LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 97

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 97

nation for the new District. Thus was born the SELC District of the
Missouri Synod.

For several years after becoming a District of Missouri, the
SELC “drifted” in its vision of mission work. There was much dis-
cussion concerning the nature of this new nongeographic District
and what role it would play in the life of its individual congrega-
tions and in the larger Synod. Several of the SELC churches chose
to affiliate with their respective geographic Districts. A number of
the Canadian SELC churches chose to join the Lutheran Church
Canada when it became a partner church of the LCMS. During
these first few years as a District, most of the energy was involved
in redefining relationships.

Soon, however, the SELC rediscovered its heart and soul—
reaching out to new people with the Law and Gospel of God. The
establishing and supporting of mission endeavors within the Dis-
trict and Synod beeame the fire of the District. This is, indeed, our
vision: to have every SELC church consider itself a church-in-mis-
sion and to join together with all other SELC churches to cooperate
in establishing new mission churches. Because of our nongeo-
graphic character, we have been able to work in cooperation with
the various geographic Districts to target growing population areas,
investing personnel and finances to bring forth new disciples to the
glory of God.

The SELC still does not have any full-time officers. We have no
District office building. All who hold office are either clergy who
are still full-time pastors of a local parish, or laypeople—all who vol-
unteer to work within the framework of the SELC District. Our de-
ployed “staff” are our District pastors and laypeople. All SELC pas-
tors have received “Peacemaker Ministries” training. Pastors from
each circuit have been trained in the interpretation of demographics
and in “Your Congregation’s Future.” Pastors from each circuit this
year will receive training in our Synod’s “Open Arms Institute” for
opening missions under the day care model. As we give these op-
portunities for growth to our pastors, they not only become better
equipped on the local level, but they also voluntarily take on District
Icadership roles in presenting these trainings to others.

We thank God for all the blessings He has provided to and
through the SELC. We ask our LCMS pantners to join in thanks-
giving to God for what has been accomplished and to petition God
for His guiding grace that we may be even more effective in the
future as we continue to serve our God together.

Car] H. Krueger, Jr., President

R7-05-29
South Dakota District

“A Hope and a Future” are key words for South Dakota. Those
words, drawn from Prov. 23:17b—[8, served as the theme for the
55th Regular Convention of the South Dakota District, held Febru-
ary 6-9, 2000. Those words also form the theme we keep before
ourselves as a District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
standing at this point in history on the doorstep of the twenty-first
century. As we move into the future, we acknowledge there are un-
certainties: but we at the same time focus on what God has made
certain—forgiveness of sin, life, and salvation offered freely in His
Son, Jesus Christ.

These past three years have been busy years of response to
God’s grace in the 116 congregations that make up the District. The
Word and Sacrament ministry of the local congregation is the pri-
mary work of the District. This is complemented by the ministry
of teaching in the three Lutheran day schools and 15 preschool and
early childhood centers operated by congregations of the District.

We celebrated on June 6, 1999, with Trinity Lutheran Church,
Spencer. as they dedicated their new church building. While a tor-
nado destroyed the town and their church with its parsonage, it

could not destroy the ministry there. The congregation resolved to
keep a Word and Sacrament ministry in their community. Their re-
solve to build a new church building evidences that the people of
this District continually scek to be and remain in their communities.
The Lord has blessed their resolve to serve people. The congrega-
tion is stronger, having also taken in new members.

Our parishes understand that mission is to be central in the life
of a Christian congregation. So we see members share the Gospel
with their neighbors and. in our more urban areas, seek ways to
specifically reach out to the new immigrants that continue to move
into their communities. Mission on college and university cam-
puses, on the Indian reservations, and to the deaf and hearing-im-
paired receive strong support from the District. The Lutheran Lay-
men’s League in the District has undertaken a project of providing
marked Bibles and other Christian literature for the state peniten-
tiary and other correctional facilities in the state. All contacts
through these efforts are followed up, and the inmates and their
familics are ministered to. Through a T.[.M. partnership the Dis-
trict supports, above its regular support of Synod, mission work in
Kazakhstan.

During the past triennium the District has wrestled with the chal-
lenges facing many of our congregations in light of changing de-
mographics and economic pressures found in rural America today.
Part of that response has been the creation of the Barnabas Fund to
assist congregations in carrying out their vital ministry, to provide
vicarage opportunities, and to facilitate leadership training on the
local level. At the same time the District encourages congregations
to plant daughter congregations in our population centers.

The District, in convention, accepted the challenge to regularly
petition the Lord of the church that He would raise up workers for
“His harvest field.” Each Circuit was encouraged to identity and
assist in whatever way possible those who have expressed an in-
terest in church work or whom they feel are gifted by God for ser-
vice in the church. The District as a whole is committed to con-
tinue supporting financially those enrolled at one of our Concordias
who are preparing for full-time church work.

Challenges, such as those mentioned above. along with an over-
all interest in being a strong Lutheran presence and a confessional
church body in South Dakota, wil] continue to occupy our interests
and efforts as we move confidently into the future.

It is a joy and a pleasure to be able to provide this report of our
activity for Christ and His kingdom. To Him be all the glory.

Vernon L. Schindler, President

R7-05-30
South Wisconsin District

“To Know Christ and Make Him Known—that they may have
life” was the theme chosen by the South Wisconsin District at its
convention. As we preach and teach the Word of God to our people
that they may truly know and love their Savior, they will go forth to
the unbelieving world and make Him and His love known to them
that they too may have life.

The District theme of “To Know Christ and Make Him Known”
has been reflected in the outreach efforts of the District mission de-
partment. Eight mission starts are in various stages of development.
The year 2001 has witnessed the beginning of missions in Cottage
Grove (Madison) and Holmen (LaCrosse). Our campus ministries
continue to “make Christ known” on five University of Wisconsin
campuses. The International Friendship Center at Calvary Chapel
in Madison continues to reach out to international students attend-
ing UW. We now have two missionaries reaching out to those who
are deaf within our District. They also provide pastoral care for
three deaf congregations. The Metro Milwaukee Mission Cluster

2001 Convention Workbook