LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 84

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84 SYNODICAL REPORTS

ies, are proclaimed by our pastors in their pulpits, taught by our

teachers in their classrooms, and lived out by all the members of

our beloved church, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
David H. Ritt, President

R7-05-06
Florida—Georgia District

Inspired by the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Florida-
Georgia District has embarked on an ambitious program of out-
reach. With the vision that every congregation is a mission and
every member a missionary, with all of us working together under
the Lordship of Jesus Christ to share His love, we are seeking to
begin in each year new congregations equivalent to 3% of our ex-
isting congregations, which will translate into 73 by 2010. The en-
deavor got off to a good start in 2000, as six new ministries were
initiated.

The missionary thrust was undergirded by involvement in “Tell
the Good News about Jesus.” In 1999, staff members Jerry Seaman
and Mark Brink utilized the Synod’s “Share Life” curriculum at
seven regional workshops to train people for personal witnessing.
We also saw increased outreach in our congregations through par-
ticipation in Pentecost 2000.

An exciting decision by delegates to the District convention in
June 2000 was to approve the development of a House of Studies in
our District to assist in the preparation of church workers. Motiva-
tion for this new program includes the current shortage of church
workers, the tremendous missionary opportunities in our area, and
the desire to make church-work training accessible to both under-
graduates and second career people. (Research indicates that today
most students do not attend regional colleges more than 150 miles
from home; there is no Lutheran college in our two states.)
Through this innovative concept, the District envisions utilizing the
resources of the Concordia University System and the church, to-
gether with local universities. Students would receive their basic
coursework from the secular institutions and their “Lutheran com-
ponent” from the House of Studies (visiting professors, distance
education from CUS). The degree would be granted by the univer-
sity and certification for church work through CUS. Key emphases
include mentoring for each of the students to foster spiritual for-
mation, fostering of Christian community, and involvement in mis-
sionary service. While many details need to be worked out, the
prospect that this program will strengthen us for God's mission
strengthens our commitment to bring it to fruition.

Given the tremendous growth of our two states to a population
of over 24,000,000 in the 2000 census, the Florida-Georgia Dis-
trict sees a harvest waiting to be reaped. To help us respond to these
opportunities, the Florida-Georgia District approved a $10,000,000
capital fundraising endeavor. $5.6 million is earmarked for mission
expansion and strengthening existing congregations; $3 million is
designated for the House of Studies; $900,000 will enable Wood-
lands Lutheran Ministries to erect a conference center and double
the number of guest rooms; and $500,000 will go to strengthen
Lutheran Services Florida and Lutheran Ministries of Georgia, our
human care agencies. Entitled “Forward Together—Servants in His
Mission,” the campaign will also emphasize stewardship so that the
benefits of the endeavor may be long lasting. The four regional pas-
toral conferences in May 2001 have been dedicated to teaching the
theology of stewardship along with helps for implementing it on
the congregational level.

The District staff has been a critical component to the forward
momentum of the Distriet mission. During the triennium, Jerry
Seaman served as our executive director for outreach, until a stroke
suffered in July 2000 placed him on disability; we are grateful for
the excellent leadership he provided and that he is making steady

200I Convention Workbook

progrcss in recovering. We welcomed Douglas Kallesen as the new
executive in January 2001. With the growth of our District, the
parish services executive position was split in two, with Mark
Brink assuming the directorship of schools ministries, where he
serves with distinction. We are currently in the process of filling
the executive director of congregational services position. Richard
Neubauer continues to provide exemplary service as our executive
director of administration and finance. Paul Kralovanec has served
as director of gift planning since May 1998, providing effective
leadership to help us improve our stewardship response.

The District has enjoyed a genuinely collegial spirit as we have
sought to respond to the missionary challenges before us, true to
the Gospel that has called us. That spirit has been evident in the
study conferences we have planned and participated in on the topic
of Holy Communion. Utilizing the nominal group process for the
two Districtwide pastoral conferences greatly enhanced our speak-
ing and our listening. Quality presentations by seminary professors
and national church body leaders stimulated our study, helping us
to gather under the Word of God and our Lutheran Confessions.
Additionally, six regional conferences were conducted for profes-
sional church workers and laity. Through the process we have
come to treasure even more highly the gift of Holy Communion,
the responsibility of administering it faithfully, and the power in-
herent in this gift of God to enable us to undertake our missionary
task. I am proud of our pastors and other church leaders and the
mature way in which they have addressed this issue, working to-
gether to maintain confessional integrity even as they respond to
the post-moderm, post-denominational age in which we live. In the
grace of our Lord may we all find the strength we need to serve
His world with compassion and to witness with integrity.

Gerhard C. Michael, Jr., President

R7-05-07
Indiana District

“T bring you Good News which shall be for a// people, for to
you this day in the city of Bethlehem a Savior has been born to
you; He is Christ, the Lord.” Those words from the Gospel of Luke
set the tone for our lives as Christians.

In keeping with the goal of “Telling the Good News about
Jesus,” we have chosen as our theme “Jesus ... Good News for
Everyone!”

As the Indiana District we continue to focus on the mission our
Lord has given us. The Mission of the Indiana District is to en-
courage and assist the Christian outreach and nurture of its con-
gregations and other ministries.

As this takes place in the 236 congregations of the Indiana Dis-
trict and among the more than 1,200 professional church workers,
we want to rejoice in how the Lord has blessed us, and commit our-
selves to further encourage and assist the people of God.

With that in mind I want to share this report in the knowledge
that as we encourage and assist you in your ministry, that we are
indeed letting the world know that “Jesus ... Is Good News for
Everyone.”

Encouragement

Encouragement comes from every direction at the District of-
fice. From the President, Missions Executive, Congregational Ser-
vices Executive, and Financial Executive comes a common focus
on the mission of the church to bring Jesus to everyone. It is a priv-
ilege for me to work with David, Gene, and Larry, as we keep our
eyes focused on the mission given to us.

In the past three years it has been a joy to observe the great love
for missions that has come from the workers and congregations of
the Indiana District. Once again, Indiana has taken a lead in open-