LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 118

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118 SYNODICAL REPORTS

The District in convention honored Rev. Dr. Albert Marcis with
the title of emeritus, after serving as District President for 25 years.

The SELC will strive to assist member congregations to under-
stand the demographics of their respective areas and adopt a mis-
sion and vision philosophy that encourages outreach and Kingdom
growth.

Carl H. Krueger, Jr., President

R7-05-29
South Dakota District

During the past triennium our South Dakota District celebrated
its 90th anniversary. Our recent District convention themes, “And
Then for Work to Do for Thee” (1994) and ‘A Trust, O Lord, from
Thee” (1997), helped to focus our celebration.

“And Then for Work to Do for Thee” describes the attitude of
our District perfectly. Although one of our Synod’s most rural Dis-
tricts and experiencing the struggles which challenge all of rural
America today, our District has recognized that there is nonethe-
less much work to do for the cause of the Gospel. While working to
retain a Missouri Synod presence in dwindling rural communities
and intent upon being “the last church in town,” our District has
also not overlooked our city of Sioux Falls, the fastest-growing city
in the United States that is not located in the South or West. Four
new mission starts in the Sioux Falls area, plus a similar start in a
nearby bedroom community and another in a nearby planned de-
velopment community, have been major focal points of our Dis-
trict’s attention and resources in recent years.

Other “work we do for Thee” has included a strong personal
stewardship program through the service of a full-time gift
planning counselor, the full support of an LCMS missionary to
Kazakhstan, a renewed ministry to the deaf through the work of a
full-time District missionary to the deaf and a new worship and
meeting facility in Sioux Falls, and, of course, the constant and in-
numerable efforts of the 115 congregations and their church work-
ers who are the South Dakota District.

Our South Dakota District has also recognized that the bless-
ings we enjoy as-a District are in every case “A Trust, O Lord, from
Thee” to be managed to the best of our abilities. For this reason our
1997 convention took significant steps to reorganize how we func-
tion as a District in the areas of planning, budgeting, and supporting
our congregations and church workers. Our new planning and bud-
geting process includes regular input from Circuit Forums and an
annual planning conference to bring together leaders from through-
out the District to identify needs and establish short- and long-term
goals for the attention of our Board of Directors. Eight pastors of
our District appointed to be program area chairmen in the areas of
stewardship, evangelism, youth ministry, rural ministry, campus
ministry, missions, education, and social ministry are given au-
thority and resources to develop and provide program and assis-
tance to our congregations and church workers according to goals
established by our planning process.

Our District recognizes that this “trust” which our Lord has
placed into our South Dakota hands also includes some particular
needs and challenges that we will be addressing in the current tri-
ennium. Accordingly our 1997 District convention resolved to be
more proactive and strategic in addressing the challenges of rural
ministry, to be more intentional in our congregations” ministry to
the children and young families of our congregations, and to be
more forward-looking and efficient in our use of electronic media
to serve the needs of the church.

These particular challenges and goals along with our overall in-
terest in being and promoting a clear confessional Lutheran pres-
ence and voice in our corner of our Lord’s kingdom will occupy
our interests and best efforts in the years before us.

Raymond L. Hartwig, President

R7-05-30
South Wisconsin District

At the present time, the South Wisconsin District is working

with “Holding Up Hands” as its annual theme. As Aaron held up
the hands of Moses, we are to hold up the hands of our church
workers and lay people as they, on the front lines, carry the mes-
sage of the Gospel to the unbelievers of the world.

“Holding Up Hands” means “to reach out” with the Gospel of
Jesus Christ that people “may have life” (evangelism), to manage
all blessings which God has richly given us to serve Him (steward-
ship), who held up His hands that all “may have life,” to train peo-
ple for full-time service in God's church (recruitment), to share the
news of others, “Holding Up Hands” of God’s people as they hear
the Good News of Christ (mission education), to offer personalized
ministries in Beijing and Ghana for “Holding Up Hands” in for-
eign lands and to communicate through mission and ministry ad-
vocates the challenge and the blessings of “Holding Up Hands”
(congregation mission and ministry advocates).

The mission outreach efforts of the South Wisconsin District
reflect the effort to reach people of various races and cultures, in
urban areas and the suburbs, young and old. Mission expansion ef-
forts are under way among Hispanics, the Hmong, African-Ameri-
cans and those living in rapidly growing areas. Specialized min-
istries that serve the deaf, college campuses, and persons in prisons
and long-term care facilities have continued to reach those who
may not be reached by “normal” congregations.

Special gifts and bequests have enabled us to continue our ex-
panded outreach to international students at the International
Friendship Center located at Calvary Chapel, Madison, Wisc., and
to provide financial support to students in the Hispanic Institute of
Theology and those who have begun study in the Upper Midwest
Regional DELTO (Distance Education Leading to Ordination). At
the time of writing this report, seven students are enrolled in His-
panic study and five in the DELTO program (one Anglo, two
Hmong, two African-American).

Christian Education continues to be a major concern of God’s
people in South Wisconsin. This concern is addressed in working
with people of all ages, from the smallest in day care centers to
those in older adult ministries. Our formal Christian education sys-
tem has grown to 91 preschools and Lutheran elementary schools,
two special schools, four Lutheran high schools and Concordia
University, now the largest Lutheran university and college in our
country. More schools are being started each year with the help
from the LCMS Genesis Project. Our 900 teachers continue to
teach God's words and way daily, both in word and by example.

Young people and their congregations continue to be supported
through consultants, leadership resources, and special planned
events. Most notably was “extended staff training,”’ a variety of
District youth retreats, youth ministry workshops, a massive Dis-
trict youth gathering and servant events held throughout the trien-
nium.

An intergenerational District Family Festival was held, as well
as regular training for clergy in premarital counseling techniques.
In addition, numerous “marriage enrichment experiences’’ were
conducted for married couples, including a marriage cruise to Mex-
ico. Men's ministry was begun through two events called “Anchor
Men.”*

Seminars were conducted on video and computer technology;
a District video magazine was initiated, weekly radio advertising
was begun for District congregations, and locally reproducible
“Leadership Briefings’’ were developed to keep the congregational
leaders abreast of late-breaking news.

A three-year study of District operations and structure was com-
pleted and presented at the last District convention, where it was
tabled pending further study by the District Board of Directors.

The second annual Retired Pastors, Wives and Widows Gather-
ing was held in 1997. Plans are under way to provide a similar
gathering for other retired church workers and their spouses. Eigh-
teen older adults were trained to assist congregations in develop-
ing and enhancing intentional ministry to, with, and for older
adults. The Disability Resource Team has developed a book for the
congregations to help them identify and be sensitive to the special
needs of the disabled and involve them in the regular activities of
the church.

Financial reporting, utilizing Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles, are prepared monthly and reviewed in detail with the