may have given out about the LCEF.

From your letters of October 19 and 24, which were received on Saturday, October 28, it certainly appears that I owe you an apology.

The 48-page offering circular that you sent was appreciated.

Your point "G" doesn't "obviously give LCEF the authority to grant funds to PLI" because PLI is not a Mission of the Synod! It has no RSO status or approval from the Convention. No District can create an organization for the entire Synod because no District is the entire Synod.

Having read your concerns, I should most certainly apologize if you can clarify two simple questions.

First, who issued the check to PLI from LCEF Funds after the CCM ruling?

Second, what is the interest rate charged to all District Presidents, District Executives, and Synodical Executives for home loans, car loans, and other types of loans by LCEF?

I'm a little disappointed that you have decided to speak to your attorney about my article. What happened to Dispute Resolution? Or, is LCEF exempt from the Synodical Constitution and at liberty to sue LCMS pastors without first using the Dispute Resolution process?

Sincerely,

Pastor Jack Cascione

November 14, 2000