LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 121

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Visitation. The district board of directors receives a report from
the district president regarding the visitation of the churches, schools,
and ministries conducted by the district president, regional vice-presidents, circuit visitors, and executive staff of the SED, all of whom
ensure a visit within the three-year cycle. Many of our congregations
have been visited multiple times over the three-year cycle. Over 25
years ago, the SED put deployed staff in each region to bring the
front door of the district office much closer to every church. Their
work is supported by our staff specializing in congregational services, schools, and mission development, assuring proactive response
to the needs of our ministries, another way of highlighting viability.
Our Financial Stewardship. Our SED gives a double tithe (22
percent) of the mission partnership support received from the congregations to the LCMS for its work. Our mission and ministry budget,
largely supported by our congregations, continues to be robust, but
we also recognize new stewardship strategies are needed for the next
era of the church. Our stewardship life demonstrates viability.
While the church in the United States seeks to find balance in a
time of significant change, we who live in the SED know our ultimate viability is Jesus Christ. Through Him we have been called in
the waters of Baptism, are fueled by God’s powerful Word, and are
forgiven and fed at the Lord’s Table. So we are “Standing iN Faith––
Walking iN Witness––Running iN Joy!”
John R. Denninger, President
R50

Southern District
The Southern District enters a new triennium under the theme
“Hope—Jesus Changes Everything.” Concordia College Alabama
was chosen as the site of our convention to highlight one of many
ways we have been witnesses to the promised dramatic change Jesus
continues to bring about through His people who have been changed
by the Gospel. We are bearers of the hope to the world that is in
desperate need of the life changes, abundant and eternal, that Jesus
brings in grace.
During 2015, the Southern District observed two key anniversaries: the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights March, which began
at the Edmond Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on Blood Sunday,
made a second attempt on Turn Around Tuesday, and finally succeeded in crossing on Restart Thursday; and the 10th anniversary of
Hurricane Katrina, which devastated an area of the Southern District
equal in size to the state of Minnesota. Concordia College was chosen
as our convention site because of the significant contributions it made
to the Civil Rights Movement and continues to make to its community.
During the district convention, the Southern District Torch Bearers
of Hope Award was instituted. The first recipients of the award were
the 23 surviving members of the Concordia family who participated
in the Civil Rights March. The second recipient was Camp Restore,
which continues rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. The last recipient was Pastor Ed Brashier, the district’s Disaster Relief Coordinator,
who has deployed to many areas of the country to assist in recovery
as our Ambassador of Hope.
Through these many challenging and humanly impossible situations, the people of the Southern District have been and continue to
be heralds of the “Hope That Jesus Changes Everything.”
The district, as directed by the Synod in convention, undertook a
viability self-study. The required questions were asked on a survey of
all district officers, workers, and congregations. The mandated reporting of the results follow.
“Is the Southern District a geographical size and configuration to be
effective, efficient, and capable of serving all who make up its constitu-

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ency?” Just the right size 75.9%; Should be bigger 5.8%; Should be
smaller 18.3%.
“Does the Southern District leadership adapt to new circumstances and
meet changing needs related to the mission and ministry of the church?”
Frequently–Always 86.7%; Seldom–Almost never 13.3%.
“Does the Southern District 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, etc.) to
member congregations for participating in the mission God has given to
the Church?” Frequently–Always 81.8%; Seldom–Almost never 18.2%.
“Does the Southern District staff provide encouragement and support
for Lutheran pre-schools, elementary and high schools?” Frequently–
Always 41.3%; Seldom–Almost never 9.1%; No opinion 49.6%.
“Does the Southern District 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 73.6%; More than
enough 14%; Not enough 12.4%.
“Does the Southern District 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 measure’?” Adequate 73.2%; Not enough 10.7%;
More than enough 17.5%.
“Based on your answers thus far to the questions asked of how well the
Southern District is meeting the ‘general principles’ of ‘viability,’ to
what extent is your district capable of carrying out its purpose and functions?” Sustainable 42.1%; Very strong 12.4%; Strong 30.6%; Weak
14.9%.

The Southern District gives thanks for the sustaining hand of God,
who provides us continuing viability to be witnesses to the HOPE in
us that JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
Kurtis D. Schultz, President
R51

Southern Illinois District
The Southern Illinois District is comprised of 95 congregations
and two mission churches. There are 22 parochial schools, three
Lutheran high schools, and 18 free-standing day cares and/or preschools. The district is served by three full-time staff, a part-time
bookkeeper, a part-time LCEF vice-president, and a part-time LCEF
promotions director. The LCMS Foundation has established a fulltime worker based out of our district office this past year.
The District Viability Study was performed by the Southern
Illinois District board of directors and the board for spiritual care
(the president, vice-president, and circuit visitors) with input from
various workers and laity. The short answer to every question is yes.
Southern Illinois is geographically compact. The district is a little over four hours driving time north to south and slightly over two
hours west to east. The majority of congregations are located within a
75-mile radius of St. Louis, Missouri. Fully one-fourth of our congregations started in 1865 or earlier, with several pre-dating the formation
of the Missouri Synod.
Parochial education is an important part of ministry within the district, with well over half of the congregations belonging to a school
association. Mr. Roger Sprengel serves as our full-time Schools and
General Executive (SAGE). He visits all the elementary and high
schools annually, along with half of the day cares/preschools.
Prison ministry is a major emphasis in our region. With the closing of many coal mines in the last 40 years, towns have sought to
2016 Convention Workbook