LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 109

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 109

and appointed for appropriate periods of time. This will enable the
District to be responsive, flexible, and responsible in meeting the
needs of the congregations. A particular emphasis in the entire
process has been identification of core ministries and a further step
to core excellencies in terms of services provided.

Implications of this new structure in the area of staff are exten-
sive. To that end, program staff, other than Superintendent of
Schools, will no longer be utilized. A new staff position has been
created that is titled Executive Administrator. The Executive Ad-
ministrator is responsible for the operation of the District head-
quarters and its infrastructure. The Executive Administrator also is
responsible for staff and personnel issues, budget planning and im-
plementation, communications and technology, and related areas.
This position, which reports directly to the District President, will
enable organizational issues to be met so that congregations may
be served to the maximum degree possible under God’s blessing.

The second major area of staff impact in the reorganized struc-
ture is that of Mission and Ministry Advisors. These Mission and
Ministry Advisors will be pastors who will work with congrega-
tions of the District. Their main thrust will be in the field, on-site,
working with leadership within the congregation, both professional
and lay. The organizing principle for these congregational advisors
is based upon the average weekly worship attendance of the con-
gregations of the District. The rationale for this nongeographic type
of organization is that congregations of similar size confront simi-
lar issues across all the ministry task areas. They also have great
potential for being resources to one another. As individual congre-
gations excel in areas of ministry, they may provide leadership for
similar size congregations. Thus the role of the congregational ad-
visor is that of not only bolstering congregational leadership, but
enabling entire congregations to be lifted as congregations begin
to be a resource for sister congregations. The Average Weekly At-
tendance (AWA) groupings are organized as follows: 0-100 AWA,
100-300 AWA, 300-500 AWA, and 500+ AWA. Each of these
groupings will have a Mission and Ministry Advisor, as the plan is
followed.

Other ministries and areas receiving attention during the past
triennium are wellness issues for professional church workers, In-
tentional Interim Ministry, World Wide Web, and DELTO. With
regard to the World Wide Web, the Michigan District has estab-
lished a presence on the web. Congregations have been educated
on the possibilities of WWW through workshops. Currently 32
congregations of the Michigan District have a web page. This area
is filled with potential as we minister in the communication/tech-
nology age. The District Church Extension Fund has grown 20 per
cent in the last biennium to assets of $120 million. Congregations
and church workers are served beautifully through CEF. The hous-
ing loan program has been expanded to include all full-time pro-
fessional church workers, not only rostered church workers. The
loans to the congregations have increased from $61.9 million in
1994 to $88.6 million in 1997.

Due to term limitations as per the Michigan District Constitu-
tion, President John Heins completed 12 years in office as Presi-
dent of the Michigan District. His service for 12 years has been
blessed by God throughout the Michigan District and Synod as
well. The District prays God’s blessings upon Dr. Heins. President
C. William Hoesman began the duties of the office in October
1997.

C. William Hoesman, President

R7-05-12
Mid-South District

The book of Ecclesiastes emphasizes “there is a time for every-
thing, and a season for every activity under heaven.” A “Season of
Transition” aptly describes 1995-98 in the Mid-South District.

The transition focused on six key ministry targets and the Dis-
trict’s organizational mission: “to serve congregations and called
servants with leadership, resources, and encouragement for the
ministry of making and nurturing disciples of Jesus Christ.”

The process of transition in most areas of District function is a
response to input from congregations gained through a series of

Circuit Forums. It also reflects a commitment to faithfulness in the
use of God’s resources. During the triennium, the District clarified
its mission, staffed for service, made key organizational changes
compatible with the Synod’s Constitution, sold its office of 23
years, and relocated to a temporary office until a decision is made
about the future. With these steps, the Mid-South wants to be in a
sound fiscal position to advance “Mission 21,” a plan for future
District service.

Blessed by the new staff additions of Mr. Steve Schoenherr,
planned giving counselor; Rev. Terry Tieman, missions and out-
reach; and Mr Jim Sorgatz, Lutheran schools and congregational
services, the Mid-South District builds on the faithful leadership of
District servants who recently retired.

Establishing four District regions, with regional Vice-Presidents
and better lay representation on the Board of Directors, was an im-
portant organizational decision for the future made by the District
convention.

The use of future deployed resource personnel is under consid-
eration to bring District leadership, resources, and encouragement
closer to ministry opportunities.

In LCEF, the District reached a milestone of $40 million on de-
posit by over 6,000 District congregational investors. Assistance
by our Gift Planning Counselor in estate planning and establishing
endowment funds holds bright promise for many ministries within
and outside the Mid-South District.

Continuing its mission history, Mid-South adopted a bold out-
reach plan, “20/20 Vision,” of beginning at least 20 new ministries
by 2000 to reach more people with the Gospel. Work has already
started at 17 sites. A “Lutherans in Black Ministry Team” func-
tions to sensitize District congregations to the ministry opportuni-
ties to and with African Americans. Hispanic ministry opportuni-
ties are also budding. To date, nine District pastors received
training in the Church Planter’s Institute and serve as valuable re-
sources for congregational development. In Nashville, Tenn., Mr.
Lee Beer, a called director of Christian outreach, envisions planting
five new congregations in the next five years. The Nashville
Lutheran Mission Council and area congregations are aggressively
at work in this effort, called “Mission 2000.”

The District is embracing a growing Gospel partnership with
Sudanese immigrants living in Memphis and Nashville, Tenn. A
world mission partnership between the District, Cote d’ Ivoire
(former Ivory Coast) and the synodical Board for Mission Services
continues to be a rich blessing and learning experience. In 1997, a
District missionary in residence program began, with the services
of Ralph and Lola Behrens, who promote mission education in
schools and congregations. We have come full circle in ministry
with Africa here and Africa overseas!

Mid-South celebrates the rapidly growing teaching ministry of
13 elementary schools and 37 early childhood education programs.
Two Lutheran high schools are in various stages of planning and
development.

Care-Van and the gathering of quilts for overseas human care
ministry is a well-supported project across the entire District.

With communications as a key target for action, a task force is
pursuing how technology can support the District’s mission.

The health and wellness of called church servants and their fam-
ilies receive support from a new District Health Cabinet under the
leadership of Rev. David Wollenburg. Specific plans are being pi-
loted in the Nashville Circuit. In another area of support, Rev. Har-
lan Heiserman and the Continuing Education Committee advocate
personal and professional growth among the District’s called work-
ers.

During the trienniem, the District awarded over $195,000 to our
students attending a synodical seminary or Concordia University
System institution. Student recruitment receives encouragement
and support under the leadership of Dr. Don Ross.

“Together As One—in the Name of the Son” was the emphasis
of Mid-South’s June 1997 Convention in Memphis. Dr. David
Ludwig served as presenter and Dr. Eugene Bunkowske as synod-
ical representative for a convention characterized by a healthy
blend of worship, business, sharing, singing, learning, and cele-
brating God’s blessing of unity in Christ with a diversity of gifts