LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 82

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82 SYNODICAL REPORTS

Synod before hearing God’s call to serve in this part of His cre-
ation. For all these gifts we are truly grateful.

As people called by God to ventures of which we cannot see
the ending. by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown,
with the faith and courage God's Spirit gives His church, we in
CNH join the rest of you and pray, “Jesus, lead us on.”

Walter C. Tietjen. President

R7-05-03
Central Illinois District

The 156 congregations of the Central Hlinois District are ac-
tively involved in “Telling the Good News about Jesus.” We have
been preparing our congregations to do this and now are helping
them in their outreach. Full-time Christian education continues to
grow in our District. At the present time we have 26 elementary
schools, 29 freestanding preschools, and 3 high schools reaching a
little over 6,000 young people.

The 1997 District convention gave us some specific tasks to be
completed—The Great Commission Convocation and Millions for
Missions. The first District Great Commission Convocation, called
“God’s Family Celebrates the Future,” was held on November 6,
1999, with over 450 people attending. Dr. Wallace Schulz.
Lutheran Hour Speaker, and Dr. Robert Kuhn, LCMS First Vice
President, were our main speakers. Over 35 seminar classes were
offered, ranging from personal Christian growth to work within the
congregations. It was so well received that the Board of Directors
of our District wanted another, which was held on September 30,
2000. Our main speakers were Dr. A. L. Barry, LCMS President,
and Dr. Roger Pittelko, Fourth Vice President, with the theme
“God’s Family Tells the Good News about Jesus!”

The Millions for Missions campaign had a goal of raising one
million dollars for mission work within CID. While a million dol-
lars was not raised, mission awareness climbed and regular mis-
sion dollars continued to increase. An awareness of mission edu-
cation was a primary result of the campaign, especially the mission
opportunities within the borders of CID.

Our stewardship efforts have consisted of fall circuit visitations
and every-congregation visitations, equipping the congregations
and pastors to be more aware of the resources, gifts, and talents that
our Lord has provided to use within His kingdom for home, Dis-
trict, and Synod purposes. A short study has shown that congrega-
tions with a worship attendance of over 40% of membership tend to
be more mission minded. Finding ways to communicate the work
of the District will be a critical item for the 21st century. The In-
ternet, District newspaper, and every-congregation visitations will
be items we will address in the next three years.

We have five subsidized mission congregations, two deaf min-
istries, four subsidized prison ministries, four full-time campus
ministries, and other specialized ministries including African
Americans, Hispanics, and the developmentally disabled. We have
many areas where we need more churches. We have sizable towns
without the presence of a single Missouri Synod congregation. We
have cities that need additional congregations. We have additional
opportunities to work among African Americans and Hispanics.
Since there are more people without saving faith in the Savior than
those that have this faith, we have a great challenge before us to
“Tell the Good News about Jesus.”

Our staff at the District office has changed somewhat in the past
few years. David Goldhammer, business manager for over 26
years, retired on January 15, 2001. David Rohe, our gift planning
counselor, transferred to Missouri in Apri] 2000. Our education ex-
ecutive will be retiring on July t, 2001. Our current staff consists of
David Bernhardt, education; Rev. Joel Cluver, missions, evange-
lism, and human care: Jeff Miller, gift planning counselor; Rev.

2001 Convention Workbook

Wesley Reimnitz, congregational life and stewardship; and Mark
Werner, business manager. During the past triennium we saw the
retirement of three secretaries: Mary Olsen, Pat Roberts, and Nancy
Gentry. The current support staff consists of Jeanne Tepker, ad-
ministrative secretary; Marsha Shown, receptionist; and Renee
Klobnak, bookkeeper. We are grateful for the faithful services of
all who serve in the District office.

The Central Illinois District continues to be blessed with caring
pastors dedicated to serving our Lord and the people they serve.
We are grateful for the work of faithful pastors, teachers, and mem-
bers of our congregations as they reach out with the Gospel mes-
sage to those around them. There are many unchurched we still
need to reach. We cannot stop our efforts of “Telling the Good
News about Jesus.” We continually ask the Lord’s blessings in all
our efforts to serve His people and reach out with His Word.

David J. Bueltmann, President

R7-05-04
Eastern District

The Eastern District became a place of increasing contrast in
the past triennium. Many congregations have declined to a point at
which they are unable to sustain the style of ministry that had been
in place primarily under the direction of a solo pastor. Many of the
24 elementary schools and 72 early childhood centers are also con-
fronted with diminishing revenues, rising operational costs, and in-
creasing competition.

Those realities force the District to examine creative alterna-
tives for ministry. New methods of providing pastoral care, spiri-
tual leadership, and quality Christian education are under study.
Patterns of programs such as DELTO, TEE, and DLM will figure
prominently in a new design for training for ministry. New al-
liances between congregations in a geographic area are being ex-
plored. New methods of governance and administration are being
considered. While in many ways we may look, act, and be config-
ured in different ways, the mission remains the same: to encour-
age, nurture, and link congregations to strengthen themselves and
each other as we carry out the ministry of Christ together.

At the same time a renewed sense of mission and commitment
to outreach exists in local congregations, on campuses, among the
blind and the deaf, in inner cities and small towns, with those of
Hispanic and Asian heritage. The focus is directed toward estab-
lishing a base of operations from which the Gospel is proclaimed,
groups gather for worship, discipleship is nurtured, and leaders are
identified, raised up, and equipped for service. The emphasis for
mission and ministry is placed increasingly on the local congrega-
tion in the apostolic model. As the District develops its support
structure, it concentrates its efforts on helping congregations be ef-
fective in the communities in which God has placed them.

New areas of mission outreach have been established. With the
blessings of the District, missionaries Tim and Marguerite Nickel
were sent by LCMS World Missions to serve in Kyrgyzstan. Like-
wise, missionaries David and Elizabeth Goodine were sent to the
city of Philadelphia. The Nickels and the Goodines have had to
learn the culture and language of their respective mission fields. In
partnership with North American Missions, Philadelphia has be-
come a model for our ministry in the cities of the District. Pastor
Goodine follows a pattern of identifying worshiping groups and
finding ways to partner with them for leadership training and out-
reach into the community.

One such worshiping group is Christ Assembly, an African im-
migrant congregation. It is already the LCMS congregation in
Philadelphia with the largest average number of people at worship
each week, With the help of LCEF Christ Assembly purchased a
worship and education space, which also houses regional offices