# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S303
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

NATIONAL/DISTRICT SYNOD RELATIONS 303

English District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod into the
geographic Districts of the Synod.

St. Mark

Sheboygan, WI

8-61

To Not Dissolve English District
without Its Initiation

WHEREAS, The English District has always existed for the pri-
mary purpose of focusing upon mission outreach and planting
churches; and

WHEREAS, There has been some talk of reevaluating the neces-
sity of the existence of the English District; and

WHEREAS, There has been the thought of studying the wisdom
of dissolving this nongeographical District into already established
geographical Districts; and

WHEREAS, This dissolving may jeopardize many existing mis-
sions and ministries; therefore be it

Resolved, That there be no committees formed that would seek
the dissolution of the English District; and be it further

Resolved, That any future dissolution be initiated and acted
upon by current members and congregations of the English Dis-
trict.

Risen Christ
Plymouth, MI

8-62

To Allow English District to Remain Intact

WHEREAS, English District roots predate the Saxon immigration
to Perry County, Missouri (1820); and

Wuereas, A 1923 resolution states that if dissolution would
take place, it “should come from the English District”; and

WHEREAS, The English District operates at a cost that favorably
compares to other Districts of the LCMS and uses technological
advances effectively in its ministry; and

WHEREAS, The flexibility of this District has proved to be a
value to the Synod, crossing geographical lines in creative min-
istries such as CAME which was started in an English District con-
gregation and now involves all of the geographical Districts along
the east coast; and

WuHeREAS, The English District as a microcosm of the LCMS
provides the Synod with an opportunity to test new materials in its
diverse locations and ministries; and

Wrereas, This District takes seriously matters of doctrine and
practice which the Lutheran Confessions teach; therefore be it

Resolved, That the English District, one of two nongeographical
Districts, is important to the work of the Synod and should remain
intact.

Markham, Markham, IL; Angelica, Allen Park, MI;
Ascension, Atlanta, GA

8-63

To Support Continuation of English District

WHEREAS, The English District, in offering the LCMS a more
geographically diverse and fuller array of ministry settings and sit-
uations than is typical in a largely homogenous geographic District,
provides the Synod with a microcosm of itself; and

WuHertas, This flexible nature of the English District has al-
lowed the Synod through the District to expand its mission work
across geographic borders (i.c., Arizona, Canada) and into diverse
people groups (i.e., racetrack ministry; Generation X outreach,
CAME, International Student Ministry; Eritrea); and

WHEREAS, Making “every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3), the English District has,
over the years, transferred over 300 of its congregations to the ge-
ographic Districts of the LCMS as well as aided in the creation of
two new geographic Districts: and

WHEREAS, God has at many times and in various ways blessed
the English District with a rich history of faithful mission service to
her Lord and to His church; and

WHEREAS, The mission fields are ripe for harvest (John 4:35):
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod reject
the recommendations of the Task Force regarding dissolution of
the English District.

Shepherd of the Mountains
Pinetop, AZ

8-64

To Retain English District as Nongeographical District

Wuereas, The English District of the LCMS has functioned
well as a part of the LCMS since it joined the Synod and became a
District: and

WuereAS, There are specialized ministries to ethnic groups in
the United States that, while covering a large geographical area,
are best conducted within the organizational structure of a District:
and

WHEREAS, There are specialized ministries focusing upon tran-
sient groups of a similar nature. which are national in scope but
which are best conducted within the organizational structure of a
District: and

WHEREAS, The congregations of the English District desire to
retain their membership in a nongeographical District of the
LCMS: and

WHEREAS, There are opportunities for ministry that do not fit
within the scope or mission goals of the geographical Districts, but
can be explored by a nongeographical District as the opportunities
arise: therefore be it

Resolved, That the English District of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod be retained as a nongeographical District of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Faith
Chesapeake. VA

8-65
To Keep English District Intact

WHEREAS, The English District has been recognized as a non-
geographic District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in
some fashion since its organization in 1820; and

WHEREAS, The English District. like the Synod as a whole, has
congregations from coast to coast. border to border, and in Canada;
and

WHEREAS, The English District is, like the makeup of the
Synod, represented by congregations both small and large. urban,
small town, and rural: and

WHEREAS, The English District reflects a true microcosm of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. providing unique opportuni-
ties within the Synod: and

WHEREAS, The Synod has, throughout the years, recognized that
any suggestion of changing the structure of the English District was
one exclusively reserved to the English District itself. as referenced
in 1969 Res. 5-15; therefore be it

Resolved, That the English District remain intact and the rec-
ommendation of the Task Force on National/District Synod Rela-
tions to dissolve the English District into the geographic Districts of
the Synod be rejected.

Ascension
North Olmsted. OH

2001 Convention Workbook