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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 148

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

148

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

The relatively low number of congregations and workers makes it easy for the district president to visit all workers
on candidate status (Res. 12-02A) and to visit all the schools
(Res. 8-01A), encouraging them to: (1) call rostered workers as
teachers; (2) ensure that Lutheran doctrine guides all curriculum choices and teaching methodologies; (3) follow the practice
of making the Gospel integral to every subject taught in the
school; and (4) use the Word of God to form the basis of the
conduct and relations of students and staff. The Montana District does not make use of Licensed Lay Deacons (Res. 13-02).
Our biggest challenge is to speak the truth in small and
isolated communities. Fifty percent of our congregations have
fewer than 50 people in church on Sunday. As a result, 70 percent of our congregations are in multiple parish relationships.
We will continue to pursue new and creative ways to proclaim
the eternal truth, so that all the citizens in our district, no matter how far out-of-the-way, will have an opportunity to hear the
Good News of Jesus.
Terry R. Forke, President

R37

Nebraska District
The Lord has blessed the Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for more than 130 years with
congregations that preach the true Word of God and administer His Sacraments, as well as Lutheran schools that teach the
truths of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. First
and foremost, the Nebraska District is comprised of 242 congregations and all our commissioned and ordained workers. We
operate 32 Lutheran elementary schools, four Lutheran high
schools, and 35 Early Childhood Centers. These ministries and
workers are the core of our effort to proclaim the Word and
make His presence known. We are indeed “Joy:fully Lutheran.”
We have been sent into the world as the incarnational presence of Jesus to convey His care and proclaim His Good News.
The district’s board of directors continues to seek the Lord’s
guidance to monitor a strategic plan for resourcing its congregations, schools, missions, and professional church workers in
their mission to disciple the saved and reach out to those who
are without Christ.
Four major strategic targets have focused our work in this
triennium:
Target 1: Connection to God. The work of the district is
fundamentally the work of each congregation serving the Body
of Christ with Word and Sacrament and sending people out
into their vocations as witnesses of the Savior. Divine Service
and Bible study are fundamental to a healthy congregation
and Synod. Decreased attendance in both worship and study
are a great concern. Improving what we offer and encouraging involvement are key. Developing and encouraging evaluation tools are important first steps. In keeping with Resolution
4-04A, each of our circuits studied a paper on our theology of
worship at circuit pastor gatherings.
Target 2: Connection with one another. As each of us are
connected to God in Christ, we are then connected to one another. A healthy congregation and Synod must have healthy relationships. God calls us to work together. Pastors communicat2019 Convention Workbook

ing, congregations cooperating, and reconciliation happening
are signs of a healthy church. Visitation is my second highest
priority. We cannot walk together if we do not talk together,
and we cannot talk together if we do not meet together. I have
visited each circuit pastor conference once per year and visit
2–3 congregations per month. I also ask each circuit visitor to
personally visit each congregation in their circuit at least once
during the triennium. Slow and steady wins the race. In keeping
with Resolution 4-05A, this target area has received a great deal
of my effort and time in this triennium, writing and presenting papers to our circuit winkels, topics that challenge our life
together. This last year our paper and conversations centered
around the blessed partnership of the Royal Priesthood and the
Office of Public Ministry.
Target 3: Connection to the world. Individually as disciples
and collectively as the church, we are called to share the Word
and serve our world. District staff and congregations are working to engage community service and outreach. We have also
made a major push to encourage each congregation to offer Every One His Witness, sharing the healing Word of God in broken situations and lifting up the hope of the Gospel to family,
neighbor, co-worker, and congregation. Though in many ways
the world is hostile to our Christian faith, the need for hope in
Christ has never been timelier.
Target 4: Careful stewardship of God’s resources. Across
the District, congregations report the need to develop leadership, both young and old. We are testing various opportunities
with re:Vitality, Leadership Learning Communities, and Pastoral Leadership Institute to find real traction in equipping and
engaging church workers and laity in intentional discipleship
growth and outreach. We also see how changing tax laws, rising
insurance cost, and financial management challenge the work
of the church.
The district board of directors boldly set forward with
renovation of University Lutheran Chapel in Lincoln and the
district office in Seward. Both of these properties have long been
owned by the District and neither had been renovated for over
40 years. Partnerships have developed with the chapel, Concordia University, Nebraska, and GracePoint Institute for Relational Health. We are also excited about greater outreach to the
growing downtown Lincoln residents.
It is an awesome privilege and responsibility that God has
entrusted His work of reconciliation to us as both saint and
sinner! Much of our time and effort in these three years has
been on visitation. As DP, I yearly visit each of the circuits as
the pastors gathered in their monthly meetings. Two to three
weekends each month, I visit congregations to worship, listen,
share, and evaluate ministry on the local level. In both circuit
and congregation visits, I have focused on transparency and koinonia, building trust and mutual encouragement. I have also received encouragement in these visits as I see our congregations
sharing the reconciling grace of our Lord with one another and
with their community, proclaiming the Good News of salvation
through Jesus Christ. Vice presidents are at work visiting their
area circuit visitors, who in turn are visiting each of the congregations in their circuit. The goal again is to meet in office and
kitchen to build healthy homes and congregations and encourage our faithful witness.
As with human life, congregations have life spans. Cross
Lutheran in Omaha; Lamb of God in Hickman; Zion in