LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 108

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108 SYNODICAL REPORTS

rural ministry; ministry with and to the elderly; orientation for new
pastors, vicars, and their spouses; leadership training; elder train-
ing; congregational treasurer training: growth in stewardship un-
derstanding; singles ministry; and various others.

Youth ministry flourishes uniquely through the camping pro-
gram of Camp Okoboji as well as the Youth Gathering on Thanks-
giving weekend that draws 700 participants and the Junior High
Gathering on the first weekend in the New Year that attracts 500
young people.

With two full-time institutional chaplains located in Sioux City
and Des Moines, the District-supported campus ministries at lowa
State University and Drake, the special International Student Min-
istry at Memorial Lutheran Church, Ames, and the deaf ministries
headquartered at Calvary, Des Moines, “Pass It On!’’ happens in
unique and challenging circumstances.

This report represents only a portion of what the Lord is doing
in the beautiful and abundantly blessed land of western lowa. We
are mindful of those people in the 150-year history of the Synod
who have faithfully “passed on’’ to us what is “of first impor-
tance.’’ And we are thankful that the Lord continues to raise up
people in this District who are ready to “Pass It On!’ to future gen-
erations.

Richard G. Kapfer, President

R7-05-10
Kansas District

“Christ Be My Leader” has been the theme of the Kansas Dis-
trict beginning with its 1997 convention as the District lives out its
servant mission to “equip, empower, and encourage each congre-
gation to grow in its mission vision and Christ-care ministry” in
the closing years of the 20th century.

With Christ as our leader we have been led into challenging
new areas of service in mission and ministry. A partnership agree-
ment with Lutheran missions in Guinea West Africa launched at
the convention was sealed during a visit to Guinea by Mission Ex-
ecutive Gary Rueter and Education Executive Al Gunderman.

This agreement commits the District to prayer support of mis-
sionaries and layworkers in Guinea, backed up with financial sup-
port of $50,000 a year for at least seven years. Both executives
toured the District after their return from Guinea, acquainting con-
gregations with this new opportunity where Christ has led.

Continuing to follow Christ in mission outreach, the District
also welcomed Marvin Kohlmeier, Sabetha, as a Mission Devel-
opment Counselor for Kansas. Kohlmeier is employed by Synod’s
Board of Mission Services and works in Kansas to seek congrega-
tional and individual gifts in support of mission opportunities in
Kansas and around the world.

Christ also led John and Dorothy Rule of San Antonio, Tex., to
give a three-story office building in Topeka to the District. Plans
to remodel the building to meet the needs of the District are being
drawn. This gift will help to make possible another new District
endeavor, a Lay Ministry Training Program.

The demands of ministry in the present decade have generated
the desire of the District to provide this Lay Ministry Training Pro-
gram. Part of the curriculum will prepare layworkers for Word and
Sacrament ministry under supervision for congregations no longer
able to provide for a called pastor. In addition to these workers
there is a need for training gifted people for support of the work of
the local parish—outreach ministries, youth activities, and caring
ministry of every description—to free ordained and commissioned
workers to work more effectively in their primary areas of respon-
sibility.

The District was also led to call Pastor Gary Rueter to serve as
its new Director of Missions and Stewardship. After visiting all 167
congregations of the District in his first year in Kansas, Pastor
Rueter now provides support designed to meet congregational
needs in planning, mission outreach, renewal, and stewardship
along with planning District efforts in church planting, ethnic out-
reach, deaf ministry, and coordination of special project funding.

Integration of volunteers into teams and networks has enabled
the District Education Department to expand its services to con-

gregations in support of schools, preschools, early childhood min-
istry, youth ministry, adult education, family life, and singles min-
istry. Training for leaders and support by the volunteer network has
encouraged congregations to confidently develop Sunday school,
small group, and youth activities. Al Gunderman serves the Dis-
trict as Executive Director for Education and Youth Ministry.

The District with support of Lutheran Social Service of Kansas
and Oklahoma, the District LLL, Good Shepherd Mission of
Kansas City, St. John’s College Alumni Association, and the
Kansas LCEF has reinstituted its Planned Giving Program. Garry
Niehoff was hired as Planned Giving Counselor and is assisting
members of the churches in Kansas in planning their current and
future gifts to family, church, and missions.

A new mission was begun in West Wichita in 1996 with Pastor
Steve Constien as mission developer. Charter Sunday for Abun-
dant Life congregation is expected soon. Also a new congregation
has been formed in Manhattan and has received its charter as an
LCMS congregation.

Pastor Ken Kueker was called to provide campus and Native
American ministry at Haskell Indian Nations University in
Lawrence. A Lutheran Brotherhood grant has helped the District
to offer this ministry to students. Another ethnic outreach is under-
way with Pastor Victor Samuel called to assist in Asian Indian out-
reach in Kansas City and Wichita. Pastor Samuel will be supported
by a Mission Society which is being formed.

Caring ministry to congregations and individuals is an increas-
ing emphasis in the District. Expansion of parish nursing programs,
involvement in housing programs, and care for professional worker
health is emphasized. Chaplain John Pool, Wichita, provides staff
support for this work in addition to serving as an institutional chap-
lain.

A revised salary guideline for professional workers for 1996
was revised again for 1997 to be inclusive of all workers in con-
gregations. A draft of a revised District Handbook was presented to
the District Convention in 1991 for adoption in 2000. Loans total-
ing nearly $5 million were approved by the Kansas LCEF. Elmer
Karstensen serves the District as Business Manager and LCEF
Vice-President.

Currently a study committee requested by the convention has
begun an evaluation of the District structure to audit the effective-
ness of the District organization in meeting the challenges of its
mission.

A newly formed Endowment Fund Committee is considering
opportunities to develop endowed support for future work of the
church in Kansas.

Beginning in 1998 the District is changing the emphasis of
much of its educational assistance program from scholarships to
educational debt assistance. An evaluation of the use of resources
tends to indicate that debt assistance will offer the greatest impact
from available funds.

“Christ be my Leader by night as by day” is our hope, our joy,
and our vision as the Kansas District seeks to know how to do
God’s will.

Howard Patten, President

R7-05-11
Michigan District

During the past triennium, the Michigan District has focused
extensively upon District organization. The purpose of such focus
and study has been to serve the congregations of the District in the
best way possible. To that end, Vision and Mission Statements
have been developed and adopted. As they have guided the direc-
tion of the District, a major reorganization was passed at the 1997
District convention.

The reorganization of the structure of the Michigan District is
that of a policy-based leadership model. The Distnct Board of Di-
rectors remains in place. A new entity, the Mission and Ministry
Commission, assumes the responsibilities formerly carried by all
of the District boards. The thrust of the new Mission and Ministry
Commission is to operate through committees and task forces
rather than boards. Such committees and task forces are selected