LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 143

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SYNOD REPORTS
keep up with the growth. We thank God for the growth with which
He has blessed our district, and we are confident that He will anoint
our feeble human efforts to expand His kingdom in Texas through
the ministry of the district and its congregations. We keep our eyes
on the cross and ourselves open to the guidance of His Holy Spirit.
Kenneth Hennings, President
R7-02-35

Wyoming District
The Wyoming District was formed from the former Northern
Nebraska and Southern Nebraska Districts on Sept 30, 1970. It
includes all of Wyoming and the panhandle of Nebraska, with one
congregation in Colorado (part of a dual parish). It includes 60 congregations, two mission stations (one full-time Indian ministry), two
campus ministries (one full-time), 6 circuits, 13 preschools, 4 kindergartens, and 4 elementary schools.
Although smaller in numbers, with nearly 15,000 baptized members and 11,000+ communicant members, we are spread across the
entire region with congregations in every community of 1,500+
except one. The sparse population, long distances between towns,
and smallness of cities (largest is 50,000) makes ministry a challenge,
long travel normal, and gatherings for ministry precious.
One of those gatherings held annually for the last nine years
has been an evangelism convocation (“Tell the Good News about
Jesus!”) which has consistently brought over 250 laypeople and pastors together for worship, study, and preparation to tell the story of
Jesus Christ to their friends, family, and neighbors back home.
Strong interest in taking the Word out to as many people as possible is shown by the support of district work to the Indian tribes near
Riverton, Wyoming; providing a missionary to a new area of population growth south of Jackson, Wyoming; and a full-time campus
pastor at the University of Wyoming, Laramie. In addition, all the
congregations assist four other congregations with subsidy, and as a
district, provide generous gifts to assist students preparing for fulltime church work through district grants.
Teaching and equipping congregations for stewardship continues with an emphasis started in 2008–2009 to teach it in each

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congregation. To date, one-third of all congregations have benefited
from a special district presentation of “Faithful Stewardship,” which
emphasizes giving from blessings and from a “total stewardship” perspective that is not limited to money but certainly includes it, also
encouraging investing gifts in Word-related ministry for the sake of
bringing souls to know Christ Jesus and be saved.
Another responsibility that is taken seriously and carried out faithfully is the practice of “visitation” of every congregation and pastor
during the triennium. That has been our practice now for the past
25 years. These visits are directed (and done) by the district president with the assistance of the vice-presidents and circuit counselors
(“visitors” in the Wyoming District) who often do most of the visits. These “visitations” have benefited our congregations and pastors
by keeping us in close communication and walking together in doctrine and practice.
At present, we are less impacted by the economic woes common to
our nation, but we are having to learn to deal with small communities
and congregations facing aging and declining populations. Being provided with pastoral care becomes more difficult to afford, so various
options for providing such care need to be explored and considered.
After the district convention in the spring of 2009, the district
administrative team met to adopt a new theme for the next triennium (2010–2012), “No Other Foundation,” based on 1 Cor. 3:11,
“For no one can lay any other foundation other than the one already
laid, which is Jesus Christ.” In 2010, the emphasis will be “No Other
Foundation—Christ and the Word!” In 2011, “No Other Foundation—
Law and Gospel!” And in 2012, “No Other Foundation—Church and
Ministry!” Each year, the emphasis will be on the sure foundation
of Jesus Christ and some aspect of speaking, sharing, and taking the
message of Jesus Christ into our communities, district, and the world.
Pastors and congregations faithfully proclaiming the truth of
God’s Word, faithfully administering the Sacraments, gathering in
worship, and going forth into their communities to share Christ in
their vocations continue to be the joy and strength of our district.
The Lord has truly blessed us through His Son, and we pray that
the Father may be glorified through the worship and activities of those
who are His in the Wyoming District.
Richard O. Boche, President

2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 143

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