LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 119

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 119

schools in our District with an enrollment of 1,670. In total our Dis-
trict has 118 schools with an enrollment of 14,953 students. The
growth of these schools has increased the demand for Lutheran-
trained teachers. Our District is quite busy with supplying infor-
mation to our schools for suggested staffing and administrative
needs.

Communication has been a big challenge in the Missouri Dis-
trict. During the triennium, budget constraints led us to go from a
full-time Media Coordinator to a part-time position. This person’s
responsibility was the monthly publication of The Voice of Mis-
souri, Web-site management, and other responsibilities. Sue Gates,
a former staff person at the International Center, is serving in this
position.

Due to growing controversy in the Synod, the District followed
President Kieschnick’s directive and sponsored a Districtwide
“Model Theological Convocation,” held Feb. 17-19, 2003, at the
Lodge of the Four Seasons on the Lake of the Ozarks. It was well
received, and encouragement was given to organize these on a Cir-
cuit or bi-Circuit level.

In regard to pastoral vacancies, our Missouri District averages
about 25 at any given time in the calling stage, with about 26 more
not calling but being served by retired pastors, licensed deacons,
etc. Our District’s vacancy problem was helped tremendously in
2003 when it received 16 candidates from our seminaries.

We live in challenging times for our District, as well as through-
out our Synod. Yet we have God’s own promise to keep us going.
He has promised that His Word will “not return ... empty, but will
... achieve the purpose for which [He] sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). We
in the Missouri District continue to pray that all of us will carry out
mission and ministry in joy because it is not us but God who saves
people from sin, death, and hell “by grace alone, through faith
alone” in His eternal Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. As we continue to
“behold His glory” and “tell the story,” He will bring a harvest of
souls for His eternal kingdom.

James W. Kalthoff, President

R7-05-16
Montana District

The Montana District continues to seek to find a way to provide
Word and Sacrament ministry to geographic areas that are declin-
ing in population. About two-thirds of the geographic area of Mon-
tana is witnessing a severe decline. Many of the small communities
will disappear in the next 25 years. Ranches and farms are being
bought up by agribusiness corporations or by very wealthy indi-
viduals. The family-operated ranch or farm is becoming part of his-
tory.

At the same time a significant number of people are moving
into the mountains in “gated communities” being built by ex-
tremely wealthy individuals. Access to these is carefully limited by
the security and isolation that these people seek. We need to dis-
cover ways of bringing the Gospel to these people.

In order to provide ministry we have been combining congre-
gations into 2-, 3-, 4-point parishes. In some cases this means that a
pastor may travel well over a hundred miles on Sunday to provide
services. We are seeking to help our metropolitan congregations
understand their responsibility for assisting small rural congrega-
tions that are no longer able to provide for a resident pastor.

In the past triennium one new congregation has been received
into the Synod. Another preaching station has been opened and will
become a member congregation before the end of 2004. Our con-
vention urged the congregations in our growing metropolitan areas,
chiefly Billings and Missoula, to explore ways in which to begin
new congregations in these areas.

Two new parochial schools are in the planning process. Stew-
ardship workshops are planned for the entire District. Our work
with Native American people continues, and we are working to ex-
pand this outreach. We have completed a chapel at the Montana
Developmental Center in Boulder, Mont. Our District has supplied
a chaplain at this Center, which provides service to the develop-
mentally disabled, for more than 25 years. Our chaplain is presently
serving in Kuwait with the army. The chapel, named “Good Shep-
herd Lutheran Church,” will serve to bring the Good News of our
Savior to the residents and workers at the Developmental Center.

George F. Wollenburg, President

R7-05-17
Nebraska District

The theme of the 14th Nebraska District convention was “Be
strong and courageous, for the LorD your God goes with you; He
will never leave you nor forsake you” from Deut. 31:6. The con-
vention provided a time to consider the “new missionary age” into
which the church is entering. Convention Essayist Rev. Arthur
Scherer, then President of the Southeastern District, offered an in-
sightful and helpful depiction of the “new missionary age” before
us.

It was a joy for the convention to meet on the campus of Con-
cordia University in Seward, where students are prepared for ser-
vant leadership for the church and world. The Nebraska District
and Concordia University Nebraska are privileged to have a strong
partnership in the Gospel.

Nebraska District President Emeritus Eldor Meyer and his wife,
Edna, were present at the convention and were recognized with
thanks to the Lord for their service to the Christ and His church.
District President Eugene V. Gierke completed four terms of faith-
ful service among God’s people of the Nebraska District. Praises
were offered to the Lord for those 12 years of faithful leadership
by President Gierke and service by his wife, Linda. Dr. Neil Sand-
fort, District Executive Assistant to the President for Education and
Youth Ministry, was also recognized for his 21 years of service in
the District in anticipation of his Dec. 31, 2004, retirement. Again,
prayers of thanks were offered for the service of Dr. Sandfort and
his wife, Muriel. Likewise, retiring Dr. William Preus was also rec-
ognized for his years of service to the District as Executive Assis-
tant to the President for Outreach. The delegates offered gratitude
to the Lord for Dr. Preus and his wife, Judy.

The Nebraska District is blessed with 242 congregations, 44
Lutheran elementary schools, 4 Lutheran high schools, and 39
preschools. The District rejoiced to welcome and receive into mem-
bership in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Lamb of God
Lutheran Church of Papillion. God continues to provide amazing
opportunities to share His grace in the person and actions of Jesus
Christ. Nebraska is experiencing population growth in several com-
munities as well as a growing population of Hispanic people and
African and Asian immigrants. The African Sudanese population
continues to grow, and their participation among Nebraska District
churches is a great blessing. Campus ministries in Nebraska con-
tinue to serve university and college students with the Gospel and
reach out to international students. Numerous Chinese students and
their families have been baptized. God is blessing Gospel ministry
and outreach among the people of the Sandhills of Nebraska and
the Native American people of the Winnebago and Omaha reser-
vations.

Nebraska District congregations and schools are being moved
by the Holy Spirit to be involved in personalized mission. Youth
and adults are embarking on mission servant events in the District
and on the mission fields around the globe. Pastors, teachers, and
directors of Christian education are teaching and serving on various

2004 Convention Workbook