# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S103
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
R31

Minnesota North District
The Minnesota North District is made up of 198 congregations;
an African immigrant ministry (Anyuak); Ministry to the Deaf; 7
Campus Ministries; 7 elementary schools; 21 preschools/day-care
centers; a summer chapel ministry located adjacent to a resort; and
a year-round camp ministry. Reported statistics (2014) were as follows: 55,681 baptized and 43,507 confirmed; 221 pastors and 78
commissioned.
Recognizing that we are surrounded by a culture where absolute
truth has been replaced by personal preference and opinion and those
who strive to hold on to God’s truth and confess it are branded as outof-touch, closed-minded and bigoted, our district convention theme
for this triennium was selected as a guiding beacon: “Word of Truth,
to All Truth Lead Us” based on Isaiah 2:2–4 [“Upon This Rock”].
As public opinion changes on a wide spectrum of beliefs and values,
there is always the danger that we, almost without realizing it, relinquish our firm hold on God’s truth, that our focus on what God has
said becomes fuzzy and blurred, and that we over time grow tired of
resisting [“Repent”]. In an effort to assist our congregations, schools,
ministries, church workers, and laypeople to be on guard, aware of
current issues, and able to respond and give a faithful witness, we
have joined with the Minnesota South District, who called Rev. Fred
Hinz to serve as public policy advocate to assist in this endeavor.
Also, our 2015 Pastors’ Conference focused on “Speaking God’s
Word … In the Legislative Process … In the Public Square.” A joint
conference for church workers and laity on “Life, Marriage, and
Religious Liberty” was conducted with the North Dakota District.
Our Synod-district life coordinator has provided materials and conducted “Making Abortion Unthinkable” workshops. [“Confess”]
The following resources were provided to support our congregations, schools, ministries, and church workers: “Engaging Your
Community” workshops; church worker wives’ retreats; pastors’ conferences; teachers’ conferences; disability workshops; lay leadership
training; treasurers’ workshops; parenting workshops; pre-retirement
workshops for church workers; Life Together events; new workers’
orientation; retired church worker appreciation luncheon; “Church
Reconciler” training; youth ministry training; and a established
response team to deal with allegations of sexual misconduct by professional church workers. Rev. Ed Behling serves as our church
worker care coordinator and Rev. Dr. Larry Harvala is our congregational care counselor.
During this triennium, the district has given financial support for Project Wittenberg; Project 24 in Kenya with the North
Dakota District; Christ’s Care for Children: Kenya; work at Good
Shepherd Lutheran Church and School in Cotton Tree, Liberia;
advanced theological education for a Liberian pastor at the seminary
in Fort Wayne; college tuition for a student from Liberia attending Concordia University, St. Paul; high school tuition for a student
from Liberia attending Mayer Lutheran High School; church worker
scholarships; as well as our Lutheran elementary schools through
the “Congregations Reaching Out to Support Schools (CROSS)
Appeal” and the “Sowers’ Fund,” which assists church workers when
there are special needs. [“Rejoice”]
In fulfillment of 2013 Res. 7-04A, a survey was sent out to evaluate the Minnesota North District in light of the general principles for
judging the viability of a district. The results are as follows.

I am …
Answer
Chairman of a Minnesota
North District congregation
Clergy—Active
Clergy—Emeritus
Commissioned—Active
Commissioned—Emeritus
Board of Directors
Totals

103
Number of
Responses

Response
Ratio

15
48
14
13
6
14
110

13.6%
43.6%
12.7%
11.8%
5.4%
12.7%
100%

Is the Minnesota North District a geographical size and configuration to be effective, efficient, and capable of serving all who
make up its constituency?
Answer
Number of Response
Responses Ratio
Too Small
5
4.5%
Just the Right Size
63
57.2%
Too Big
14
12.7%
No Opinion
21
19.0%
Insufficient Knowledge to Answer
7
6.3%
No Response
0
0.0%
Totals
110
100%
Does the Minnesota North District receive sufficient financial
resources from its membership to meet its financial responsibilities and obligations to (i) support the mission and ministry of the
church in the district and (ii) financially assist the mission and
ministry of the Synod?
Answer
Number of Response
Responses Ratio
Not Enough
21
19.0%
Adequate
59
53.6%
More Than Enough
1
<1.0%
No Opinion
4
3.6%
Insufficient Knowledge to Answer
25
22.7%
No Response
0
0.0%
Totals
110
100%
Does the Minnesota North District leadership adapt to new
circumstances and meet changing needs related to the mission
and ministry of the church?
Answer
Number of Response
Responses Ratio
Never
0
0.0%
Almost Never
1
<1.0%
Seldom
6
5.4%
Frequently
32
29.0%
Almost Always
30
27.2%
Always
19
17.2%
No Opinion
11
10.0%
Insufficient Knowledge to Answer
11
10.0%
No Response
0
0.0%
Totals
110
100%
Does the Minnesota North District staff provide encouragement, appropriate guidance, and support (e.g., stewardship,
conflict resolution, crisis counseling, financial counseling, calling process, collaborative efforts, networking, nourishment, and
help with evangelistic outreach, etc.) to member congregations
for participating in the mission God has given to the Church?

2016 Convention Workbook