LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 99

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
supporting agency in the Synod. Mission Central’s goal is to “Raise
the Awareness of the Lord’s Mission in the District and World Wide.”
Our Lutheran schools continue to provide quality, accredited
Lutheran education. The district supports them through workshops
and conferences for principals and teachers. The district also provides
grants and support for mission work in and through our schools. Our
43 Lutheran preschools also provide quality Lutheran programs for
families in our congregations and communities as an alternative to
the state-sponsored preschool programs.
The district in partnership with the Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod Foundation provides a planned giving counselor to assist
congregations and laity wishing to fund ministries through endowment and legacy gifts. IDW also partners with the Lutheran Church
Extension Fund to provide an LCEF vice-president to serve our congregations, workers, and laity with investment opportunities, loans,
and an arch of church extension services.
The district supports the faith formation of our young people for
Christian life in this rapidly changing world. The district continues
to host annual youth gatherings, facilitate national youth gatherings,
coordinate servant events and mission trips, and it works with Camp
Okoboji in summer camp programs.
The district supports our congregations in showing the mercy of
Christ and addresses human needs in their own midst and in their
communities. We maintain a strong partnership with Lutheran Family
Service that now shares space in the district office building. Over 500
of our members have been trained to be Lutheran Early Responders.
We have four LERT trailers fully equipped to quickly respond in
times of disaster anywhere they might strike. Operation Barnabas
Chapters seek to serve our military personnel and their families during and after deployment.
This past year has been challenging and exciting for our district.
We have a new district president and many new members of the board
of directors. We believe that Iowa District West is not only viable but
uniquely blessed by God with the resources and people to support the
mission and ministry of the district and the Synod.
Evaluation of “District Viability”
re 2013 Res. 7-04A

2013 LCMS Res. 7-04A requested our evaluation of our district
viability. The respondents to our request for such feedback, via the
survey provided, were overwhelmingly positive in holding to the opinion that Iowa District West is indeed “viable.” The resources of the
district are being used to support the congregations, schools, and other
ministries within our state; the district staff is attentive to the needs of
these ministries; and above all, God’s precious Word is being shared
throughout the western half of Iowa!
1. Is Iowa District West a geographical size and configuration to be effective, efficient, and capable of serving all who make up its constituency?
Right Size—92.86% Smaller—7.14% Large—0.00% No
Opinion—0.00%
2. Does Iowa District West receive sufficient financial resources from its
membership to meet its financial responsibilities and obligations to (i)
support the mission and ministry of the church in the district and (ii)
financially assist the mission and ministry of the Synod?
Adequate—67.86% Not Enough—7.86% More Than Enough—3.57%
No Opinion—10.71%
3. Does Iowa District West leadership adapt to new circumstances and
meet changing needs related to the mission and ministry of the church?
Always—7.14% Almost Always—42.86% Frequently—46.43%
Seldom—0.00% Never—0.00% No Opinion—3.57%
4. Does Iowa District West staff provide encouragement, appropriate
guidance and support (e.g., stewardship, conflict resolution, crisis
counseling, financial counseling, calling process, collaborative efforts,
networking, nourishment, and help with evangelistic outreach) to

5.

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member congregations for participating in the mission God has given
to the Church?
Always—21.43% Almost Always—28.57% Frequently—39.29%
Seldom—3.57% Never—0.00% No Opinion—7.14%
Does Iowa District West staff provide encouragement and support for
Lutheran preschools, elementary, and high schools?
Always—25.00% Almost Always—35.71% Frequently—10.71%
Seldom—3.57% Never—0.00% No Opinion—25.00%
Does the Iowa District West Board of Directors provide adequate
resources for the district president or his representative (vice-president or circuit visitor) in carrying out the minimum requirements for
official visits to each congregation and its pastor, at least once every
three years, to be a brotherly adviser, “reminding them of the joy of
serving in the mission and ministry of the church”?
Adequate—60.71% Not Enough—25.00% More Than Enough—
10.71% No Opinion—3.57%
Does the Iowa District West Board of Directors provide adequate
resources for the district president to carry out ecclesiastical supervision of congregations and workers in a reasonable and timely manner
defined in the Synod’s Constitution as “evangelical encouragement
and support, care, protection, counsel, advice, admonition, and, when
necessary, appropriate disciplinary measures”?
Adequate—67.86% Not Enough—10.71% More Than Enough—
10.71% No Opinion—10.71%
Based on your answers thus far to the questions asked regarding how
well Iowa District West is meeting the “general principles of viability,” to what extent is the district capable of carrying out its purpose
and functions?
Very Strong—42.86% Strong—25.00% Sustainable—32.14%
Weak—0.00% No Opinion—0.00%

Steven D. Turner, President
R28

Kansas District
The LCMS Kansas District was formed by the Synod in 1888 and
is comprised of 163 congregations, 15 parochial elementary schools,
and 47 preschools. For the last number of years, we have carried out
our common work under the theme that “the servant mission of the
Kansas District is to equip, encourage, and empower each congregation in its mission and Christ-care ministry.”
In early 2014, we began a new process of strategic planning in
consultation with J. David Schmidt and Associates to identify vision
targets, breakthrough goals, and possible initiatives. While considerable progress has been made in developing a strategic plan, several
things—including preparations for our district conventions, the election of a new district president and board of directors, and the pressing
need to give attention to staffing and budget matters—have all contributed to delaying a final product. However, we are now resuming work
on that strategic plan in order to identify goals for the new triennium.
Two assignments that were given to us by the Synod during the
past triennium were to realign our circuits and to evaluate the viability of the Kansas District.
The need for realignment grew out of declining congregational
membership, especially in western Kansas, together with a very different dynamic in Johnson County (Kansas City). There we have six
congregations in each of two circuits (one short of the required number), with a total of approximately 4,400 members in each circuit, and
one congregation in each circuit having a second campus. By redrawing some circuit boundaries in the west, we were able to bring all of
our electoral circuits into compliance with Synod Bylaws. No changes
were made to the two Johnson County circuits, and we once again
requested an exception that they each be allowed to be represented
by two delegates, though each circuit has only six congregations.
In response to the Synod’s 2013 Res. 7-04A, the Kansas District
evaluated its viability through its executive council and board of
2016 Convention Workbook