LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 132

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132

SYNOD REPORTS

of a specific number of new mission initiatives within the district.
The third vision is increased mission outreach beyond our district’s
boundaries.
Vision 1 includes the goal of every circuit initiating a new church
start, with the necessary resources to make it reality. It also includes
at least one-half of our congregations growing by at least five percent
in their worship attendance. Among other goals is that at least 15 of
our pastors travel to our international partner church in Kenya for a
short-term mission trip (eight have done so thus far). Additionally,
it is our goal to have at least one-half of our congregations involved
with short-term mission trips.
Vision 2 includes such specific goals as at least 20 cross-cultural
VBS programs over the five years and the conduct of “Daughter
Church Planting Seminars” to help enable renewed church planting
in our district (two have been held so far).
Vision 3 includes the above listed goals of Kenya mission participation and a continuing encouragement to reach out creatively to
the needs of those around the world who need so much, not the least
of which is the Gospel.
Our mission goes forward with the contracting of Rev. William
Meyer to serve in a part-time capacity as our mission executive and
to coordinate our revitalization or Transforming Churches Network
(TCN) program. We have begun five “Learning Communities”
involving 35 (one-half) of our district pastors. We have completed
three congregational consultations and have trained two lead consultants, while also training four coaches. The Learning Communities
have gone a long way in helping us create a growing culture that does
not allow us to forget the unbelieving world all around us.
Ethnic ministry continues to present many possible open doors
for reaching out with the Gospel. Ministry to Brazilians, Hispanics,
African immigrants, Koreans, Chinese, and Asian Indians continues
to be opportunities for us in various parts of the district. In several
cases, ministry is already taking place, and in other areas we are fervently seeking the resources to engage in these much-needed ways
of outreach.
Church planting is very much on our radar screen. We are presently supporting our congregation in Acton, Massachusetts, as it has
begun to plant a new church in the western suburbs of Boston. Vicar
Eric Sahlberg has been assigned as a church planter, with the hope of
calling him this year to continue this work of creative church planting. We are convinced that church growth best happens through new
church plants.
A brief look at statistics reveals that we have had 21 pastoral
vacancies during the past triennium with 19 installations and 10
ordinations. The ordinations included two DELTO students and one
colloquy candidate. We have five Lutheran elementary schools and
24 preschools or early childhood programs.
We continue to work at building and creating an atmosphere of
care and trust between pastors, other church professionals, and congregations. Being one of the smaller districts, there is a sense of
family here in our district. Pastoral conferences hopefully allow for
an environment of open sharing and encouragement. We also continue to offer pastors’ wives retreats and appreciation gatherings for
our Lutheran schools and staffs.
Being a partner in our beloved Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
continues to be a joy for us here in New England. Whether it be
Ablaze! or Fan into Flame or just celebrating together our scriptural
and confessional understanding of what it means to be the church in
mission, we desire to walk together in nurturing the flock and reaching the lost. May we rejoice in celebrating our unity and partnership

through this convention and all the evangelical outreach that shall
result from our resolutions and conversations. To God be the praise
and to us be the enabling power through Word and Sacraments to be
“HIS Church in Mission”!
James E. Keurulainen, President
R7-02-19

New Jersey District
The New Jersey District seeks faithfully to proclaim Jesus Christ
through its 58 congregations, 3 elementary Christian schools, and 28
early childhood education centers. These mission outposts perform
the day-by-day ministry to those called by the Gospel and those whom
Jesus Christ is seeking to reach through His disciples.
In June of 2009, the district gathered in convention under the
theme “Chosen for a Purpose” based upon Isaiah 49:5–7, where the
prophet reminds God’s people that they are a servant of the Lord, chosen for the purpose of being a “light to the nations.” The district is
committed to the Ablaze! goals of planting new congregations, revitalizing the mission of existing congregations, and equipping and
deploying mission leaders.
In the last triennium, efforts to plant new congregations encountered the barrier of needing healthy congregations to plant daughter
congregations. To that end almost 55 percent of full-time parish pastors of the district along with several lay leaders are involved in one
of four Learning Communities, which meet monthly. With God’s
blessing, these trained leaders will be the catalyst for restored congregational health and vision for planting daughter congregations.
These congregations can then carry through on the mission vision to
reach those who need Jesus Christ.
From a mission vitality perspective, the New Jersey District can
be divided roughly into thirds. The 40 percent of congregations in
mission revitalization are finding ways to carry out intentional outreach ministry to reach the lost and impact their communities with
incarnation of Jesus Christ ministries. Another one-third are facing
serious issues including declining attendance, declining membership,
and financial problems. Many are “mission minded” in that they are
supportive of the district and Synod and other ministries such as the
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and Lutheran Hour Ministries,
but they have little “incarnation of Jesus Christ” ministry in their
communities. The other one-third of our congregations are inward
focused and hoping to survive. In the last triennium three aging and
declining congregations closed, which was offset in part by receiving
a new congregation using an “Open Arms” model of church planting.
There are no rural congregations in the New Jersey District. A new
resource available to all congregations is the ministry and outreach
models brought by Urban Mission Strategist Rev. James Buckman
through a new partnership with LCMS World Missions. Encouraging
signs for the future are that three congregations have established
House Churches among immigrant groups in their communities, and
numerous congregations are following a pattern of “prayer walking”
to connect with the unchurched in their communities.
The district continues to be supportive of and provide leadership
and guidance to Lutheran Social Ministries in New Jersey (LSMNJ),
a highly effective social ministry agency. In the last year and a half,
our congregations joined in “Lutherans Feeding Friends” in supporting food pantries during the economic downturn. In these challenging
times, LSMNJ is able to continue the process of constructing a new
continuing care retirement center, build a skilled nursing facility and
assisted living center on the grounds of a district congregation, and

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