LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 81

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 81

R7-05-01
Atlantic District

The Atlantic District is composed of the eastern portion of New
York State including Long Island, New York City—the capital of
the world, the northern suburbs of New York City, the Hudson Val-
ley, the state capital region around Albany and Schenectady, and
points north to the Canadian border. It is one of the most beautiful
geographical regions of the United States—and one of the most
densely populated. As Iowa is to corn, so New York is to people.

Mission opportunities abound in the Atlantic District. In the last
three years over fifteen preaching stations and five new congrega-
tions have been founded. After a thirty-year decline, overall wor-
ship attendance in the Atlantic District has increased annually for
the past two years. DELTO and diaconal programs have brought
forty to fifty emerging leaders into studies leading, in some cases,
to ordination. Seven new missionaries and mission field developers
were installed at the 2000 Atlantic District convention.

At the same time, the mission motto of the Atlantic District is
“Every Congregation Is a Mission Station.” Congregational min-
istries of nurture and outreach are encouraged through the struc-
ture of the Atlantic District, which is flexible and designed to bring
customized assistance. Congregational giving for missions has in-
creased dramatically and a new source of income, the Atlantic Dis-
trict Mission Society, has brought hundreds of thousands of dollars
to support the arriving missionaries and congregational mission
strategies.

The District has raised its salary guidelines for pastors and
teachers by over forty per cent over the past two years, as a sign
that “the laborer is worthy of his hire” and as a sign of the com-
mitment of all of God’s people in the District to support the office
of the Holy Ministry in the release of the means of grace. Plan-
ning, conflict resolution, and educational ministry teams have pro-
vided great assistance to parishes with those specific needs and cir-
cumstances in the District and in surrounding Districts. The
Atlantic District Commission on Worship provides instruction and
edifying workshops for hundreds of District leaders each year in
the area of worship preparation, altar guild, lector, ushers/greeters,
and issues of importance in presenting Lutheran worship. By God's
grace we have come thus far, and by God’s grace we will continue!

David H. Benke, President

R7-05-02
California-Nevada-Hawaii District

“Jesus, Lead Us On!” These four words chosen as a theme for
the year 2000 California-Nevada-Hawaii District convention in
2000 capture the mission spirit of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod congregations called to serve this three-state District.

The California and Nevada parts of the CNH District include
275,000 square miles. The total CNH baptized membership of
57,000 (includes Hawaii) people makes us look like the proverbial
mustard seed when compared with the area served. This means
there’s a ratio of one LCMS Lutheran for every five square miles of
real estate. Add Hawaii and the ratio is greater. Nevertheless, the
Lord of the church continues to extend and expand His church
through the mission partnership we share.

Looking Back Three Years

Since the 1998 synodical convention, the following ministries
have begun:

¢ Hmong ministry out of St. Paul, Merced, CA (95 Baptisms and
45 confirmations on a single August Sunday in 1998); work has
expanded to include other areas of the great San Joaquin Valley
of California

¢ Ethiopian ministry out of Bethlehem, Berkeley, CA
¢ Eritrean work starting out of Redeemer, Oakland, CA
* Cell group ministry organized out of Good Shepherd, Honolulu, HI
¢ Korean ministry out of St. Paul, Tracy, CA, expanded now to
Hayward, CA
¢ Hispanic ministries at Bethany, Menlo Park, CA, and Bethel, SF.
Sixteen other Hispanic ministries are awaiting workers and dollars.
* New Anglo-led mission starts:
Vacaville, CA
Dayton, NV
Carson Valley, NV

Other Developments to Support Mission in the California-
Nevada-Hawaii District:

¢ A fully developed educational program for those serving (or
preparing to serve) as lay ministers/deacons.

¢ Together with the Pacific Southwest District, enlistment and
training for interim pastors.

¢ Groundbreaking for a new Ministry Center that will house the
District office and provide space and equipment for conferences
(including teleconferencing), workshops, and continuing educa-
tion events.

¢ The creation of District endowments to support education and
mission development.

¢ Church Extension Fund has developed build and lease arrange-
ments for those new missions that cannot afford a first unit.

¢ Church Extension Fund has begun providing business tools to
help preschools improve their management.

¢ Added one staff person to focus on mission education, the cre-
ation of mission societies, and special gifts for mission support.

¢ The creation of a core curriculum for all District elementary
schools.

* Two elementary schools began and two more are planned.

¢ Power Tools, a cafeteria type series of workshops at different lo-

cations designed to provide leadership training and to share pro-
gram resources.

Looking Ahead—Opportunities and Challenges

Some of the challenges we are facing as we work together in
the CNH:

¢ Escalating real estate costs (summer of 1999, 1,100 sq. ft. house
in bad disrepair in Santa Cruz, CA, sold for $400,000).

Reaching the lost in our cities (urban and inner-city ministry).
¢ Recruitment of future church workers.

¢ An increasing need for lay ministry (deacons); the number of
congregations unable to salary full-time pastors continues to
grow.

¢ More than 50 percent of the fine Christian teachers in District
schools have not had the benefit of LCMS education.

Even though new congregations were born and have grown, the
CNH District has 6,000 fewer communicant members than it had
in 1990. Given the average size of our congregations is 225 com-
municants, this loss is the equivalent of closing 27 churches.
Only five of nineteen Circuits serving the growing population of
this tri-state District have shown communicant membership in-
creases since 1990.

Gratitude

We fully recognize that the Lord continues to provide the
needed resources for His mission. During the last triennium we
have received significant support from partners in other Districts
and from the entire Synod of congregations through North Ameri-
can Missions. We have also received sons and daughters who re-
ceived their spiritual training at other congregations throughout the

2001 Convention Workbook