Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2023 · 68th Convention, Milwaukee › Page 95

LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 95

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
and to serve; joyful to pray and eager to sacrifice; and willing to
steward what God first entrusts to our care so that we might be a
blessing to our neighbor. We have the privilege of supporting and
encouraging the members of the district—156 congregations, 14
elementary schools, one high school, 44 preschools, and nearly 400
workers—in carrying out the mission Christ has given His church.
We’re also thankful for the opportunities we’ve had to maintain and
enhance our work with other valued partners, including the Synod,
RSOs, auxiliaries, and related agencies.

Goals
If you click on “About Us” on the homepage of our website,
you’ll see the phrase “Synod in this Place,” a nod to LCMS Bylaw
4.1.1.1. Our “common work” in the Kansas District—captured in
our mission statement, goals, and priorities—strongly aligns with
the Synod’s constitutional objectives, bylaw purpose, and convention priorities while also taking into account directives from our
district convention.
Following is a brief summary of progress on the major directives and priorities that have guided our work since the last Synod
convention.

District Resolutions
2018 Res. 18-01-03: To Support Lutheran Mission and Mercy
Work in Guinea and West Africa (also LCMS 2019 2-09)—Since
1997, the Kansas District has been the sole district supporter of
mission work in Guinea. During the past triennium, we’ve worked
with the LCMS Office of International Mission (OIM) to identify
promising ways to continue supporting Guinea while aligning our
efforts with new Synod strategies for French-speaking West Africa,
which include a strong emphasis on theological education. Our annual Pentecost offering has gone to support theological and pastoral
education at CLET Togo, and more recently, Guinea. In celebration
of our 25th year of this partnership, LCMS Kansans raised over
$55,000 in support of this mission.
2018 Res. 18-03-09: To Foster Active Participation in the
Koinonia Project Through the LCMS Kansas District—For
several years, we had three of our 16 circuits engaged in the
Koinonia project. A district Koinonia task force was established
to develop a plan for expanding the project throughout the district.
The fall 2021 pastors conference was wholly focused on the
Koinonia project under the topic “Walking Together in a Digital
Age.” Pastors worked together in 17 groups of 5–7 men and in
four different sessions to discuss different, but related topics. The
pre-Lent retreat in January 2022 continued the work of the
Koinonia project as the discussion dealt with the potential benefits
and drawbacks of the online Divine Service.
2018 Res. 18-01-04: To Prioritize New Models and Resources
for Small, Struggling and/or Isolated Congregations (also
LCMS 2019 1-03)—The Kansas District developed and is
actively promoting and implementing partnership resources.
These include Bible studies, planning documents, and partnership
models.

Synod Priorities

LCMS Bylaw 4.4.4: Visitation—We conducted 22 “official” visitations in the Kansas District since the last convention before the
pandemic. The visits were intentionally based on Article III of the
Synod’s Constitution and Bylaw 4.4.4 (e). Visitation in this triennium will also be centered on the same focus.

2016 Resolution 13-02A: Licensed Lay Deacons (LLDs)—In
October 2016, the Kansas District had 58 LLDs, but most were not
serving in regular Word and Sacrament ministry as de facto pastors. Since that time, we identified deacons who seemed to meet the
criteria for LLD to SMP colloquy. All eligible men have been ordained and installed. Today, the district has 13 LLDs, all of whom
are current with their annual reports.
2019 Resolution 6-01: To Support and Participate in the Comprehensive Church Worker Recruitment Initiative—The Kansas District is actively supporting the Set Apart to Serve church
worker recruitment initiative with prayer, active engagement, and
a gift of $20,000 to the LCMS.

Performance Assessment
As servant leaders, the district staff and board of directors strive
to be good stewards of the mission gifts our congregations entrust
to the district for our common work together. Here are a few ways
we have sought to advance the mission and vision of the Kansas
District, strengthening our partnership with the Synod and other
organizations since the last convention.
• Timely COVID-19 communications and provision of resources to congregations and schools
•

Kansas District resource webpage for vetted Christian counselors

•

Church planting and church revitalization; Every One His
Witness (E1HW)

•

Annual visit by the DP and assistant to the DP for missions
and stewardship to each monthly circuit conference of pastors

•

Annual visit by the assistant to the DP for education and
youth to each of the schools

•

Increased and intentional visits and communication with
congregations and schools all across the district

•

District disaster response efforts through district disaster response coordinator and LERT

•

Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support (PALS) for
pastors in first three years of ministry

•

Study and discussion has gone into church worker care with
resources being provided through a “Church Worker Care
Manual”

•

Partnership with the LCMS Foundation for planned giving
services

Looking Ahead
Shortly after our 2022 convention, we created a strategic direction
document to guide our work as “Living as the Baptized” in the
new triennium. At the core of the document are four key aims:
1. Abiding in the Word (John 8:31–32)
2. Connecting in Christ (Rom. 12:5)
3. Equipping the Saints (Eph. 4:11–12)
4. Engaging in Christ’s Mission (Matt. 28:19–20a)
We have a charge in front us—to be His priests, His baptized, His
salt and light, His body in this world—and the confused, angry,
and hurting world needs us now more than ever!
Justin A. Panzer, President
2023 Convention Workbook