# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S100 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 100 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS directors. In doing so, we considered and discussed the eight criteria put forward in 2013 Res. 7-04A, according to which district viability is to be measured. At its January 2016 meeting, the Kansas District board of directors adopted Res. 16A-06-04, concluding that the Kansas District is indeed viable according to these eight criteria. Official visitation according to Synod Bylaw 4.4.4 also received considerable attention during the past triennium, this in keeping with 2013 Res. 7-01A. Following a presentation to our circuit visitors and praesidium by President Dean Nadasdy of the Minnesota South District, the Kansas District appointed a committee to customize a plan for the Kansas District based on the model presented to us by President Nadasdy. The resulting plan was discussed by our circuit visitors in October 2015 and January 2016 and has now been adopted for action. The district president, together with the circuit visitors and vice-presidents, have set the goal of visiting all 163 congregations of the district during the next triennium and each triennium thereafter. The past triennium was not without its challenges, of course. Our district lost one part-time and two full-time staff members in the areas of missions and stewardship. After a time of uncertainty and reevaluating, we have now budgeted to fill two of these positions in 2016, by calling an executive for missions and stewardship and by hiring an administrative assistant to assist him. In the area of international missions, our 19-year association with mission work in Guinea, West Africa, has changed significantly because, for the time being, the LCMS is no longer deploying missionaries to Guinea. However, we are in close conversation with the LCMS Office of International Mission (OIM) to explore new areas of cooperation in international missions. In terms of national missions, the Kansas District is working to strengthen its ties to the Office of National Mission (ONM). In January 2016, the executive director of the ONM, Rev. Bart Day, came and spoke at length to our district board of directors to show some areas where the Kansas District might partner more closely with the ONM. Witness and Outreach, Church Planting, Re:Vitality, Rural and Small Town, Disaster Response, Stewardship, and Hispanic Ministry are among those areas. Our district has also appointed a “life coordinator” to work more closely with LCMS Life Ministry, as well as with Lutherans For Life. Lastly, the Kansas District will begin mentoring our new pastors through the Post Seminary Applied Learning and Support (PALS) program. In October 2013, our district began an initiative which we called “Renewal in Wellness” to focus the attention of our workers and congregations on worker health. For the following two years, this was the unifying theme of all conferences and conventions up to and including our fall workers’ conference in October 2015. In addition, there were monthly articles in our publications as well as numerous other resources and undertakings. A team of two district executive staff members plus one circuit visitor worked closely with the Concordia Plan Services’ Ministerial Care Coalition to guide this process. As part of this emphasis, our district is also serving as one of three pilot districts for the national LCMS Church Worker Family Needs Assessment, which is under the direction of Concordia Plan Services, the LCMS Office of National Mission, and the Concordia Center for the Family at Concordia University Wisconsin. The goal is to use survey results to assist districts in strengthening care for church workers and their spouses and families. Lastly in this area, our 24-month “Renewal in Wellness” emphasis has now led to restarting our district’s Church Worker Care Committee, under the oversight of the Board for Caring Ministry. As we move into a new triennium, my prayer is that we as the Kansas District will be ever more faithful, bold, intentional, and unified in confessing Jesus Christ and Him crucified to a dying world. And in centering all our work together upon this rock, I pray that the Lord will lead each of us daily to repent of our sins, confess Him 2016 Convention Workbook before others, and rejoice in the saving gifts He gives through His Holy Christian Church. Peter K. Lange, President R29 Michigan District Focusing on the critical targets of Great Commission Ministry, Great Compassion Ministry, Healthy Congregations, and Healthy Church Workers, the Michigan District has effectively served the congregations and church workers in its care. We continually strive to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” We will also boldly “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23−25). The 2013 Res. 7-04A asked that district presidents evaluate their respective districts and provide the evaluation as part of this report. The survey was sent to all congregations and church workers in 2015. The majority of the comments were very positive about ministry and support in the Michigan District. Listed below are the results from the survey. Does the district … 1. Provide resources for the district president to carry out ecclesiastical supervision as defined in the Synod’s Constitution in a reasonable and timely manner? Yes 89% No 7% No Response 4% 2. Provide resources for the district president in carrying out the minimum requirements for official visits to each of the member congregations, including coming to the pastors and member congregations at least once every three years as a brotherly adviser, “reminding them of the joy of serving in the mission and ministry of the church”? Yes 69% No 24% No Response 7% 3. Provide appropriate guidance and support to member congregations for participating in the mission God has given to the church, including how that is carried out in the various missions and ministries of the church? Yes 87% No 6% No Response 7% 4. Provide encouragement and needed congregational services to member congregations, and provide advice and counsel to member congregations struggling to carry out their core functions? Yes 87% No 6% No Response 7% 5. Adapt to new circumstances and meet changing needs related to the mission and ministry of the church? Yes 87% No 5% No Response 8% 6. Meet its financial responsibilities and obligations, and receive sufficient financial resources from its membership to support the mission and ministry of the church in the district and financially assist the mission and ministry of the Synod? Yes 76% No 16% No Response 8%