Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2023 · 68th Convention, Milwaukee › Page 11

LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 11

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
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Published educational resources on physician-assisted suicide (2019 Res. 11-06A).

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Created a new volunteer portal, lcms-life.org, to share opportunities for Lutherans to participate in advocacy events
such as marches for life, human-care efforts, and education
events. Trained district coordinators to utilize the volunteer
portal for district events offered to congregations.

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In collaboration with the Office of International Mission
(OIM) Latin America Caribbean (LAC) region, developed
print and video resources in Spanish that have been freely
shared in the LAC region and through ONM Hispanic Ministry.
Administered the Million Dollar Life Match grant program,
which has awarded 85 grants across 28 districts, totaling
$533,736, during phases 1 and 2. This grant program supports local pro-life efforts with emphasis on beginning-oflife needs.

and inclusion employee policies that are in conflict with
Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

A.7. Stewardship Ministry
By working with the districts of the Synod, LCMS Stewardship
Ministry helps pastors and congregations teach the Word of God
regarding one aspect of Christian sanctification: imitating God in
sacrificial generosity.
Accomplishments over the Past Triennium
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Held stewardship workshops. Pastors and lay leaders gathered at the circuit, bi-circuit, or regional level to learn the
theological foundations and the practical implementation of
faithful stewardship.

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Held Generational Generosity workshops. Many of our congregations serve in demographically challenging areas that
have a real impact on the financial health of the churches.
Our Generational Generosity workshops help pastors and lay
leaders understand the demographic landscape around them
and how to make faithful stewardship plans in response.

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Provide online resources. We maintain a curated collection of
stewardship resources at our website (lcms.org/stewardship)
for the entire Synod to utilize. All resources are provided free
of charge, and we are continually looking for new resources.

Plans for the Next Triennium
Assist the districts in mobilizing congregations for expanded
mercy efforts performed in close proximity to Word and Sacrament ministry to support families experiencing life challenges.

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Create new educational modules on the Making Disciples for
Life online Learning Management System.

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Create suicide-prevention resources and training for rostered
church workers and congregational lay leaders.

A.6. Specialized Pastoral Ministry
Specialized Pastoral Ministry (SPM) provides ecclesiastical
endorsement and professional support for LCMS rostered church
workers who bring the love of Christ through compassionate
spiritual care to individuals in hospitals and health-care facilities;
long-term-care facilities; prisons; law-enforcement, fire, and rescue
agencies; disaster response; and workplaces.
Accomplishments over the Past Triennium
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Offered two conferences for church workers.

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Provided a prison ministry outreach program to distribute
Lutheran print materials to inmates in collaboration with the
Southern Illinois District and RSOs.

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Provided training scholarships for rostered church workers
to participate in clinical pastoral education.

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Offered ecclesiastical endorsements for rostered church
workers.

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Gave out the Henry Wind Award in 2023 for outstanding
leadership in SPM to the Rev. Derek Wolter, the Rev. David
Ficken, and Mr. Don Sundene.
Plans for the Next Triennium

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Expand the pilot program of Lutheran Spiritual Care Training.

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Facilitate opportunities for faithful service within RSOs and
organizations where policies and practice support church
workers’ confession of Holy Scripture and their Lutheran
identity. LCMS rostered church workers serving in SPM
who are employed by independent health-care institutions
and other government- or private-funded organizations are
increasingly being pressured to commit to diversity, equity,

Plans for the Next Triennium

A.8. Worker Well-Being
The fifth mission priority of the LCMS is to promote and nurture the spiritual, emotional, financial, and physical well-being of
pastors and professional church workers. ONM staff collaborated
with Concordia Plan Services, RSOs, and LCEF through provision
of special pandemic funds.
Accomplishments over the Past Triennium
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The COVID-19 pandemic shifted the worker well-being
efforts to focus on crisis care. In spring 2020, programs were
developed by ONM and the districts to provide care via
phone calls and Zoom.

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Worker pandemic respite retreats were started in the summer
of 2020. Online supportive small groups were offered during
the summer and fall of 2020. ONM also provided financial
support for district-worker wellness programs.

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ONM and Concordia Plan Services provide leadership for
the Ministerial Care Coalition, made up of district-appointed
representatives to exchange information and further best
practices to care for church workers.
Plans for the Next Triennium

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ONM will further develop a Worker Well-Being Alliance
group that will collaborate to determine strategies and resources for the Synod, her entities, and districts to care for
workers and increase their spiritual, emotional, financial,
and physical well-being, allowing them to continue serving
in the Church’s ministry.

Finally, within Worker Well-Being, two ONM programs work
through the districts to provide emergency financial support and
pastoral care for LCMS church workers.
2023 Convention Workbook