LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 52

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52 SYNODICAL REPORTS

R2-01
Board for District and Congregational Services
I. Introduction

The 2001 convention of the Synod adopted the following revi-
sions to Bylaw 3.823 (2001 Handbook):

The Board for District and Congregational Services exists to
enable vision and outcome development, to prepare and revise
policies responsive to both current and anticipated situations, and
to initiate action in order to meet the changing needs of Districts
and congregations.

The Board for District and Congregational Services serves with
Districts in assisting congregations to develop and foster vibrant
ministries to bring the saving, life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ to
the sinful, dying world. The Board shall determine the number and
nature of ministry areas necessary to meet expressed District and
congregation needs and develop policies to guide the staff in pro-
viding assistance in meeting them.

The Board for District and Congregational Services exists to
serve with Districts in assisting congregations in arranging and
carrying out a comprehensive and effective program of Christian
education, especially counseling that the most effective education
agencies available to the church for equipping children and youth
for ministry are the Lutheran early childhood centers and full-time
Lutheran elementary and secondary schools, so that the Gospel of
Jesus Christ may become even more effective in the life of the indi-
vidual Christian and of the congregation.

With the above Bylaw changes, District and Congregational
Services (DCS) continues to review its purpose and vision state-
ments and update its critical targets (statements of direction) and
desired outcomes. These key components of the DCS Strategic
Plan along with services provided by the ministry areas (Chil-
dren’s, Family, Outreach, School, Stewardship and Youth Min-
istries) are tested regularly with District executive staffs/leaders.
Under God’s grace and in accordance with the mission of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, “District and Congregational
Services serves with Districts in assisting congregations to develop
and foster vibrant ministries to bring the saving, life-giving Gospel
of Jesus Christ to the sinful, dying world.”

II. Personnel

Dr. David Held, chairman; Rev. John Pless, vice-chair, and Mr.
K. Allan Voss, secretary have capably led the Board. The period
following the 2001 Synod convention has been a time of refine-
ment and adjustment largely due to changing expectations of con-
gregations and Districts as well as financial conditions.

Dr. Ross Stueber accepted a call to Concordia University Wis-
consin in 2001; David Weidner accepted a call to a congregation in
the Missouri District in 2001; Julie Johnston accepted a call to
Concordia University, Seward in 2001; Harold Rau began his ser-
vice in 2001; William Cochran began his service in 2002; Jim
Lohman began his service in 2002; Mark Kiessling began his ser-
vice in 2002; Gretchen Jameson began her service in 2002; Dr.
David Mulder accepted a call to a congregation in the Florida-
Georgia District in 2003; Terry Schmidt began his service in 2003.

III. Some Significant Transitions
e The unrestricted budget has decreased from $1,151,500 in FY
2000-01 to $950,000 in FY 2003-04.

¢ Personnel funded by the unrestricted budget have decreased from
17.7 in FY 2000-01 to 9 in FY 2003-04,

¢ Personnel funded by the temp restricted budget have increased
from 10.4 in FY 2000-01 to 13.1 in FY 2003-04.

e Stewardship Ministry was moved from the LCMS Foundation to
District and Congregational Services (DCS).

2004 Convention Workbook

¢ Adult Ministry was eliminated as one of the DCS ministry areas.

¢ Outreach (Evangelism) Ministry and Stewardship Ministry are
served by one full-time director and two part-time individuals.

¢ There is a growing emphasis on collaborating with District lead-
ers in providing leadership development opportunities.

IV. Some Significant Accomplishments

Electronic Media

¢ A major redesign of the DCS Web site: Over the triennium DCS
has received 25 percent of all Web visitors to the LCMS unit
Web sites.

e The DCS Web site received a monthly average of 24,021 visitors
in 2001; 33,928 in 2002; and 46,856 in 2003.

e DCS staff responded directly to 72 percent of DCS inquiries re-
ceived by the Church Information Center, 2001-03.

© Over 22,600 subscribers receive DCS ministry area e-bulletins
compared to 6,600 subscribers on previous mail system.

e A Web-based online store with over 600 DCS and CPH resources
was launched in 2002.

District Relationships

¢ DCS staff was present in 31 Districts at least once in 2003.

e A unit goal is to visit with each District staff once a year.

¢ DCS hosted a District Leaders Summit in 2003.

e Numerous District staff members are utilized as consultants,
members of design teams, training events, etc.

¢ Every District convention held in 2003 requested at least one
DCS item to be shared with attendees.

Focused/Expanded Communication and Networks
¢ Monthly e-bulletins to District leaders.
e Increased number of news items in LCMS Reporter.

e 28 percent of all Church Information Center inquiries during
2001, 2002, and 2003 referred to DCS.

External Funding

e A DCS priority is to secure grants from Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans that ultimately will support District leaders as they
serve congregations and church leaders. Grants secured during
the last triennium: 2001 = $169,000; 2002 = $54,500; 2003 =
$45,000.

e The Schwan Foundation provided more than $3.5 million in
grants over four years to 566 Synod congregations to assist them
in reaching out to the lost with the Gospel (“Tell the Good News
about Jesus” emphasis).

V. Ministry Areas

Children’s Ministry ignites leaders to launch dynamic Christ-
centered ministries that affect children’s lives with the love of
Jesus, so every child knows and experiences, His grace.

Some Significant Accomplishments

Goal: Champion children, recognizing that they are workers in

God’s kingdom with gifts to be celebrated and utilized.

Initiated organization of District network of leaders to serve as
District Children’s Ministry Associates in support of congrega-
tions’ ministry with children.

e Produced over 250 articles that addressed the needs of children.

Goal: Identify effective insights and practices, communicating
them broadly so by the power of the Holy Spirit children grow in
fellowship, nurture, service, stewardship, witness, and worship.
¢ Informed directors and educators in over 2,000 early childhood

programs about effective operation of quality, Christ-centered,
early childhood/childcare centers in workshops and seminars.