LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 114

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114

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

It is God’s all-powerful Word that called the universe into existence. It is God’s eternal Word that became flesh and dwelt among
us that He might shed His blood to reconcile us to God, and being
reconciled to Him we would have forgiveness and life in His name.
Through that same Word, God’s Spirit calls, gathers, and enlightens each one of us to know Him and live under Him in His kingdom. Through the living Word of God, the Spirit gathers us into
His Church. The Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (SELC)
District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is the place in
this time where God has called us to be and live out our faith in
Him. In this communion, we are united in a common confession of
His Word, we celebrate together at His table as His family, and we
are joined together in His mission to proclaim His Word to the ends
of the earth through baptizing and teaching. It is God’s will that all
people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. This life
and salvation only comes through the Word of God. “Faith comes
through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans
10:17). The Word of Christ is the message of “Christ crucified” for
the forgiveness of sins.
There are many blessings which we celebrate and for which we
give thanks to God. The congregations and pastors of the SELC
continue to enjoy a deep level of fraternity and trust. This unity in
Christ cultivates respect and mutual love in our district, which results in healthy conversation and dialogue among pastors, allowing
the ability to express both agreement and disagreement while maintaining and deepening personal relationships between and among
the brothers.
Highlights of the past triennium have included updating our
district communications and developing new ways to identify the
SELC District. We have completely revamped the SELC communications and have capitalized on the use of technology for meetings,
webinars, and gatherings since COVID-19.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has plagued our world in recent
years, it has also revealed hidden opportunities to grow in ministry
and outreach. Almost every congregation in the SELC responded
to the challenge of quarantine by embracing various technologies
in their unique situations to reach their flocks and their communities with the Gospel: parking lot services; radio broadcasts; phone
call ministries; and Facebook Live, Zoom, and YouTube services,
Bible studies, and devotions opened the doors of our churches to
tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of hearers of God’s life-giving
Word. The gifts of modern technology and the freedom of being a
“district without borders” enable us to take advantage of the vast
resources of the internet, email, social media, and a host of media
platforms available to our generation to unite congregations and
people across the United States and missionaries around the world.

SELC Missions
Over the past 40 years, the SELC District has planted 15 churches that have been officially placed on the roster of the LCMS. We
have also begun six ethnic ministries in urban areas that are worshiping groups (congregations) within the existing Anglo congregations and the two congregations function as one official church
in the LCMS. In recent years, “Church Planting” has also taken the
form of “satellite” churches that are separate from the “mother”
church but still function under one board of directors and are therefore considered one church by the Synod. The SELC has started
seven satellites.
Over the last year and a half, a task force to design a new era in
church planting has been meeting to retool our strategies to connect
2023 Convention Workbook

those who don’t know Christ to His saving Gospel. We have also
begun to develop a new mission strategy for the next generation of
the SELC.
The strength of the SELC in the last generation has been its
ability to start and grow new congregations. It is the goal of the
SELC District to focus our outreach efforts in the next decade to
continue this strength and to start many new missions, particularly
in the growing number of ethnic and immigrant communities in the
United States. Even as the SELC District and the LCMS have our
roots in ethnic immigration to America, so now our focus is on new
groups seeking opportunity among us, including Chinese, Indian,
and Spanish-speaking missions. Our goal in the next three years is
to unite the congregations of the SELC, and their respective members, in a common mission to share the Good News of Jesus Christ
in their congregations and communities across North America by
supporting local congregations and planting new missions.
The SELC District is facing two major challenges as we plan for
the future. Our mission is to extend Christ’s kingdom by planting
new churches. The greatest challenge is to find and raise up leaders,
particularly ethnic pastors, who have the gifts and talents to establish new mission starts. The other important issue is helping smaller, aging congregations plan and prepare for a new future, either
embracing a new vision for ministry or responsibly planning their
legacy. Many pastors and congregational leaders have labored for
years caring for the flock, trying to reach out and serve communities that are becoming more and more disengaged from church and
organized religion. Fewer and fewer people are volunteering, and
a generation of young people is increasingly lost from the Church.
Pastors and lay leaders alike feel tired, discouraged, and burned out
(this was exacerbated during COVID-19). A generation of pastors
educated and trained in an era when Christianity and the Church
were significant cultural institutions are frustrated when their faithful preaching and teaching do not bear more visible fruit as their
congregations continue to age and decline.
The Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit are our greatest strengths and assets. We are also tremendously blessed with
wonderful and faithful pastors who serve in the SELC District who
love and care for the sheep entrusted to them. The continued existence of many of our long-standing SELC congregations is found
in the faithful and committed stewardship of longtime members
who give generously, who serve tirelessly, and who pray fervently.
Without them, the SELC District would cease to exist. Because of
them, we are in a strong position to embrace the next generation
of mission and ministry in our district without borders. The SELC
continues to be zealous to Show Everyone Life in Christ by showing everyone love in Christ. We are excited for what our Lord is
doing in His Church in this next generation.
Respectfully submitted,
Waldemar R. Vinovskis, President
R49

South Dakota District
It is an honor to bring you this report regarding God’s work
among us and through us in the South Dakota District. What a joy it
is for us 27,000 LCMS souls in our great state to join you in preaching Christ crucified!