Reach and teach: they go together

the Synod and a commitment to sound business

practices. 

As a business operation, Concordia

He noted that CPH does not receive grants

Publishing House pays serious attention to not one,

from the Synod, nor does it solicit donations.  The

but two,  bottom lines  profitability and faithful 

publishing house must generate revenue in order to

ness to the Word.

sustain its mission.  Not only does it balance the

In the viewpoint of Rev. Paul McCain,

books, a cash reserve helps to fund development of

interim president and chief executive officer, the

new materials. 

Word is the most important  bottom line  in terms

of doctrine and as a tool for mission.

C P H   FA C T S  A N D   F I G U R E S  

 The reaching church is the teaching

church.  The teaching church is the confessing

Accounts

808,021

church,  said McCain.  It all goes together; it has

always been this way. 

Orders filled in 2002

152,335

McCain said CPH seeks to be  authentically

VBS items in stock

71

Lutheran,  with a focus on preaching and teaching

Calls handled

the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  And, he added, the

work is done under the banner of God's Word and

per year

199,220

the Lutheran Confessions.

monthly

16,660

 Nothing is more important for the church

weekly

4,160

than to be true to the Lord's Word and sacraments

for it is precisely through these instruments that the

Number of items in

Holy Spirit is creating and sustaining faith, 

CPH stock

6,600

McCain continued.   That is why a church, or a

Synod stock

800

publishing house, interested in outreach will be pas 

sionate about preserving God's Word in all its truth

and purity. 

As for profitability, McCain said the CPH

 We are looking at launching a major new

Board of Directors has been concerned about several

Sunday school curriculum in the next few years,  

past years of increasing financial losses.   In the past

he said.  Also under development is a faith based

year, for the first time in several years, we have

curriculum for Lutheran day schools, practical

received a positive bottom line income.  We are

resources for evangelism and outreach, and a  from

working very hard on maintaining a keen focus on

scratch  English study Bible.

Efforts are also under way

to expand the customer service

program so every congregation

and church worker will have a 

specific contact person at CPH.

 When they call, they will speak to

the same person, who knows them

and their needs,  McCain said.

He added that CPH is also up 

grading its computer technology.

 We have more than 300

dedicated men and women at

CPH who believe passionately that

the products we produce are top

notch,  McCain said.  Of course

we want to sell what we produce,

but the reason is because we

believe so strongly in it and want

Blake Tilley, CPH software support sales representative, discusses the Shepherd Staff church

the best for our congregations. 

management software with the pastor of a congregation.

Photo: Concordia Publishing House/Tom Openlander

(69) FEBRUARY 2003

41