# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S101 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 100 SYNODICAL REPORTS The District Church Extension Fund, which is part of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund. holds annual meetings for report purposes and encouragement for congregational representatives. Our present area Vice-President has been serving in that position since 1996. The Commission on Communications (with the Board of Con- gregational Support) actively promotes blanket subscriptions to the Lutheran Wimess in our District. as well as assisting congregations in other communications endeavors, such as communications workshops and secretaries’ workshops. The Board of Congregational Support responds to the requests of congregations to provide workshops and support activities for the mission of congregations. Through a recruitment committee we continue to encourage the recruitment of church workers. The Commission on School Matters advises the execulive assistant in the support of the work of our Christian day schools and preschools. This board also supports singles gatherings, promotes Bible studies and Bible study workshops, and encourages atlen- dance at synodical youth gatherings. In addition, the District held a joint youth gathering with the Central Illinois District in June 1999 in Moline, IL. The Older Adult Advisory Committee sponsored two older adult retreats, one in October 1999 and another in September 2000. The District has a close working relationship with Lutheran Child and Family Services of I]inois and assists them in an East St. Louis fathers’ center, helping tathers with a holistic approach that includes family and spiritual counseling and employment en- hancement. Another joint endeavor is helping to provide the pro- fessional workers of the District and their families with counseling services through a family counselor. The District older adult min- istry is carried on in conjunction with Lutheran Child and Family Services. As of this writing, the District is exploring new possibilities in our relationship with the LCMS Foundation for the services of a gift planning counselor. The Southern [Ilinois District is pleased to be an integral part of our Synod in carrying on the work of our Lord to bring the Gospel to the people of Southern Hlinois. Herbert C. Mueller, Jr.. President R7-05-34 Texas District The state of Texas experiences an annual net growth of more than 300,000 people. Retirees and winter Texans from the North, high-tech workers and executives from the West, corporate head- quarters transterees trom the East, and Central American and Mex- ican immigrants from the South contribute to the burgeoning pop- ulation of this second most populous state in the U.S. Reaching the unchurched portion of the 20.5 million residents of Texas is the task that our Lord has placed before us. We approach that task with faithfulness, creativity, vigor, and passion, trusting the Lord's promise that His Word will accomplish that which He pleases and will prosper in the task whereto He sends it. The mission of the Texas District is to strengthen congregations ¢ to reach the lost; * to disciple the saved; * to care for people— * locally and globally. Texas District Facts and Figures: The annual Texas District budget provides the following mis- sion support: ¢ $2,340,000 to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for synodical missions and ministries 2001 Convention Workbook ¢ $3,130,097 for Texas District missions and ministries: 72 min- istrics receiving financial support from the largest District mis- sion program in the Synod History: The Texas District was organized in 1906 and will cel- ebrate its 100th anniversary in 2006. Geography: Over 250.000 square miles (the entire state of Texas. except E] Paso County) Baptized members: 150,000 Congregations: 350 Circuits: 38 Pastors: 584, including retired Educators: 612 synodically trained Texas District Ministries: ¢ Day schools: 131 ¢ High schools: 8 (2 opening in August 2001) ¢ Concordia University at Austin (enrollment: 854) ¢ Lutheran Social Services of the South ($55,000,000 annual budget) ¢ Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas (two camping/retreat fa- cilities) * CAN-DO Mission (over 4,400 young people have participated in short-term mission servant events in Texas, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Brazil, Russia, Slovokia. and Alaska) ¢ Texas Partners in Mission (providing financial] support for mission development) * Texas Church Extension Fund ($73,500,000 investments; $14.500.000 capital fund; $88,000,000 total assets) ¢ Lutheran Foundation of Texas ($25,287,574 under manage- ment) * Texas District LWML ¢ Lone Star District LLL The vision of the Texas District is that by the 100th anniversary of the Texas District, in the year 2006, the congregations of the Texas District will be mission-driven and * touch and win those who do not know Jesus Christ; * enrich and empower those who do. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President R7-05-35 Wyoming District Organized: September 30, 1970 Geography: The District includes the stale of Wyoming, the panhandle of Nebraska, and one congregation in Colorado. District makeup: 65 congregations, 2 American Indian mis- sions, 7 Circuits Schools: 13 preschools, 3 elementary schools, 34 teachers DCEs: 2 Pastors: 67 Chaplains: 2 Baptized members: 16,322 Communicant members: 12,367 The Wyoming District completed a restructuring of itself in the last three years, seeking to be more responsive to the needs of our congregations and more efficient in our mode of operation. The changes were approved at our last District convention and are now being implemented. We have continued to consider a new mission opportunily among our American Indian population, and that work and study will be continued in the next year or so. We are encour- aging congregations to make schools available through their parish, even if it is just a preschool. We are encouraging our elementary schools to use a classical curriculum, and thus far two out of three are doing so. We continue to hold the “Five-Fold Vision for the Future of Our Synod” before our congregations and have tied the