# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S156
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

156

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

Immediately prior to the last triennium the leaders of the
Northwest District gathered for a conference focusing on the
issue of Holy Communion and our practice within the district.
The principles of the Koinonia Project and the practice of addressing issues and differences in doctrine and practice have
been in use in the circuit meetings throughout the district. The
Northwest District board of directors issued a report entitled
Workers for His Harvest that began as a document of dissent
regarding the theological assumptions behind 2016 Synod Res.
13-02A. While the board maintains its position of disagreement
with those assumptions, the document has been withdrawn as a
dissent and is now available to the church at large for conversation and study. It is also available on the NOW District website—nowlcms.org. Leaders from the district were invited to the
November 2018 Council of Presidents’ Meeting to make a presentation and participate in further conversation. The district
has been participating in the implementation of Res. 13-02A as
its president was a part of the COP implementation committee.
To date, 14 men have applied for the SMP regional colloquy
process and a number of others are participating in the general
colloquy process.
The Northwest District seeks to bring the heart of Lutheran doctrine and teaching to a culture that is often hostile
to the institutional church. At the same time, we recognize our
partnership with other members of the Synod and seek to walk
together with them. God is blessing our efforts by opening new
opportunities to reflect the blessing of His love to those who do
not know Him yet. The district board of directors has identified
the following ends policies, which serve as both a target for our
ministry and as a standard by which we measure our effectiveness.
1.0 The Northwest District exists so that congregations and
church workers live fully as committed followers of Jesus to reach
the lost, disciple the saved, and be essential participants and witnesses in their communities. Matthew 28:19–20, Matthew 5:13,
Ephesians 1:9–10
LIFE TOGETHER
1.01
Congregations actively provide Word and Sacrament
ministry in every corner of the District.
WITNESS
1.02
Congregations intentionally engage the people in
their communities and surrounding areas. This vision
includes:
••

Laity and church workers serve together as full partners
in ministry within the congregation and communities.

••

Congregations are encouraged to develop and implement strategic bridges into their communities.

••

Congregations freely disseminate and share resources
and ministry ideas with sister congregations.

MERCY
1.03
Congregations boldly work with congregations of various Christian bodies to:
••

Provide needed services to communities.

••

Share God’s love, comfort and grace through Jesus.

••

Share resources which may grow Christ’s church.
Paul A. Linnemann, President

2019 Convention Workbook

R44

Ohio District
The Ohio District selected a Bible passage for the triennium that speaks to why we are “Joy:fully Lutheran.”
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably
more than all we ask or imagine, according to
His power that is at work in us, to Him be glory
in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all
generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 4:20)
The district president’s ministry of visitation the last triennium discovered reasons for rejoicing. Ohio District schools’
staffs were committed to teaching their subjects with an eye toward God and His creation; our pastors preached Christ and
His love for His people as shown by His atoning death on the
cross and glorious resurrection. A number of the congregations
were blessed with solid growth spiritually, as well as numerically. More of them are looking for new ministries to start in
their communities, and that has revived excitement among their
members.
The Ohio District has provided support and encouragement where congregations are willing to venture outside their
walls to involve themselves in their communities. We pray that
those who have done so will be an inspiration to those who are
still unsure of themselves. It is clear God has given our congregations the precise mix of gifts to accomplish what He wants to
accomplish through them in their communities. There are tangible reasons we are “Joy:fully Lutheran.”
That is not to say that everything is rosy. We have an aging
clergy. 70 of our Ohio District pastors are between the ages of
60 and 70. Another 70 are between the ages of 50 and 60. 28
of our pastors are between the ages of 30 and 40. Only 24 are
between the ages of 30 and 40, while only one is in the 20–30
category. While we are all living better as we age, there’s no denying that a 30-year-old pastor has a bit more energy than one
in his 60s. We will see many more retirements in the next ten
years. Are we seeing an equal number of younger men entering
our ministry fields? Not yet.
One reason for that is that a continuing number of Ohio
District congregations will not be able to afford a full-time pastor. Health care costs, incoming educational debt loads, and
shifting demographics will continue to play a large role. Close
to half of our congregations are or will soon be facing financial pressures that will force them to merge, form partnerships,
or close. Synodical statistics project that our LCMS will lose
another 500,000 members before we “hit bottom” in the next
decade.
But, it’s not just that we’re aging and seeing one generation
die off in large numbers. Our statisticians also report that we
as a Synod lose two-thirds of our children and young adults in
other ways. Congregational quarrels that offend, young people
graduating from college but not returning to their faith, or finding doors closed for them to use their talents in their congregation so they go elsewhere, and not enough well-placed LCMS
churches available to serve an increasingly mobile society are
but three reasons why this is so.
Yet God is able to do immeasurably more, despite our inefficiencies and inadequacies. Rev. Terry Cripe, district presidentemeritus, noted that during the 12 years I served as District Pres-