LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 101

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
of their efforts and were inspired to launch similar new ministries
in their own community.
There are also opportunities for partnership in the midst of the
most difficult circumstances. During this past triennium, 12 district congregations made the decision to close, a rate that is nearly
six times that of the previous two trienniums. The Mission Legacy
Fund was established to receive and use the assets of closing congregations, providing a way to pass on to future generations a legacy of great significance. These resources are not held as an endowment but are reinvested through a grant process to congregations in
support of new outreach efforts.
Congregations and leaders of the district also found ways to
partner with LCMS ReVitality and the Office of National Missions,
the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Lutheran Hour Ministries,
and other mission-focused Lutheran organizations to formulate
new outreach efforts. These valuable partnerships, and others like
them, continue to provide valuable guidance, coaching, and needed
programing resources to many district coaggregations.

Worker Care and Support
Over the past triennium, the district Worker Wellness Initiative
created a bridge between the workers in the district and resources
made available for their support and encouragement during some
very difficult times of ministry. These resources fostered greater
care of church workers, especially during the challenge of the COVID-19 lockdown. In cooperation with the Synod’s Soldiers of the
Cross COVID-19 Response, more than $135,000 was distributed
to over 100 workers, especially early childhood workers, whose
income was most impacted by the suspension of their school or
ministry. Alongside these efforts, partnerships between congregations created Worker Support Teams, which assist workers to connect with needed support resources in counseling and restorative
retreats.

Looking Forward with Gratitude
As we look forward to this next triennium, we understand
better than ever before the uncertainty of this world in which we
live and serve and the certainty of our place in the kingdom of
God. As the number and size of district congregations continues
to decline, the opportunities to proclaim the Good News of Jesus
as Savior continues to increase. With over 2 million people on
our doorsteps who claim no religious affiliation, and with fully
one third of the district’s population who are new first- or secondgeneration immigrants to our towns and cities, it would be easy
to feel overwhelmed. Instead, we choose to look with hope to the
Lord of the Harvest, asking Him to send workers into His harvest
field.
Our promise statement to those we serve is “Rooted in the Scriptures and growing in a relationship of mutual trust and Christian
love, we promise to equip, support, and encourage you in your ministries, joyfully serving together to make disciples of Jesus Christ.”
So it is with deep gratitude and thanks to God that we look forward
to this next triennium together. In partnerships of mutual trust, we
join together in His Word and in the mission He has entrusted to us
as His church, to the glory of His name.
Lucas V. Woodford, President

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Missouri District
The Missouri District is comprised of 291 congregations, with
128,000 baptized and approximately 100,000 communicant members. The 105 educational ministries serve approximately 14,100
enrolled students from early childhood through high school. There
are also 1,600 rostered church workers serving in congregations,
schools, Recognized Service Organizations, and Synod entities.
Missouri District missions focus on church planting, multiethnic,
urban, rural, and small-town missions; campus ministries; and military outreach as our congregations seek to reach our mission field
of more than 3 million people.

A. Missouri District 21st Convention
The Missouri District held its 21st Regular Convention under
the theme “Tell the Next Generation,” based upon Psalm 78:6–7.
The convention essayist was Dr. Mark Kiessling, director of youth
ministry in the LCMS Office of National Mission. Special guests
included Synod President Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, who led a
Bible study, and Fifth Vice-President, Rev. Benjamin T. Ball, who
served as the preacher at the opening Divine Service. In his report to the convention, Missouri District President Rev. Dr. R. Lee
Hagan highlighted the five critical targets for the 2018–2022 term:
Healthy Servants, Healthy Congregations, Healthy Schools, Engaging Communities, and Equipping Families.
The convention included a series of “Tell the Next Generation”
videos, highlighting ways in which congregations and schools are
passing on the Christian faith. Resolution 2-01 encouraged congregations, schools, and district leadership to encourage and support
families in their role of faith formation in the home. The convention also highlighted the Missouri District 2021 and 2022 SHINE!
events, which included 5,500 and 8,100 participants respectively.
The delegates adopted Res. 1-01, which encouraged participation
in SHINE! during April 14–23, 2023. The convention adopted Res.
3-02, which encouraged the Synod to develop resources to aid congregations and schools in addressing gender identity issues “that
enable the Church to confess the truth boldly and deal compassionately with those who struggle with gender identity issues as
well as with those who care for them.” Resolution 3-03 affirmed
biblical anthropology and denounced racism as anti-Gospel belief.
Additional resolutions commended the work among immigrants
and refugees, campus ministries, and support for those who serve
in the Armed Forces and their families.
The convention reelected Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan for his third
term as district president. Also elected were Rev. William Marler
as first vice-president, Rev. Kristopher Morris as second vice-president, Rev. Brian Thieme as third vice-president, and Rev. Jason
Shaw as fourth vice-president.

B. Strategic Plan
The Missouri District’s strategic plan for the 2022–2025 triennium has four critical targets:
1. Church Worker Recruitment and Retention—The need for the
next generation of church workers is great in schools and
churches. This critical target will work to develop strategies
to promote churchwork vocations and support those already
serving.
2023 Convention Workbook