LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 98

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

98

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

congregations in the cities and small towns. In order for this to happen in a healthy and productive way, we need to have compassionate
relationships (koinonia). We are hoping that all circuits and congregations will take time to study 1 Corinthians 12–13 as they consider
their brother pastors and sister congregations.
In our district we also have a number of small towns with one
LCMS congregation. Whatever this congregation, pastor, and ministry
looks like is the only picture people in such towns have of our church
body. It is for this reason that we encourage a ministry style that hits
in the “sweet middle” in terms and style and effort. Since people in
these communities have only one “version” of the LCMS, we pray
that our pastors and congregations will be faithful and focused. We
want to do what we do well! We want to avoid being too “unique” in
style and very clear on the substance of our confessional faith.
We are seeing that happen as pastors and congregations carefully
and wisely discern their settings and communities. We do have aging
congregations that are focusing not only on the needs of present members, but also on children and grandchildren who may not be active
in the church at this time.
We have also sought to open new congregations in various parts
of the district! We thank God for the grace in doing this and are very
blessed to have new starts in more than ten mission fields identified
by circuits, demographic studies, and district staff.
The Indiana District is grateful for our many preschools, elementary schools, and high schools! “Choice Dollars” (vouchers from the
state) have allowed us to expand our enrollments and ministry to an
increasing number of families outside of the church. Again, this is not
easy, but it is a blessing. We did a district viability survey and found
strong support for our district, and our viability was strongly affirmed!
We are seeking to be better stewards of the technology we have at
this time in history. While the financial resources of the district are a
bit uncertain in the short term, we enjoy a generally healthy and faithful stewardship attitude in this district. We live by faith, trusting God
to provide the resources to do the ministry to which He has called us!
Knowing that we are indeed “Baptized for This Moment,” we daily
wrestle with the discernment to know which and how much of our
gifts need to be devoted to local congregation opportunities, regional
and district efforts, and synodwide ministries. We know that for us to
have a healthy Synod we must have a healthy district, and in order for
us to have a healthy district we need to have healthy congregations.
We are moving ahead with a bold faith in this new triennium,
knowing that God is with us to guide us and bless us! May we always
be, “One in Spirit and Purpose!” We know “there is one body and one
Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your
call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:4–6).
With all of the LCMS, we “always [pray] … with joy, because of
your partnership in the gospel” (Phil. 1:4–5).
Daniel P. May, President
R26

a district of 120 congregations who are shepherded by faithful pastors.
The resources for the district president to travel and make visits are
provided. Oversight of doctrine and practice is being carried out for
the sake of the flock and the community we wish to reach. We added
a staff position that greatly assists our church workers and congregations with website design and advice. We have also transitioned one
of the staff into the director of our Proclaiming Christ Jesus campaign.
This campaign funds mission starts and their pastors. This effort has
been helpful with encouragement to all the congregations working
together for the sake of the Church at large helping a local ministry.
During this triennium, the district has assisted vacant congregations with call lists and the call process. At present, we have two
vacancies. We hold two pastors conferences per year. While the pastors assemble for Winkel once a month, we have provided opportunity
for the other church workers to gather once a month for study of the
Word and discussion of a theological topic pertaining to their area
of service. The district has expanded its international interests by
partnering with the emerging Lutheran Church of Spain. President
Saunders has been blessed with opportunities to travel to our partner
churches in Lithuania and Siberia, where he taught and presented at
pastors conferences.
The district continues to provide financial aid to our members who
are studying for full-time church work. We support the two university campuses in eastern Iowa with Word and Sacrament ministry. We
have one pastor to the deaf who travels great distances to bring the
gifts of our Lord to those who cannot hear. This ministry is carried out
in many different cities. Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca is under the care of two
very capable servants and is a blessing to our congregations. A parttime chaplain is provided for LCMS members who are patients at the
University of Iowa Hospital. The two mission congregations and the
East Side Mission in Davenport are working hard to bring the Word
of God to the citizens of their respective communities.
It is a continued goal of the district to locate areas of population
where no LCMS congregation exists. Our efforts are to plant congregations with pastors to do the work of the Church in those locations.
We are dearly blessed by our Lord with faithful pastors who tend
their flock. Our schools are graced with wonderful principals and
teachers for the sake of catechizing the children. In and through our
confession, celebrated in the Divine Service and lived daily in vocations among our neighbor, Christ blesses His Church here in Iowa
and in all the world.
Brian S. Saunders, President
R27

Iowa District West
Iowa District West (IDW) gives thanks to God for the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Paul Sieveking, who served as president of Iowa
District West for 15 years. Under his leadership our district is financially sound and mission focused!

Iowa District East

We are on a mission to support Christ’s mission!

Iowa District East met in convention in June 2015. Rev. Dr. Brian
Saunders was reelected President, Rev. Max Mons elected First VicePresident, Rev. Dr. Matthew Rueger elected Second Vice-President,
Rev. Mark Brase reelected Secretary, and Mr. Corey Nuehring
Treasurer. The primary goal of the district remains to be faithful to
the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions.
In concordat with the 2013 LCMS convention asking each district
to evaluate itself and its viability, we have concluded that Iowa District
East is a viable district. The criteria for this evaluation as set by the
2013 convention was very helpful in reaching our conclusion. We are

The district supports “congregations and their members in conserving and promoting the unity of faith and in carrying out their
mission … more effectively and efficiently together with other congregations” (Bylaw 1.3.3). IDW continues to be a leading district
in the support of national and international mission work. We have
continued to raise our financial commitment to the LCMS to 49 percent of the funds received from unrestricted congregation support.
In 2017, God willing, we will reach our goal of 50 percent! Mission
Central, a partnership between LCMS Office of International Mission,
Iowa District West, and the Nebraska District is the largest mission

2016 Convention Workbook