LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 118

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118

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

today and tomorrow Unfortunately, many of these servants find themselves released from their calls due to poorer financial circumstances
or weakened stability and health of congregations. Yet, we remain
grateful for their faithfulness in our midst.
During the last triennium, the Rocky Mountain District’s congregations had the blessed opportunity to support the Lutheran
Theological Seminary in Tshwane, South Africa, in various ways
through student tuition support and other seminary related operations;
the Lutheran Hispanic Missionary Institute (LHMI) and their efforts
training future Hispanic ministry leaders; the Biblical Orthodox
Lutheran Mission (BOLM) and their ministry to the Arabic-speaking
community; and Hispanic ministry throughout the district.
We celebrate the gift of Christ’s forgiveness in our troubled lives
as we reflect the Gospel in mercy by thought, word, and deed. We
pray with and for our brothers and sisters as we are able to reach out
to help and care. We work together, knowing we are together at the
foot of His cross. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”
(Matt. 6:33). We rest upon this rock in all we do! Our Life Together in
the Rocky Mountain District is challenging and full of opportunities.
The greatest opportunity is the gathering of His people to hear His
Word and receive new life through Baptism and forgiveness through
His body and blood. Healthy church workers and congregations are
high priority for the district board of directors. Here is the place for
all to repent, confess, and rejoice in the promise of our Lord.
The future of the Rocky Mountain District’s Mercy, Witness and
Life Together continues to be carried out through the Gospel Gap—a
circuit-based mission model adopted by the 2012 district convention, only expanded much more. This mission model seeks to identify
where gaps exist whether they be geographic, demographic, relational, spiritual, or financial whereby in cooperation between the
circuit and the district these gaps can be closed, healed, grown, or
nurtured. The Gospel Gap places accountable stewarding of the triune God’s mission through cooperation of congregational, circuit,
and district levels.
The Gospel Gap we have in place fits nicely in the general principles for judging the viability of a district. The guidance and support
to member congregations is at the local, circuit, area, and district
levels. This is also demonstrated in the caring we all have and do
for one another. This has brought a large geographical district into
understanding we are together and made us “smaller.” We are always
evaluating and looking at the challenges for the congregations. Every
location is unique, so the Gospel Gap again works. We are seeing
more congregations struggling financially and especially smaller parishes who want their own pastor but lack the means to care for the
pastor. This is a trickle-down effect as it hits the parish, district, and
the Synod. The configuration of our district is manageable because
of how we are set up in the Gospel Gap, and that is always being
reviewed and challenged to make it better for all.
Allen Anderson, President
R46

SELC District
The year 2016 marks the 45th anniversary of the SELC as a nongeographical district of the LCMS. Following the breakup of the
Synodical Conference, the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches
accepted the invitation to become a part of The Lutheran Church––
Missouri Synod. Since the early 1900s, the SELC has always been in
agreement with the LCMS in matters of faith and practice and continues this mutual agreement.
First, I would like to thank the two previous SELC District presidents for their faithful work on behalf of the Synod and the district.
2016 Convention Workbook

The Rev. Dr. Albert M. Marcis served as president from 1972 to 1997.
He has also continued to serve the LCMS in various other capacities.
The Rev. Dr. Carl H. Krueger Jr. served as president from 1997 to
2015, as well as serving in the military chaplaincy program. We thank
both for serving their Lord and church so faithfully.
The SELC continues to spread the Gospel through its mission
outreach, especially with satellite congregations in the Lake Mary
and Tampa, Florida, areas. Work in the Hispanic communities in
Chicago, Illinois, and Whiting, Indiana, continues with both a pastor and deaconess. Multicultural work continues in Toronto, Ontario,
and Montreal, Quebec.
The LWML of the SELC District was one of six districts that
hosted the 2013 LWML convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Our
LWML continues to support the work of our mission congregations
in our district and circuits.
The Lutheran Haven in Oviedo, Florida, has been our district
retirement facility since 1947. The Haven also includes nursing facilities and other special care units. Plans are being made to expand the
work. Many retired pastors and various district and Synod officers
have retired at our Lutheran Haven.
The Luther League is the youth organization of our SELC District,
dating back to 1927, when the first convention was held at St. Paul
Lutheran Church, Whiting, Indiana, which will host the 89th annual
convention in 2016. A goodly number of youth groups have also
attended the Synod gatherings.
Financially, the SELC District continues to rank in the top third
of contributions per communicant member for work at large, work at
home, and the Synod’s budget. With no district office building or paid
staff, the SELC continues to practice good stewardship in support of
the Synod, our two seminaries, and various other areas of district and
Synod life and ministry.
In addition to meeting in district conventions, the SELC District
as a whole meets for a district-wide convocation in non-convention
years, as well as each circuit meeting quarterly for two-day conferences sometimes followed with our district board of directors
meetings. As a lifelong member of the SELC, I can attest to the brotherly love of all of our pastors and church workers, and despite the
distances, we have a close relationship with all.
SELC District
Showing Everyone Life in Christ
Showing Everyone the Love of Christ.
Andrew J. Dzurovcik, President
R47

South Dakota District
Greetings to the Synod from the 30,000 baptized members in the
108 congregations of the South Dakota District! We are blessed to
walk together with you in serving our gracious God.
2013 Res. 7-04A requested our evaluation of district viability, and
the respondents to our request for such feedback, via the survey provided, were overwhelmingly positive in holding to the opinion that
the South Dakota District 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 are attentive to the needs
of these ministries; and, above all, God’s precious Word is being
shared throughout the 77,000 square miles of the state, if not through
the physical presence of congregations (we have none in the extreme
northwest part of South Dakota), certainly through the televised worship service we broadcast every Sunday morning throughout the state
(called “Main Street Living”).
Yet, some weaknesses were identified by respondents to the viability survey. Some respondents felt that the district staff tend to be more