# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S108 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 108 SYNODICAL REPORTS rural ministry; ministry with and to the elderly; orientation for new pastors, vicars, and their spouses; leadership training; elder train- ing; congregational treasurer training: growth in stewardship un- derstanding; singles ministry; and various others. Youth ministry flourishes uniquely through the camping pro- gram of Camp Okoboji as well as the Youth Gathering on Thanks- giving weekend that draws 700 participants and the Junior High Gathering on the first weekend in the New Year that attracts 500 young people. With two full-time institutional chaplains located in Sioux City and Des Moines, the District-supported campus ministries at lowa State University and Drake, the special International Student Min- istry at Memorial Lutheran Church, Ames, and the deaf ministries headquartered at Calvary, Des Moines, “Pass It On!’’ happens in unique and challenging circumstances. This report represents only a portion of what the Lord is doing in the beautiful and abundantly blessed land of western lowa. We are mindful of those people in the 150-year history of the Synod who have faithfully “passed on’’ to us what is “of first impor- tance.’’ And we are thankful that the Lord continues to raise up people in this District who are ready to “Pass It On!’ to future gen- erations. Richard G. Kapfer, President R7-05-10 Kansas District “Christ Be My Leader” has been the theme of the Kansas Dis- trict beginning with its 1997 convention as the District lives out its servant mission to “equip, empower, and encourage each congre- gation to grow in its mission vision and Christ-care ministry” in the closing years of the 20th century. With Christ as our leader we have been led into challenging new areas of service in mission and ministry. A partnership agree- ment with Lutheran missions in Guinea West Africa launched at the convention was sealed during a visit to Guinea by Mission Ex- ecutive Gary Rueter and Education Executive Al Gunderman. This agreement commits the District to prayer support of mis- sionaries and layworkers in Guinea, backed up with financial sup- port of $50,000 a year for at least seven years. Both executives toured the District after their return from Guinea, acquainting con- gregations with this new opportunity where Christ has led. Continuing to follow Christ in mission outreach, the District also welcomed Marvin Kohlmeier, Sabetha, as a Mission Devel- opment Counselor for Kansas. Kohlmeier is employed by Synod’s Board of Mission Services and works in Kansas to seek congrega- tional and individual gifts in support of mission opportunities in Kansas and around the world. Christ also led John and Dorothy Rule of San Antonio, Tex., to give a three-story office building in Topeka to the District. Plans to remodel the building to meet the needs of the District are being drawn. This gift will help to make possible another new District endeavor, a Lay Ministry Training Program. The demands of ministry in the present decade have generated the desire of the District to provide this Lay Ministry Training Pro- gram. Part of the curriculum will prepare layworkers for Word and Sacrament ministry under supervision for congregations no longer able to provide for a called pastor. In addition to these workers there is a need for training gifted people for support of the work of the local parish—outreach ministries, youth activities, and caring ministry of every description—to free ordained and commissioned workers to work more effectively in their primary areas of respon- sibility. The District was also led to call Pastor Gary Rueter to serve as its new Director of Missions and Stewardship. After visiting all 167 congregations of the District in his first year in Kansas, Pastor Rueter now provides support designed to meet congregational needs in planning, mission outreach, renewal, and stewardship along with planning District efforts in church planting, ethnic out- reach, deaf ministry, and coordination of special project funding. Integration of volunteers into teams and networks has enabled the District Education Department to expand its services to con- gregations in support of schools, preschools, early childhood min- istry, youth ministry, adult education, family life, and singles min- istry. Training for leaders and support by the volunteer network has encouraged congregations to confidently develop Sunday school, small group, and youth activities. Al Gunderman serves the Dis- trict as Executive Director for Education and Youth Ministry. The District with support of Lutheran Social Service of Kansas and Oklahoma, the District LLL, Good Shepherd Mission of Kansas City, St. John’s College Alumni Association, and the Kansas LCEF has reinstituted its Planned Giving Program. Garry Niehoff was hired as Planned Giving Counselor and is assisting members of the churches in Kansas in planning their current and future gifts to family, church, and missions. A new mission was begun in West Wichita in 1996 with Pastor Steve Constien as mission developer. Charter Sunday for Abun- dant Life congregation is expected soon. Also a new congregation has been formed in Manhattan and has received its charter as an LCMS congregation. Pastor Ken Kueker was called to provide campus and Native American ministry at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence. A Lutheran Brotherhood grant has helped the District to offer this ministry to students. Another ethnic outreach is under- way with Pastor Victor Samuel called to assist in Asian Indian out- reach in Kansas City and Wichita. Pastor Samuel will be supported by a Mission Society which is being formed. Caring ministry to congregations and individuals is an increas- ing emphasis in the District. Expansion of parish nursing programs, involvement in housing programs, and care for professional worker health is emphasized. Chaplain John Pool, Wichita, provides staff support for this work in addition to serving as an institutional chap- lain. A revised salary guideline for professional workers for 1996 was revised again for 1997 to be inclusive of all workers in con- gregations. A draft of a revised District Handbook was presented to the District Convention in 1991 for adoption in 2000. Loans total- ing nearly $5 million were approved by the Kansas LCEF. Elmer Karstensen serves the District as Business Manager and LCEF Vice-President. Currently a study committee requested by the convention has begun an evaluation of the District structure to audit the effective- ness of the District organization in meeting the challenges of its mission. A newly formed Endowment Fund Committee is considering opportunities to develop endowed support for future work of the church in Kansas. Beginning in 1998 the District is changing the emphasis of much of its educational assistance program from scholarships to educational debt assistance. An evaluation of the use of resources tends to indicate that debt assistance will offer the greatest impact from available funds. “Christ be my Leader by night as by day” is our hope, our joy, and our vision as the Kansas District seeks to know how to do God’s will. Howard Patten, President R7-05-11 Michigan District During the past triennium, the Michigan District has focused extensively upon District organization. The purpose of such focus and study has been to serve the congregations of the District in the best way possible. To that end, Vision and Mission Statements have been developed and adopted. As they have guided the direc- tion of the District, a major reorganization was passed at the 1997 District convention. The reorganization of the structure of the Michigan District is that of a policy-based leadership model. The Distnct Board of Di- rectors remains in place. A new entity, the Mission and Ministry Commission, assumes the responsibilities formerly carried by all of the District boards. The thrust of the new Mission and Ministry Commission is to operate through committees and task forces rather than boards. Such committees and task forces are selected