LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 140

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140

SYNOD REPORTS

R7-02-30

South Wisconsin District
It’s a time of great excitement, opportunity, and challenge as the
South Wisconsin District (SWD) comes together under the banner of
“Passionate Believers … Changing Life.”
At the 2006 district convention, delegates began to answer our
guiding question: Can SWD be a missional district? The delegates
adopted the goal of raising up 50 new missions and ministries in the
next five years. We are well on our way to accomplishing that. While
it might appear that Wisconsin is a monolithic Germanic place, we are
fast becoming a place similar to what is described in Revelation 7. Our
fastest growing demographic is Latino. We also have outreach efforts
at work among various other cultures: African American, African
immigrants from Nigeria and the Congo, Hmong (with three full-time
called pastors), and Chinese Lutherans. POBLO (People of the Book
Lutheran Outreach) is helping us reach out to those of the Muslim
faith. For more than a hundred years we have had a chaplaincy presence at the Milwaukee County House of Correction (HOC). About a
year ago, budget restraints forced us to take a different approach. We
now have two part-time pre-SMP (“Specific Ministry Pastor”) students working in this ministry. In the past year, worship attendance at
the HOC has risen to well over 100 each week, and there have been
more than 225 Baptisms. In response, we are starting “Free at Last
Lutheran Ministry” to serve those being released and their families.
To help serve these various cultures we are expanding our Specific
Ministry Pastor process to include people from the various expanding
cultures in the SWD. Dr. Harald Tomesch works with us part-time to
sharpen the pre-SMP process.
Stewardship
In the area of stewardship, the SWD continues to move forward in
the area of creating a stewardship renaissance. Under the leadership
of Tim Dittloff who works in the area of stewardship part-time, the
“Consecrated Stewards” program has been used in approximately 45
of our congregations with great success. Monthly stewardship learning communities are held around the district. One unique stewardship
event that is underway is “Rivers of Your Life,” a stewardship Bible
study wrapped in with fly fishing which will culminate in a mission/
fly fishing trip to Wyoming.
Schools
South Wisconsin District schools continue to serve the children
and families of our churches and communities. We currently have 64
preschools, 59 elementary schools, and six high schools with a total
enrollment of over 11,750 students and staffed by more than 1,030
teachers and administrators.
Gene Ladendorf (former superintendent from 1982–1991) was
appointed in September 2009 to serve as interim superintendent. At
this writing, the superintendent position is in the process of being
filled. For the past three-plus years, Gene and three other men (Roger
Laesch, Dennis Vierk, and David Jording) served as regional superintendents. They assist in maintaining contact with administrators and
teachers, visit schools, and serve as supporters and troubleshooters
as needed. These additional resource personnel have proven to be
effective and well-received by leaders in our churches and schools.
Urban Mission
LUMIN (Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative) continues to grow
and develop as an organization directed by a president and a board

with the goal of expanding school ministry under the Choice Program
in Milwaukee. LUMIN now manages the financial and organizational programs of five urban schools in the Milwaukee community.
Challenges and opportunities for our schools include extending
ministries to neighborhoods and communities, expanding enrollments
and resources, maintaining quality programs with quality personnel,
preparing for the future, and meeting the needs of children and families in a post-modern society.
John C. Wille, President
R7-02-31

Southeastern District
Throughout the last triennium, the Ablaze! movement in the Synod
has provided much of the framework for efforts to fulfill the vision
that God has given the Southeastern District (SED). Resolutions
adopted at the 2009 convention continue to affirm and build upon
the work of the goals based on Acts 2:42, that is, to be disciple-making
communities of teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer
and of God’s kingdom growing daily as His people boldly proclaim
the love of Jesus Christ in word and deed (Acts 2:47).
This is being accomplished through intentional efforts in the following areas:
Spiritual Formation
Leadership Development
Congregational Vitality
Faith Sharing
New Mission Development
These mission goals are further defined with more than 15 operational goals that are guiding the work and setting the direction of
mission and ministry today. God is blessing this effort and bringing
about results and opportunities that were not expected.
This is most clearly seen in the area of spiritual formation. It is
not by accident that this is at the top of the goals. A growing team of
Mission Prayer Partners prays regularly for mission starts and leadership on the front line. The answers to prayers that God is providing,
moreover, are often astounding. Obstacles are overcome! Doors once
closed are opened!
“Without Me,” Jesus says in John 15:5, “you can do nothing.”
The emphasis that is being placed upon prayer seems to have tapped
a deep desire felt by many to be more intimately connected with our
Lord in everything we do. As a result, Rev. Art Umbach is also serving as the Director for Spiritual Life and meets with congregations,
missions, and circuits to support them in the knowledge and practice of prayer.
Sharing the faith and bearing witness to Jesus is an act in which
our congregations and schools are already engaged. Encouraging
growth and confidence in faith-sharing is a goal that will enable the
district to record 2.5 million faith-sharing conversations by 2017.
Already, more than 360,000 events have been recorded. Working
with Lutheran Hour Ministries, a new resource has been designed
to prepare, equip, and resource laity in sharing the faith. Mission
U(niversity) offers congregations and missions Web-conferencing
classes and online Web office hours to help them in outreach.
What is motivating the SED, however, is not the counting or the
numbers of these events. Rather, it is the Word of God: “As the Father
has sent Me, even so I send you” (John 20:21). “You will be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 140

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