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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 158

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

158

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

Ponca City circuits, has seen spiritual doors open as outreach
continues among the Hispanic, the Liberian, and the Hmong
people. Camp Lutherhoma, located near Tahlequah along the
Illinois River, has undergone extensive renovation by converting
all the buildings for year-round use. It ministers to hundreds of
youth during the summer and winter programs. It also opens
the beautiful facilities as retreat settings for groups, congregations, and families.
Throughout the Oklahoma District, preaching stations
continue to be maintained with some serving as satellites for
more established congregations. More bi-vocational pastorates
are being developed in an attempt to provide Word and Sacrament ministry to struggling congregations. And in southeastern
Oklahoma, a ministry continues to families of prisoners incarcerated at the Oklahoma State Prison at McAlester. Each circuit works to identify local mission opportunities and potential
church starts.
During the past triennium, there has been an explosive
growth in the oil, gas, and wind energy industries. Many families and congregations have benefited financially from these
endeavors. In spite of the blessings, Oklahoma weather has
not changed: it is still extreme! There has been drought, massive grass fires, heavy rains, high winds, ice storms, numerous
earthquakes, and tornadoes. Yet through all of these times, the
saints of the Oklahoma District continue to give generously of
the resources entrusted to them by God. Thanks be to God who
has counted us worthy to serve Him through our varied landscapes in unique ways within the LCMS. Though the world may
change abruptly, the saints of Oklahoma continue to carry out
the mandate, “You are witnesses of these things!” In spite of any
changes beyond the control of sinful humans, the Lord Jesus
Christ reigns supreme!
Barrie E. Henke, President

R46

Pacific Southwest District
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb,
clothed in white robes, with palm branches in
their hands, and crying out with a loud voice,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the
throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9–10
ESV).
The Pacific Southwest District celebrated diversity under
the theme, “Rejoicing with the Nations,” based on Revelation
7:7–10 during our 45th Regular Convention June 27–29, 2018.
One of the significant highlights of the convention was the celebration of the retirement of District President, Rev. Dr. Larry
Stoterau after 18 years of Christ-centered leadership to our district and Synod. The PSD extends its continued thanks to God
and prayers of blessing to Larry and Linda Stoterau for their
faithful service.
As a district, we have been blessed by God with a ministry
which reflects people of many languages and cultures celebrating together in Southern California, Arizona, and Southern Nevada. Within the churches and schools of the district are the
2019 Convention Workbook

people of God who have come from all corners of the kingdom.
Over 80 of the 300 congregations in the district have worship
services in languages other than English.
These past three years have been filled with challenges and
opportunities which reflect the post-churched world in which
we live. The center of Christianity has moved from the Western
Hemisphere to South America, Asia, and Africa (The Global
South). The decline in membership in many congregations has
reflected the trend experienced in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as well the decline of the Christian Church in general. The challenge for our churches is to find ways to get into
the community and connect with the hurts and challenges of
the community. People do not come just because the church
is there but come because they see the churches care. We have
experienced the closure of seven congregations during the past
three years, the opening of three new congregations, and two
new congregations which are the result of congregations merging. In addition, we have started several cross-cultural ministries
in existing congregations.
One major change, which will affect our district for years
to come, is the loss of our licensed deacons. Those men who
have been licensed deacons for a minimum of two years, are
actively involved in Word and Sacrament ministry, and are over
50 years of age are currently in the process of applying for the
SMP Colloquy Program. We look forward to 20 or so of these
men completing the application and interview and being called
and ordained later this year as Specific Ministry Pastors serving
in the congregations they currently serve. Other men who have
been licensed and serve as Assistants to the Pastor will continue
to serve as they are. The women who serve as Parish Ministry
Assistants are not affected by this change. Thanking God for
those who serve, we will continue to train men and women to
serve in supporting roles in their congregations through our Lay
Training Program.
Congregations, circuits, and gatherings of ordained and
commissioned ministers have a renewed commitment to work
TOGETHER to strengthen relations in ministry and mission,
reflecting the expectations of the Koinonia resolution (4-05A)
of the 2016 convention. A 2018–2019 emphasis, “It Takes All
Kinds of Churches to Reach All Kinds of People,” celebrates our
unity and the uniqueness of ministry expressions in the “microcontexts” of the Pacific Southwest District.
Circuit visitors and Vice-Presidents of PSD received the
list of rostered church workers who are on candidate status
(12-02A). They have been asked to encourage congregations to
consider these individuals on their call lists. Circuit visitors are
additionally seeking ways to connect with ordained and commissioned candidates to ensure ongoing pastoral care on behalf
of their district.
Through the combined efforts of our leading ordained and
commissioned ministers, the PSD is improving the “Lutheran
ethos” in our 155 schools (8-10A) by working to improve the
partnerships between ordained and commissioned ministers,
celebrating the unique gifts and talents of all who serve Christ
and His church. The annual Lutheran Educators’ Conference
included, for the first time, a “pastor’s track” which sought to
improve partnerships between congregations and schools. Over
half of the 2,200 educators in PSD schools are non-rostered. We
work diligently to enroll additional teachers in the Teacher Colloquy program but find that the high cost of the program lim-