Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2019 · 67th Convention, Tampa › Page 159

LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 159

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
its the number of participants. We believe that making Teacher
Colloquy less expensive (free?) will remove this cost barrier and
significantly improve Lutheran identity in our schools across
Synod.
District initiatives currently being pursued in this triennium include expanded emphasis on: (1) Worker Care (creating
a recommended list of counselors and therapists through the
district, steps to encourage congregations to improve worker
salary and benefit packages, increased support and care for the
large number of retired workers in the district); (2) Circuits Organizing for Mission (circuit congregations working together
to evaluate and reinvigorate ministry within their communities,
developing specific plans to intentionally and effectively target
their context and communities), (3) Formation of a District
President’s “Culture Specific and Immigrant Ministry Advisory
Team” to expand mission starts and assist existing congregations in engaging our significant multicultural context, (4) Increase 2019 Giving to District by 5 percent (improved communication with district congregations through tools like an annual
report, new accounting and reporting software), (5) Two staff
positions will be added in 2019 to assist in resourcing congregations and schools and fulfilling our initiatives: Chief Operating
Officer and Mission Developer Executive.
The Pacific Southwest District continues its commitment
to serve faithfully through over 300 congregations and 150
schools—so that the world might hear and believe in the saving
work of Jesus!
Mike Gibson, President
R47

Rocky Mountain District
The major initiative for the Rocky Mountain District
(RMD) centers around the relatively new district focus: “Know
the Truth; Understand the Culture; Live the Faith.” The focus
encourages congregations and individuals to become vital, powerful witnesses and servants of Christ in their communities and
vocations.
We have an eternally important message. Even as God desires that all people would be saved and come to the knowledge
of the truth, so do we. We “know the truth” in that Jesus Christ
is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the
Father except through Him. God’s Word is truth. We preach
and teach truth in our 176 congregations; we teach it in our 53
preschools, 28 elementary schools, and one high school.
While we celebrate the truths of the gospel, we are saddened that there are those outside the church who do not know
the truth of the gospel. We lament the fact that most unchurched
people in our communities do not seek a church in which to receive God’s blessings.
Yet, upon leaving worship, we connect with people in our
communities, in our occupations and vocations. As we desire to
be witnesses for Christ, it’s important to “understand the culture,” and develop relationships with individuals.
Demographically speaking, we have significantly contrasting cultures in the far-flung reaches of our district: from farm
and ranch to urban and suburban; from Hispanic ministry in
various district locations to across the border in Cuidad Juárez;
and from Native American to heavily Mormon populations.
The RMD includes the states of Colorado, Utah, and New

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Mexico, with parishes also in El Paso, Texas; Paige, Arizona;
and Venango and Big Springs, Nebraska.
We are challenged by the fact that increasingly rapid
changes in culture are sometimes contrary to biblical values.
Disregard for the sanctity of human life, the sexual revolution,
and technological changes bringing about fewer close relationships with people are but a few examples.
In the midst of this culture, we “live the faith,” as the baptized children of God. We love and serve our neighbor. Jesus
gave a new commandment, “to love one another as I have loved
you.” We have opportunities to do that not only in occupation,
but also in vocation whether it be husband, wife, parent, child,
member of an organization, a volunteer, classmate, friend, or
neighbor.
Although the unchurched may not enter the church doors,
they sometimes come to our schools and preschools. That presents significant opportunities for connecting students and their
families with Christ.
During the triennium, the RMD has provided “gospel gap
grants” to congregations for Word and Sacrament ministry, for
human care, and for church worker education.
The RMD presents various opportunities to assist our
church workers in their work and their faith life. “Nurturing
the Faith” workshops (one day) are conducted throughout the
district to uplift and encourage workers. A debt assistance fund
continues to provide support to pastors who have completed
seminary training with debt. Youth gatherings are conducted to
strengthen the faith of our youth.
The RMD looks beyond its border as it supports Rev.
Duane Meissner in Belize. Through Together in Mission, the
district has also supported Rev. Adam DeGroot in Albuquerque, NM. Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care serves people
in Mexico.
Two RSOs conduct ministry beyond the borders of our
district: the Lutheran Hispanic Missionary Institute (LHMI)
trains future Hispanic ministry leaders and the Biblical Orthodox Lutheran Mission (BOLM) reaches Arabic-speaking people around the world.
The Rocky Mountain District remains committed to faithfully knowing and proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ, understanding the post-church culture in which we live, and living out
our Baptism as we love and serve our neighbors through words
and deeds.
Roger Schlechte, President

R48

SELC District
Jesus said, “Go make disciples” (Matthew 28).
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21).
As we find ourselves in a rapidly changing world and in a
cultural climate that is ever more skeptical of religion and Christianity, the SELC District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod is ever more assured of the centrality of the mandate our
Lord has given to His Church to gather sheep into His fold and
to care for them in the Name of Jesus. Both the disciple making
and the care and nurture of the flock find the source of their
power in the same place: “baptizing and teaching.” God’s Holy
Spirit is at work through Word and Sacrament to draw all peo2019 Convention Workbook