LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 91

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
and His work in our lives and the lives of our churches. From this
theme, the district board of directors, with the assistance of the district president, arrived at these End Statements that will guide the
district over the next three years:
ALL GRACE

•

o Empowering and enabling the sharing of God’s grace and
love to all in existing congregations and schools and new
starts
ALL SUFFICIENCY

•

o Providing resources to church workers that promote joy
and foster positive mental, physical, spiritual, and financial
health
o

Encouraging congregations to identify and recruit wellqualified seminary and professional church worker candidates
ALL THINGS

•
o

Recognizing and responding to the ever-changing ministry
needs of district congregations and schools
Jamison J. Hardy, President

R26

Florida-Georgia District
The Florida-Georgia District continues to live out its mission of
“Connecting People to Jesus” through equipping, empowering, and
engaging God’s people for witness and service. This year we are
celebrating our 75th anniversary of mission and ministry, growing
from 22 original congregations to 192 today and 59 schools and
early childhood ministries! We rejoice in the Kingdom work of our
past and are committed to boldly living as the “called-out ones”
that others may come to know and believe the life-transforming
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Work is underway to bring together nearly 1,000 lay leaders,
pastors, and commissioned workers at our fall President’s Equip
Conference. Our theme is focused on living as Disciples who Make
Disciple Makers. As part of our anniversary celebration, a capital
drive to raise $1.5 million will culminate at the conference. These
funds are being designated to provide mission grants to start ten
new church plants in the next five years. The statistics show that the
Western church is in decline, but God is not done and there is still a
harvest for us to bring in!
At our district convention in June 2022, a new district president was elected as President Greg Walton termed out. Under the
leadership of President James Rockey, the district is building upon
its mission heart of the past. President Rockey is committed to
strengthening congregations and God’s people with focus on the
three R’s: restoring, reaching, and rejoicing. This spring, the district board of directors began a process of prayer, study, discussion,
and visioning for its work over the next ten years. Even though we
live in a day where the church is faced by many challenges, the district believes that this is a time for us to remain steadfast and bold in
our witness that many more might come to saving faith.
The district is diverse as it stretches from the Florida Keys to the
mountains of north Georgia. Despite Lutherans being a minority in
a sea of denominations, we are joyfully Lutheran, proclaiming the
message of God’s grace through Christ by faith alone. We are committed to sharing this one true hope with all. We are committed to

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standing upon the Word of God and celebrating the Sacraments in
accord with the Word of God.
The district is blessed with a wonderful spirit of unity. Pastors
joyfully gather for winkel conferences, sharing worship, Bible
study, mutual encouragement, and friendship. Commissioned
workers gather locally and in mass at our annual educator conferences. Across the district, the focus remains on outreach and
leadership. As those who are God’s redeemed, we are sent to be a
blessing. When so many are hurting, struggling, and living outside
of God’s grace, it is our calling to “share the hope that is within us.”
Therefore, the district continues to provide opportunities to equip
and empower the people to be the leaders that the church needs,
and to see each opportunity as a “divine appointment” for outreach
in service to the Lord.
Such equipping is accomplished through pastors conferences,
regional gatherings and workshops, Emergent Leader Training,
treasurer workshops, outreach/evangelism training, and in providing other resources through the district staff. Others have been encouraged and strengthened in their life and ministry through Grace
Place Wellness Retreats, Doxology, Pastoral Leadership Institute
and in a number of seminary workshops held. Due to COVID-19,
our 2022 Fall Pastors Conference and Educators Conference were
our first in-person conferences in three years and attendance was
among our highest ever. The desire for reconnecting, renewal, and
growth, along with excellent programs and speakers was a strong
draw.
During the past triennium, the district not only saw the passing
of the baton to a new district president, but in other key leadership
roles as well. Mark Brink retired in 2020 after more than 30 years
of service as Executive Director of Schools and Youth Ministry.
The district has been blessed with Jennifer Tanner, who brings
her own great gifts, passion, and vision for this growing area. The
schools across our district are all growing, creating wonderful opportunities, and, at times, challenges. Yet our school leaders and
congregations are working to fully utilize this growth for ministry
to both the students and families. Many of our schools are seeing
multiple baptisms a year as they faithfully share the Gospel.
Youth ministry and children’s ministry in a number of our congregations has reflected much of the change across Synod in recent
years with lower participation. This has been further impacted by
COVID-19. Yet we remain blessed with great DCEs, deaconesses,
and other youth and children’s ministry leaders who are working
to reach out into their communities. Even with the challenges, we
continue to offer excellent youth district gatherings for middle
schoolers and high school students, along with an annual servant
event.
In 2020, immediately as the impact of COVID-19 began, the
Rev. Dr. Peter Meier joined the staff as Executive Director of Outreach and Missions. He has brought incredible experience and
fresh ideas and is doing a great job in helping to raise up new leaders and engage congregations of all sizes in mission. Much focus
has been given to equipping God’s people for their daily vocations
as followers of Christ. In addition, resources and time are being
spent in developing micro-church groups as an effective way to
reach unreached neighborhoods and people groups. Lastly, a strong
commitment remains to walk with congregations that are struggling. District staff is reaffirming and engaging more congregations through circuit district partnership events and visitations and
offering to lead visioning and mission workshops and more.
2023 Convention Workbook