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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 100

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

100 SYNODICAL REPORTS

The District Church Extension Fund, which is part of the
Lutheran Church Extension Fund. holds annual meetings for report
purposes and encouragement for congregational representatives.
Our present area Vice-President has been serving in that position
since 1996.

The Commission on Communications (with the Board of Con-
gregational Support) actively promotes blanket subscriptions to the
Lutheran Wimess in our District. as well as assisting congregations
in other communications endeavors, such as communications
workshops and secretaries’ workshops.

The Board of Congregational Support responds to the requests
of congregations to provide workshops and support activities for
the mission of congregations. Through a recruitment committee we
continue to encourage the recruitment of church workers. The
Commission on School Matters advises the execulive assistant in
the support of the work of our Christian day schools and
preschools. This board also supports singles gatherings, promotes
Bible studies and Bible study workshops, and encourages atlen-
dance at synodical youth gatherings. In addition, the District held a
joint youth gathering with the Central Illinois District in June 1999
in Moline, IL.

The Older Adult Advisory Committee sponsored two older
adult retreats, one in October 1999 and another in September 2000.

The District has a close working relationship with Lutheran
Child and Family Services of I]inois and assists them in an East
St. Louis fathers’ center, helping tathers with a holistic approach
that includes family and spiritual counseling and employment en-
hancement. Another joint endeavor is helping to provide the pro-
fessional workers of the District and their families with counseling
services through a family counselor. The District older adult min-
istry is carried on in conjunction with Lutheran Child and Family
Services.

As of this writing, the District is exploring new possibilities in
our relationship with the LCMS Foundation for the services of a
gift planning counselor.

The Southern [Ilinois District is pleased to be an integral part
of our Synod in carrying on the work of our Lord to bring the
Gospel to the people of Southern Hlinois.

Herbert C. Mueller, Jr.. President

R7-05-34
Texas District

The state of Texas experiences an annual net growth of more
than 300,000 people. Retirees and winter Texans from the North,
high-tech workers and executives from the West, corporate head-
quarters transterees trom the East, and Central American and Mex-
ican immigrants from the South contribute to the burgeoning pop-
ulation of this second most populous state in the U.S.

Reaching the unchurched portion of the 20.5 million residents of

Texas is the task that our Lord has placed before us. We approach that
task with faithfulness, creativity, vigor, and passion, trusting the Lord's
promise that His Word will accomplish that which He pleases and will
prosper in the task whereto He sends it.

The mission of the Texas District is to strengthen congregations
¢ to reach the lost;

* to disciple the saved;

* to care for people—

* locally and globally.

Texas District Facts and Figures:

The annual Texas District budget provides the following mis-
sion support:

¢ $2,340,000 to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for
synodical missions and ministries

2001 Convention Workbook

¢ $3,130,097 for Texas District missions and ministries: 72 min-
istrics receiving financial support from the largest District mis-
sion program in the Synod

History: The Texas District was organized in 1906 and will cel-

ebrate its 100th anniversary in 2006.
Geography: Over 250.000 square miles (the entire state of
Texas. except E] Paso County)

Baptized members: 150,000

Congregations: 350

Circuits: 38

Pastors: 584, including retired

Educators: 612 synodically trained

Texas District Ministries:

¢ Day schools: 131

¢ High schools: 8 (2 opening in August 2001)

¢ Concordia University at Austin (enrollment: 854)

¢ Lutheran Social Services of the South ($55,000,000 annual
budget)

¢ Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas (two camping/retreat fa-
cilities)

* CAN-DO Mission (over 4,400 young people have participated
in short-term mission servant events in Texas, Mexico,
Guatemala, Panama, Brazil, Russia, Slovokia. and Alaska)

¢ Texas Partners in Mission (providing financial] support for
mission development)

* Texas Church Extension Fund ($73,500,000 investments;
$14.500.000 capital fund; $88,000,000 total assets)

¢ Lutheran Foundation of Texas ($25,287,574 under manage-
ment)

* Texas District LWML

¢ Lone Star District LLL

The vision of the Texas District is that by the 100th anniversary
of the Texas District, in the year 2006, the congregations of the
Texas District will be mission-driven and

* touch and win those who do not know Jesus Christ;

* enrich and empower those who do.
Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President

R7-05-35
Wyoming District

Organized: September 30, 1970

Geography: The District includes the stale of Wyoming, the
panhandle of Nebraska, and one congregation in Colorado.

District makeup: 65 congregations, 2 American Indian mis-
sions, 7 Circuits

Schools: 13 preschools, 3 elementary schools, 34 teachers

DCEs: 2

Pastors: 67

Chaplains: 2

Baptized members: 16,322

Communicant members: 12,367

The Wyoming District completed a restructuring of itself in the
last three years, seeking to be more responsive to the needs of our
congregations and more efficient in our mode of operation. The
changes were approved at our last District convention and are now
being implemented. We have continued to consider a new mission
opportunily among our American Indian population, and that work
and study will be continued in the next year or so. We are encour-
aging congregations to make schools available through their parish,
even if it is just a preschool. We are encouraging our elementary
schools to use a classical curriculum, and thus far two out of three
are doing so. We continue to hold the “Five-Fold Vision for the
Future of Our Synod” before our congregations and have tied the