LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 130

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130

SYNOD REPORTS

with elementary schools (3,180 enrolled), and seven high schools
(1,745 enrolled.) The number of sole pastor vacancies has averaged
less than ten, and the number of vacancies not actively calling a pastor has averaged 21.
The population of the state of Missouri continues to grow. Like
most states, Missouri has experienced significant difficulties due to
the economic recession. In turn, many congregations have encountered financial challenges. Several congregations have reduced the
number of full-time staff, including ordained and commissioned ministers of religion.
The Missouri District, under God’s guidance and blessing, is
committed to proclaim the Gospel and administer the Sacraments
faithfully. Our prayer is that the members of the congregations of
the district and all who hear the Gospel will grow in God’s grace and
faith in Jesus Christ.
Ray G. Mirly, President
R7-02-16

Montana District
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for
He who promised is faithful.” This (Heb. 10:23) was the theme of the
2009 Montana District convention. We are confident that since our
faithful God is holding fast to us in Christ Jesus, He will also keep us
holding fast to the confession of our hope. The purpose of holding fast
to the confession is so that the Gospel may be heard and that people
may be brought to and strengthened in the faith by it. The Lutheran
Confessions tell us that the chief article of the Christian faith is justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Another way of saying this is: Lutherans believe that the main
thing is the Gospel of Jesus. When Lutherans say, “Let’s keep the
main thing, the main thing” it means that we are being held fast to our
confession. God is faithful. He will see to it that the Gospel does its
work. The “main thing” could never be something we do, or a manner in which we respond. The main thing is not our participation in
the mission of God. To speak in this way is to replace an act of justification (God’s act to save us) with an act of sanctification (God’s
act in us to lead holy lives). If our actions, even those by which God
is at work in us, become the main thing, then the Gospel will not be
heard in its truth and purity.
Lutheran doctrine is carefully structured for the sake of the Gospel.
We believe, teach, and confess in such a way that the Gospel may be
heard and people brought to and strengthened in faith by it. In today’s
world, the Gospel is under attack. Jesus, if He is regarded at all, is
taught as just one among many good teachers. Even many who claim
to be a part of the Church do not confess Him as God and Savior.
How shall we respond to these attacks? Let me encourage you
not to panic. The response of fear is idolatry. It is a fearful, idolatrous
response to suggest that we are responsible to “save” the true confession. Such a response means that we are afraid that God is not able
to preserve His Church. The proper response to the attacks that the
Church is experiencing now is a confident, bold, faithful proclamation
of the Gospel. We need not search for worldly success in terms of the
response. God calls us to hold fast to the confession of our hope and
to let Him take care of the results, for He who promised is faithful.
God has demonstrated His faithfulness to the Montana District
in many ways during the past triennium. He has sustained our congregations to grow and thrive in their proclamation of the Gospel.
He has protected and strengthened our pastors in their proclamation
of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. This is no

small wonder. Over 50 percent of our congregations are in declining
population centers. This creates considerable pressure on those congregations to continue as proclamation outposts. As a result of these
demographics, over 50 percent of our congregations are also in multiple-congregation relationships. Consequently, we are seeking new
and creative ways to maintain the centers from which the Gospel is
proclaimed in Montana.
We are also seeking to expand the number of centers from which
the Gospel is being proclaimed. Our Missions Committee has been
charged with the job of examining the 12 communities in Montana
that have a population of 1,500 or more where the LCMS is not represented. In other parts of the Synod, such small communities may
be overlooked. This is what we have to work with in Montana, and
the Lord has seen fit to bless us. In January of 2010, we installed a
missionary at large to begin work in a western Montana valley for
the purpose of starting a new congregation. In addition, we have five
congregations that have begun Lutheran day schools in the past triennium. These are also considered to be mission outposts.
God’s faithfulness was also shown in that He received the Rev.
Dr. George Wollenburg into eternal rest during the last triennium.
President Wollenburg faithfully served the Synod for 51 years. His
death was a great loss to us, but a great gain to him.
We in Montana remember the LCMS in our prayers. As we look
to the future, we know that He will hold us fast to the confession of
our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Terry Forke, President
R7-02-17

Nebraska District
The mission of the Nebraska District is to resource congregations,
leaders, and related organizations in their mission of discipling the
saved and proclaiming Christ to a lost and changing world.
The Lord has blessed the Nebraska District during its 128 years
with congregations who preach the true Word of God and administer His Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as well as
Lutheran schools who teach the truths of Holy Scripture and the
Lutheran Confessions.
The 2009 convention of the Nebraska District continued with
an Ablaze! outreach theme. The theme for the 2009–12 triennium is
“Conversations of Grace” from Col. 4:5–6, “Be wise in the way you
act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your
conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you
may know how to answer everyone.”
LCMS President Rev. Gerald B. Kieschnick preached an outreach
sermon at the opening service of the 2009 convention and reported to
the convention on the mission and ministry of the Synod. Convention
essayist Rev. Dr. Jacob A. O. Preus III helped all in attendance to
understand the post-church post-modern culture mission field in
which the church serves the Lord. He also began unpacking from the
Scriptures a theology of diversity to help all in their Christian conversations of grace seasoned with the salt of biblical unity and relational
harmony. The convention was pleased to welcome its first Sudanese
lay delegate from the Sudanese Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Mission, Omaha, Nebraska. The convention also welcomed delegates
from three new congregations, 1C Mission Church of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod of Columbus, Word of Life Lutheran
Church of Lincoln, and The Rock Lutheran Church of Seward. Praise
be to God! The convention included a mission festival dinner with
Nebraska missionaries giving inspiring presentations led by Gary

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