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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 142

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142

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
••

26 Deacons attended the one-week intensive training
at the Fort Wayne Seminary.

••

19 Deacons applied for SMP Colloquy (includes
anyone who was interviewed by the committee).

••

3 Deacons applied for General Colloquy.

••

15 Deacons were approved for SMP Colloquy and
have been ordained in our district. One is currently in
the process.

••

2 Deacons were approved for General Colloquy and
have been or are in the process of being ordained in
our district. One is currently in the process.

••

2 Deacons were not approved for SMP Colloquy and
have applied for an exception.

The Michigan District continues to train men for pre-SMP/
Deacon ministry within our district. When they have trained
and served as a Licensed Lay Deacon for two years, they are
encouraged to apply for SMP Colloquy.
Under the theme of “IMAGINE…Living as God’s Saved
and Sent Servants,” the 2018 Michigan District Convention was
held on June 24–26 at Concordia University Ann Arbor. Rev.
Michael W. Newman, Texas District President; Rev. Bill Woolsey, Five Two Network; and Mr. Gary Thies, Mission Central—
LCMS World Mission were welcomed as convention essayists.
Res. 1-01 “To Affirm the Priesthood of All Believers in Christ
and Therefore Their Call as Missionaries” was adopted with a
91.5 percent majority.
Several major conferences were planned for pastors and
professional church workers during the past three years, many
of which are available on the Michigan District YouTube channel, including:
••

2016 Living in the Tension with Mr. Chris Willard,
Ms. Jo Saxton, Dr. Tim Elmore, Ms. Jackie Oesch

••

2017 If the Foundations Are Destroyed—What Can
the Righteous Do? with Mr. Ken Ham, Rev. Dr.
Tony Cook, Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, Mr. Dave
Rueter, Rev. Dr. Patrick Ferry

••

2018 Metanoia—Living in Change with Rev. Tod
Bolsinger, Rev. Dr. Larry Rast, Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer,
Dr. Erik Hermann

••

2017 Theological Conference—“Let’s Talk Male and
Female”

••

2018 Theological Conference—“Take Heart Take
Action”

••

2019 Theological Conference—“Be Constant in
Prayer” with Rev. Dr. Victor Belton, Mrs. Connie
Denninger, Rev. C. Bryan Wolfmueller, Rev. Chris
Paavola

Over 16,700 students attend an LCMS-sponsored early
childhood center, elementary school, or high school in Michigan. God uses these ministries to help parents in their role of
nurturing their children’s faith. Over 1,000 adults daily share
Christ through these ministries and raise up People of Hope who
are rooted in Christ Jesus.
2019 Convention Workbook

Start New
We continue to encourage entrepreneurial spirit and energy to start new efforts to reach new people in congregations,
circuits, and geographic regions. We offer Start New Explorer
grants and larger loans for vetted projects. Some of the projects
that have grown over the last triennium are Franklin Avenue
Mission, Luke Project 52 Clinic, and Elli’s House.

Here We Stand 500th Anniversary Reformation
Service
On Sunday, October 15, 2017, the Michigan District celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation with a district-wide worship service at the Breslin Center (basketball
complex) on the campus of Michigan State University. The service attracted just about 14,000 LCMS Lutherans and featured
an hour of pre-service music by specially chosen and trained
children in various age-related choirs, and an adult mass choir
during the service. Dr. Patrick Ferry, President of Concordia
University Wisconsin and Concordia University Ann Arbor,
was the preacher with the service faithfully following Martin
Luther’s Deutsche Messe (the German Mass).

The Michigan District Church Extension Fund
(CEF)
Michigan Church Extension Fund continues to be an integral member of the Michigan District ministry team. For
118 years, CEF has provided congregations and schools of the
Michigan District with low-interest-rate loans to help build and
update facilities, while offering its members various investment
instruments that not only earn a competitive rate of return but,
most importantly, help build God’s Kingdom.
The Michigan District continues to be joyfully Lutheran
and rejoices in our Savior, prays for, is excited about, and anticipates our future while giving thanks for our heritage.
David P. E. Maier, President

R32

Mid-South District
The Mid-South District has been privileged to serve in the
Kingdom of Christ by His divine grace and guidance. Our supporting congregations of the Mid-South District are to be commended for their work on behalf of our missions and ministries.
Living in a changing world brings a great many events and circumstances that impact what the Mid-South District does and
what it looks like. The Mid-South District celebrated its 50th
anniversary, chartered in 1966, when the Western District was
divided into the Missouri and Mid-South Districts. Our genesis
touched the lives in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and supported missions around the world. The Mid-South grew from
the original 67 congregations to make a vital “footprint” of our
Lutheran heritage. The Mid-South District seeks opportunities to be about the work of the Great Commission, when Jesus
called His Church into ministry to bring the Good News of
eternal salvation through God’s grace for the sake of our Lord,
Jesus Christ.
The Mid-South District’s focus remains on missions and
ministry with emphases on assisting congregations and educa-