LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 113

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

113

LCMS members must complete the seminary’s residential Al- R47
ternative Route program and are not provided the opportunity
Rocky Mountain District
to apply for the general colloquy program available to pastors
from other denominations.
Despite the Rocky Mountain District (RMD) being the largest
3. Encouraged the LCMS to establish a task force to reconsider the contiguous district of the LCMS, our 168 congregations, 49 preuse of licensed lay deacons for Word and Sacrament ministry. schools, 28 elementary schools, and 1 high school remain unified
The PSD believes that it is important to reconsider this due to and committed to preaching Christ crucified! The context may be
an increasing number of congregations throughout the Synod different depending upon the location, language, and culture of our
that are unable to support a pastor, the number of congregations congregations in Colorado; New Mexico; Utah; El Paso, Texas;
Page, Arizona; or Big Springs and Venango, Nebraska, but the
facing shared ministry, and the many potential closures.
Gospel remains the same! New opportunities are given to us every
4. Made the commitment to strengthen the nonvoting advisory
day in many different ways!
delegate participation at (district) conventions. The 2022 PSD
One of our Recognized Service Organizations, the Lutheran
convention provided opportunities on all nonelection decisions
to receive an advisory vote from 30 commissioned ministers, Hispanic Missionary Institute, led by the Rev. Richard Schlack,
who were seated with the regular delegates and provided voting trains future Hispanic ministry leaders for work not only in the
RMD, and not only with other districts, but also with Lutherans in
devices.
other countries.
5. Finally, the PSD officially identified prison ministry as a recSimilarly, one of our newest pastors, the Rev. Robert Bennett
ognized mission field in our midst. Much is to be done in this
has, by God’s grace, revitalized a congregation in the heart of the
specialized area of Gospel proclamation.
Mormon state of Utah with over half of Sunday’s attendance being
Financial Accountability
Mormons seeking to know about Christ crucified for them!
The PSD is pleased to report that the 2022 district audit was
And of course, we would be negligent if we did not thank the
completed without a single comment! Audited financials are annually ongoing work of Deaconess Sara Smith, our District Life Coordiavailable. Regular summaries of finances are provided each time nator, who manages and promotes sanctity of life efforts across our
a district conference occurs (Res. 8-03, “To Ensure Timely and vast geography with success!
Transparent Financial Reporting in the Synod”).
For me personally, care of our ministries and workers remains
Concordia University Irvine
one of the highest priorities, especially following the turmoil of the
As district president, I serve as a member of the board of regents COVID-19 pandemic:
at Concordia University Irvine. I am pleased to report that the univer1. Reconciliation training is happening to improve our ability
sity is healthy academically and financially, benefits from outstandto respond to crisis and early disputes.
ing leadership, and is faithful in its Lutheran identity as it prepares
2. Many of our workers have benefited from Doxology’s “Take
students “to be wise, honorable, and cultivated citizens to serve sociHeart!” Respite Retreats, and more will continue to do so at
ety and the church.” Lutheran identity is enshrined in the university’s
our annual fall workers conference in Breckenridge, Colohiring practices, as every faculty and staff member is a professing,
rado.
practicing Christian. Each full-time hire is interviewed for fidelity by
Chief Mission Officer Rev. Dr. Steven Mueller, who also oversees
3. Our educators attended four offerings of “Nurturing the
Human Resources. Some 65 percent of full-time faculty are members
Faith” workshops (one day) throughout the RMD to uplift
of LCMS congregations; 39 percent of full-time faculty are rostered/
and encourage themselves and others.
called church workers of the LCMS. All full-time faculty complete
4. In addition, our staff, district presidium, circuit visitors, and
Vision-Mission-Vocation (VMV), a Lutheran higher education oriI are intentionally proactive in visiting our ministries.
entation program. VMV has proven so important to enshrining our
Lutheran identity and culture that Concordia is now building a VMV
In closing, one of the key highlights from our district contraining program for all staff (Res. 7-08, “To Aid Our CUS Schools in vention, aside from the normal business of bringing our bylaws
Clear Confession”).
into coordination with Synod (2019 Res. 9-01), was committing
It is with gratitude and humility that the Pacific Southwest District ourselves to raise $150,000 in support of the Siberian Lutheran
gives thanks to God for all its congregations, schools, church workers, Seminary in Novosibirsk, Siberia, a leading pastor training school
laypeople, district staff, and others who served faithfully during the in Russia. We pray that this effort is blessed!
difficult COVID-19 years. Restrictions required by local and state govTo Christ be the glory!
ernments were particularly difficult in California and Nevada, where
James
B. Maxwell, President
certain locations limited gatherings for many months—for over a year
in some cases. Throughout those months, the work of God’s Church
continued faithfully, offering hope, compassion, and the love of Jesus R48
to a very broken and frightened world. Today, we are in the midst of
SELC District
an incredible opportunity to bring the message of Christ to our world,
with energy and without hesitation. Our world needs Jesus! We are
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of
confident that the churches and schools of the Pacific Southwest DisGod for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first
trict will continue to be used by God for His glory and purposes.
and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is
revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous
Soli Deo Gloria
Michael E. Gibson, President
shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16–17)
2023 Convention Workbook