EXHIBIT 24(b)(9)(a)

                                AMENDMENT NO. 12
                                       TO
              THE TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT AGREEMENT
                                     BETWEEN
                              THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
                                       AND
                              FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY

Effective  December  29,  1997,  the  Transfer  and  Dividend  Disbursing  Agent
Agreement  ("Agreement"),  dated June 15, 1987, between The AAL Mutual Funds and
Firstar  Trust  Company  (f/k/a  First  Wisconsin  Trust  Company) is amended as
follows:

1.   Schedule A (Mutual Fund Shareholder Service Fee Schedule) to the Agreement,
     effective as of December 29, 1997, is amended to add The AAL Balanced Fund.

An amended  Schedule A,  effective as of December 29, 1997, is attached  hereto.
All other provisions of this Agreement,  as amended,  shall be in full force and
effect.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have caused this Amendment No. 12 to be signed
by their duly authorized officers.

ATTEST:                                       FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY



By ___________________________                By _______________________________
   Robert G. Same, Secretary

ATTEST:                                       THE AAL MUTAL FUNDS


By ___________________________                By _______________________________
   Robert G. Same, Secretary                     Ronald G. Anderson, President

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SCHEDULE A
                                       TO
          THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND DISUBURSING AGENT
                   AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS AND
                              FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY
                        MUTUAL FUND SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
                    Fee Schedule Effective December 29, 1997

I.   Annual Maintenance Fees

     A.   The AAL Capital Growth, Bond, Municipal Bond, Mid Cap Stock (f/k/a The
          AAL  Smaller  Company  Stock  Fund);  Equity  Income  (f/k/a  The  AAL
          Utilities Fund);  International;  Small Cap Stock, High Yield Bond and
          Balanced (added December 29, 1997) Funds.

$13.00 per account, first 50,000 open accounts; $12.75 per account, next 100,000
open  accounts;  $12.50 per  account,  balance of open  accounts;  and $6.00 per
closed account

     B.   The AAL Target Funds

$6.00 per open/closed account

     C.   The AAL Money Market Fund

$15.00 per open account
$6.00 per closed account

II.  Money Market Fund Drafts

$1.50 each

III. ACH (Automatic Clearing House)

$125.00 per cycle
$0.50 account set-up/charge
$0.35 per item (EFT to account)
$3.25 per correction/reversal/return

IV.  IRA/403(b) Maintenance

$12.50 per IRA or 403(b) account
$25.00 cap for multiple IRA or 403(b)  accounts with same social security number
(Firstar  will charge  $12.50 per IRA or 403(b)  account,  with a $25.00 cap for
multiple IRA or 403(b) accounts with the same social security number.


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V.   IRA/403(b) Miscellaneous

Systematic  Withdrawals  - no  charge;  Direct  Stock  Rollovers  -  no  charge;
Transfers Out - no charge; Total Liquidations - no charge;  Partial Liquidations
no charge; and Transfers In - no charge

VI.    Other

Outgoing Wires                     $10.00 per wire
Stop Payment/Return Item Fee       $20.00

All fees not paid by shareholders are billed monthly.

Out-of- pocket expenses are billed monthly