LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 116

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116 SYNODICAL REPORTS

the 150th anniversary of our founding. Interestingly enough, until
1947 our Synod was known as the “Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and
Other States.” Ohio therefore was a key player from day one, with
St. John’s, Marysville (Neuendettelsau) and Zion, Wilshire
(Schumm), being numbered among the founding congregations. F.
C. D. Wyneken, who was characterized by one as “transversing the
area as a winner of souls,” and who is buried in Cleveland’s
Lutheran Cemetery, was instrumental in planting congregations in
those early days. Pastor H. C. Schwan of catechism and Christmas
tree fame was another Ohio pioneer. John Adam Detzer, who
joined as an advisory member in 1847, founded some 18 congre-
gations in northwest Ohio. Other founders of Synod in 1847 in-
clude F. W. Richman of Lancaster, Ohio, Trautmann of Port Clin-
ton, Ohio, and J. E. Schneider of Marion, Ohio.

“Casting the Vision” was the theme of the 1997 Ohio District
convention as it set its eyes on doing ministry and outreach in the
21st century. For today the Ohio District sees itself not as a pro-
gram body, but as a service organization called to serve and support
congregations and workers, one at a time, in their ministry of out-
reach and nurture.

Today church-planting starts with local and area congregations,
mission associations, and Circuit endeavors. Out of this initiative
several new congregations and mission stations have been formed
each year. City ministry remains a priority, with the District sup-
porting and encouraging congregations in writing strategic plans
and undertaking new initiatives. Human care ministries continues
to focus on sensitizing workers and congregations to the physical
needs of people. In addition to providing grants for new and exist-
ing social ministries, outreach is not an option but the mission and
purpose of God’s people.

Forty-nine early childhood ministries, 23 elementary schools,
and 2 high schools are part of our education thrust. Youth min-
istries is a high priority implemented through a youth network and
a youth ministries coordinator. One of the annual highlights is the
Junior Youth Gathering, which brings 500 different youth to a state
park for two weekends in a row.

P.R.O.M.P.T., Puerto Rico and Ohio in Mission Partnership To-
gether, is a strong and continuing partnership with LCMS World
Missions, supported with over and above gifts from District soci-
eties and individuals. This mission beyond our shores calls for a
base of ministries at Mayaguez along with four congregations in
outlying areas.

Healthy workers and their families serving healthy congrega-
tions remain a key. The District’s Ministerial Health Commission
proactively continues to bring support and resources to help our
workers and their families be the best possible. One essential Dis-
trict goal is to provide a full-time minister who will serve workers
and their families in the area of ministerial health.

It is the Lord’s mission, and He provides the resources to carry
out His work. The Ohio District is blessed with a gift planning
counselor who continues to assist people in direct giving, deferred
giving, and planned giving.

The Ohio District is congregations and people. The Ohio Dis-
trict as an organization and as a competent and dedicated staff has
only one purpose, to serve and equip congregations in order to be
effective in outreach and nurture. The bottom line is the mission,
bringing the Gospel to the hurting and the lost. In the current trien-
nium the Ohio District is looking at its structure, our organization,
and the way we do business, talking about staff roles whether resi-
dent or dispersed, shaping the Board of Directors into an outcome
based governance model, and examining the functions of boards
and workers. Restructuring is never an end in itself, only a means
by which mission and ministry are enhanced.

The Ohio District Lutheran Church Extension Fund continues to
provide loans for new and established ministries alike. During this
triennium the ODLCEF significantly changed the pattern of min-
istry for new mission starts. Gone is the old paradigm of buying
land based on demographics and speculation or hopeful intent. A
new Advance Site Program has been instituted that takes into ac-
count the mission congregation’s growth, its ability to help with
the land selection, and the purchase of land at no cost to the con-
gregation. The land is free. In addition, new interest rates were es-
tablished for mission churches, so the burden of building their first

structure will not be financially threatening to the growth and min-
istry of the mission. Greater flexibility in Residence Assistance
Loans to rostered church workers has greatly enhanced the
worker’s ability to secure appropriate housing and improve the
quality of life for the family. The Ohio District Lutheran Church
Extension Fund continues to enhance the ministry of the District
beyond what is normally expected, to color outside the box. We
thank God for this very active partnership

Where is God leading the Ohio District in the 2] st century? In
one sense it is the proclamation of the faith and message which was
ours at the founding a century and a half ago. But the scene is dif-
ferent today. Congregations are much more focused on their needs,
ordained and commissioned workers enter the scene of their min-
istries with a great diversity of gifts, ethnicities are an essential part
of strategy, family values and family ministries are a top priority,
seekers looking for spiritual answers abound, and in the eyes of the
world the church is irreverently regarded as irrelevant. In this chal-
lenging setting opportunities for mission and outreach abound.

For the Ohio District Phil. 3:12—14 says it all: Not that I have al-
ready obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on
to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me His own.
Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one
thing I do forgetting what lies behind and straining; forward to
what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heav-
enly call of God in Christ Jesus.

Ronald L. Bergen, President

R7-05-25
Oklahoma District

The Oklahoma District is a fellowship of congregations com-
mitted to lead people into a dynamic, living relationship with Jesus
Christ. We have accepted the challenge to move from mission
statement to active mission in Oklahoma and around the world. Our
commitment remains to train and equip laity in parish leadership,
attract the unchurched, retain our excellent church workers, de-
velop funds to accomplish our mission, and continually structure
ourselves to accomplish our mission.

Every day we bring the Gospel of salvation to the world where
we live. Our District convention last April affirmed that. Oklahoma
District produced commercial air on Oklahoma television stations,
work among Hispanic peoples grows, new ministries will rise up
around our cities. Laypeople receive theological education, profes-
sional church workers receive financial assistance to pursue ad-
vanced degrees. We thank God for the spirit of working together
that exists among our congregations.

The people of Oklahoma look forward to the challenges of the
future, eager for the opportunities God holds before us, daily
promising our faithfulness to Him.

William R. Diekelman, President

R7-05-26
Pacific Southwest District

“I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good
and not for evil—to give you a hope and a future.” With that key
verse from Jeremiah 29:11, the Pacific Southwest District gathered
in convention under the theme “Embracing the Future.” While we
are a future-focused District, we are also deeply conscious and ap-
preciative of our past. Ours is a rich heritage. We gladly stand
where Lutherans must always stand, firmly founded on the Scrip-
tures and the Lutheran Confessions. They define who we are and
how we go about our task. We have pledged ourselves not to move
from that foundation.

But we have also committed ourselves to be a church, not just
standing, but a church on the move. We dare not become so enam-
ored of the past that we fail to move into the challenges of the fu-
ture. The future will certainly bring with it changes and enormous
challenges. To meet the challenge of the 21st century, the Pacific
Southwest District carefully considered how to structure ourselves
to be most effective in the days yet to be. After three years of much