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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 10

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

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Making Disciples for Life Conferences hosted by ONM have
offered sessions on marriage, life, and family. The Making
Disciples for Life resource center, with print and video resources, can be found at makingdisciples.lcms.org.

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In response to 2019 Res. 11-03A, ONM formed an ad hoc
task force in order to study, summarize, and articulate the
current state of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
(SOGI) resources available to the Synod’s people and institutions.

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Through the work of the ad hoc task force, ONM established
an initiative titled Created Male and Female. The initiative
offers resources for the church body to confess and uphold
God’s design for marriage and the family while preaching
Christ crucified and proclaiming the Gospel to all who struggle with a myriad of sexual sins and identity confusion.

Esther 4:14 grants supported congregational use of technology to proclaim the Gospel in new and creative ways when
gathering for worship was restricted or prohibited. Awarded
grants totaling about $1.5 million for clergy and commissioned minister “Take Heart!” respite retreats. Awarded
976 Soldiers of the Cross-Amplified grants in 28 districts
for direct, emergency financial assistance to church, RSO,
and district called and layworkers, totaling over $1.6 million. Awarded 15 district pandemic resiliency grants totaling
$29,000 in support of district-led pandemic care for nonclergy workers.
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Awarded 72 national grants totaling $713,576 to benefit
projects throughout the U.S.

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Awarded 71 national disaster response grants totaling
$2,035,660 for work in 18 districts. These grants aided
LCMS districts, congregations, and church workers involved
in recovery work related to Hurricane Ida, Hurricane Laura,
and Hurricane Ian. Assistance was also given in response to
the Texas freeze event of 2021, various floods, and tornadoes
in Alabama, Illinois, Tennessee, and Missouri.

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Awarded eight Global Seminary Initiative grants totaling
$1,573,317 supporting Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.

•

Awarded nine core support and scholarship grants totaling
$740,000 in support of church-worker wellness.

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Provided core budget support to pan-Lutheran partner
Lutheran Services in America (LSA), $140,000.

Plans for the Next Triennium
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Equip congregations for Family Ministry through the districts.

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Create resources to support the family in collaboration with
LCMS School Ministry, Youth Ministry, CPH, and RSOs.

A.3. Health Ministry
LCMS Health Ministry works to support and promote Christcentered health and wellness of body, mind, and spirit through congregational health ministries.
Accomplishments over the Past Triennium
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ONM collaborated with the LCMS Parish Nurse Council,
which coordinates the districts’ parish nurse leaders and
health initiatives.

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Supported the annual meeting of district parish nurse representatives.

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Created a mental health resource page: lcms.org/social
-issues/mental-health.

In response to 2019 Res. 3-04A, ONM formed an ad hoc task
force that explored the encouragement of continuing education on
mental illness, health, and wellness for church workers.
Plans for the Next Triennium
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Encourage congregational health ministries and parish
nurses through the districts.

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Create resources to increase awareness and understanding
about mental illness. Create training opportunities and professional development so that church workers are equipped
for compassionate and supportive care to those in need.

A.4. National Grant Administration

A.5. Life Ministry
Through LCMS Life Ministry, the Body of Christ comes together to value all human life—from conception to natural death.
LCMS Life Ministry speaks up for life, cares for people in body
and soul, and teaches about the sanctity of human life.
Accomplishments over the Past Triennium
•

Held Life Conferences in 2021 and 2023, and a Life seminar
in 2022, with free participation offered to campus and youth
ministries (2019 Res. 3-02A; 11-01A).

•

Collaborated with ONM Youth Ministry and School Ministry to provide recommended policies and strategies for continued vigilance in child protection (2019 Res. 1-07A) by
identifying resources and supporting districts’ efforts as they
encourage training in congregations, schools, and RSOs.

•

Facilitated LCMS participation in 4 national Marches for
Life, and 12 state marches (2019 Res. 3-02A).

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Published over 200 new video, print, and audio resources
with new authors and presenters on a new resource website
with advanced search functionality, lcmslife.org. Created
Friends for Life podcast kfuo.org/friendsforlife (2019 Res.
3-02A; 11-01A).

•

Called and installed Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor as the
Director of Life Ministry in 2020 (2019 Res. 11-01A).

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Created new resources and strategies to engage and educate
children and teens on beginning-of-life issues (2019 Res. 1101A). Curriculum and resources were funded in part by a
grant from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.

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Published domestic violence educational modules in an online Learning Management System.

Accomplishments over the Past Triennium
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Implemented a grant-making software solution in fall 2019.

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Transitioned from a paper-driven, manual system to a cloudbased computer system designed for efficiency, collaboration, and insight.

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In all, nearly 1,500 national grants, totaling more than $9
million and supporting various mission priorities of the
Synod, were awarded during this extended triennium.

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Pandemic response: Awarded 221 Esther 4:14 national
grants totaling $244,767 to congregations in 35 districts. The

2023 Convention Workbook