# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S97 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS to Mark the 50th Anniversary of the 1974 Concordia Seminary St. Louis “Walkout” with Thorough Teaching about the Controversy and Renewed Emphasis on the Pure Doctrine reach of our extensive parochial education system. We call it Parochial Education 2.0 (Res. 12-01). • We offer a wide range of services to our church workers regarding mental health (Res. 3-04A). • We will encourage our circuit visitors to have all district pastors’ PIF/SET updated during this triennium (Res. 6-04). • We have worked to ensure that we are in compliance with the Synod relative to licensed lay deacons. 97 • R-01-07-21: To Encourage Further Consideration of Successful Completion of Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Coursework before Ordination and Placement on Ordained Roster • Building an Ethic of Bible Reading R-02-01-21: To Commend and Support the Work of Trinity HOPE in Haiti • During this triennium, the district will work toward more disciplined Bible reading. Our annual theological conference explored the topic The Word Works. With our faith formed by Scripture, our people are able to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus and fully communicate the Synod convention theme, We Preach Christ Crucified. R-02-02-21: To Continue a Relationship with the Southeast of Lake Victoria Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania • R-02-03-21: To Continue a Relationship with the Confessional Malagasy Lutheran Church in Madagascar • R-02-04-21: To Reaffirm Church Planting and Revitalization • R-02-05-21: To Encourage Financial Support for Professional Church Workers • R-02-06-21: To Encourage All Christians in Personal Witnessing • R-02-07-21: To Address the Use of Technology in the Life of the Church and the Ministry of Congregations • R-02-08-21: To Encourage Congregational Men’s Ministry • R-02-09-21: To Encourage the Study and Use of Biblically Based Stewardship Resources • R-03-01-21: To Give Thanks to God for Sustaining His Church through the Global Corona Virus Pandemic • R-03-02-21: To Increase the Awareness of Human Trafficking to the Congregations of the Mid-South District and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod • R-03-03A-21: Protect Christian Consciences • R-03-04A-21: To Reject Racism and Advance the Gospel Leadership Pipeline We are building a coordinated effort to raise up workers through an integrated pipeline. That pipeline includes generous support of and encouragement to our young people to attend our Concordia Ann Arbor, another Concordia, or one of our seminaries. The recent Here We Stand capital campaign raised $1.73 million for financial assistance to professional church work students. Respecting recent Synod resolutions, we also have a robust deacon training program that provides congregations with credentialed deacons, and many congregations are utilizing the Specific Ministry Pastor program. Additional aspects of the pipeline include utilizing EIIT and CHS routes to ordination as we seek to serve the growing number of immigrants with the Gospel. We will identify and train more of their own spiritual leaders as qualified and gifted pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. We also provide regular conferences for pastors, teachers, commissioned workers, and circuit visitors. In fall 2023, we will hold a professional church worker conference, where we expect over 1,000 in attendance. David A. Davis, President R32 Mid-South District The 21st regular convention of the Mid-South District was held in July 2021, following the normal convention cycle. The dedicated pastors, teachers, principals, DCEs, and lay members of our 123 congregations, 9 schools, 22 early childhood centers, and affiliated agencies joined together to Declare His Marvelous Works, the theme of our convention, based on 1 Chronicles 16:23–24. The Mid-South District is blessed with ministries throughout Tennessee; Arkansas; Kentucky; Sallisaw, Oklahoma; Olive Branch, Mississippi; and Abingdon, Virginia. Despite not being able to worship in person for months, our steadfast parishioners continued to support the mission and ministry of the district as well as the LCMS at large. Thanks be to God! The 2021 Mid-South District convention passed the following resolutions: • R-01-01-21: To Memorialize the Next Synodical Convention to Mark the 50th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade with More Fervent Teaching, Proclamation, and Efforts to Promote God’s Gift of Life • R-01-02-21: To Memorialize the Next Synodical Convention The Mid-South District remains committed to our missions and ministries, along with providing support for our professional church workers, our congregations, and our education ministries. The congregations and schools of the Mid-South District remain strong and vibrant. The commitments from our member congregations remain stable, thus providing essential dollars to continuously support mission and ministry efforts within the district and around the world. Congregation commitment dollars are used to support program services of the Mid-South District, not support services that encompass management and general areas. Church planting remains a top priority. There are currently nine active church-plant sites in the Mid-South District. Additionally, the district supported a Hispanic church plant, an African American mission, and international missions in Tanzania (SELVD), Trinity/ HOPE missions in Haiti, and the Malagasy Lutheran Church and its LIME (university) Institute. After the 2019 Synod convention, the Mid-South District continued its work on the Generation to Generation (G2G) initiative, which develops materials and training to reach future generations to become active and supportive church members. The Youth and Family Ministry Committee concluded its beta-study with several congregations and continues its work of presenting Generation to 2023 Convention Workbook