LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 126

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126 SYNODICAL REPORTS

the LCEF Promotion Director, and Mr. Dan Bacon as the Gift Plan-
ning Counselor for the Lutheran Foundation.

We give thanks to the Lord of the church for His work in and
among us. It is our prayer that we be faithful to Him in teaching
and preaching the Word, love each other with deep sincerity, and
be aggressive with the Word that offers and gives life to a world
so steeped in unbelief.

Randall L. Golter, President

R7-05-28

SELC District

¢ Like all the other 34 Districts, seeks to facilitate and coordinate
the mission and ministry of each congregation, give direction and
optimize the collective recourses of the District to open new mis-
sions, protect and advocate for the well-being of both the congre-
gations and all professional church workers.

* Like only the English District, is nongeographic, which allows
the targeting of areas of population growth for the planting of
mission congregations.

* Like only the Oklahoma District, has no full-time officers and no
predetermined location or building as headquarters, because
whichever congregation shares its pastor as SELC District Presi-
dent, that church becomes the District headquarters.

¢ Unlike any other District, the name “SELC” is not an anagram; so
the preferred pronunciation is as letters, “S-E-L-C,” not as the
word “selc.”

This past triennium, the SELC celebrated its 100th anniversary
as a church body, recommitting herself to the core value of the Dis-
trict: to identify, target, and execute, under the grace and power of
God, the establishment of new worshiping communities. We de-
sire to strengthen the ministry and outreach of each local congre-
gation, while we utilize our delegated resources to open new mis-
sions. To that end, the SELC 100th anniversary thankoffering is
100 percent dedicated to mission outreach, reaffirming our reasons
to exist: to Show Everyone Life in Christ and to Show Everyone
the Love of Christ—always SELC!

Carl H. Krueger Jr., President

R7-05-29
South Dakota District

The 2003 South Dakota District theme, “That All May Know
Your Name ...,” describes the purpose of District activities during
the past triennium. At the same time those words challenge us to
boldly move out into our communities and make Christ known.

During the past triennium, the South Dakota District addressed
the following challenges.

* Remaining faithful to the Gospel—Theological Convocations
were held throughout the District for pastors and laity.

* Reaching the lost for Christ—Received Blessed Emmanuel, Stur-
gis, as the newest member of the District and the Synod. Started a
new mission congregation in Tea and explored the possibility in
two other towns. The District expanded its work among the deaf
and hearing impaired as well as among Native Americans, while
also continuing work among Sudanese. Congregational efforts to
reach the 31.6 percent unchurched in the state were promoted.

« Addressing ministry issues in rural and small town congrega-
tions—The District has created the Barnabas Fund to assist rural
congregations and allocated money for funding a rural vicarage.
The Rural Ministry Program Area helps congregations with new
models of congregational/parish structure for continuing ministry.

* Training of lay leadership—District-sponsored lay leaders work-
shops were held throughout the state.

2004 Convention Workbook

¢ Addressing Christian and family life issues—Workshops focused
on family issues were held throughout the District. The District
also provided resources to pastors for family ministry.

* Supporting professional church workers—Wellness among
church professionals was highlighted in mailings to them, and
free health screenings were offered at professional conferences.
The District provides congregations with salary guidelines each
year, encouraging congregations to exceed those guidelines. The
District authorized the creation of a Church Worker Loan Debt
Reduction Fund.

¢ Recruiting church workers—The District provided student aid for
more than 60 students from South Dakota preparing for full-time
church work. The District established a “What A Way” cabinet.

¢ Funding the mission—While financially supporting the mission
program of the District, South Dakota exceeded our declared in-
tention of the support of the Synod each year. In addition, the
South Dakota District additionally supports our T.I.M. partner,
Amy Hartwig Kashenov in Kazakhstan.

As the Synod in South Dakota, our pastors and congregations

* are committed to building one another up in our common faith as
we strengthen our unity in doctrine and practice;

* affirm the LCMS World Mission’s Ablaze!;

* support the South Dakota LCMS-produced TV outreach “Main
Street Living” on two networks in South Dakota and supplied by
satellite to Good Samaritan Homes nationally;

¢ have increased our T.I.M. support;

* are committed to opening new congregations, as the Lord gives us
opportunity;

* are exploring a formal lay leadership training program;

* look to 2006 and celebrating the District’s centennial.

In thanksgiving for His past blessings, the District moves into
the future confident of His blessings. “My food,” said Jesus, “is to
do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. Do you
not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open
your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John
4:34-35).

Vernon L. Schindler, President

R7-05-30
South Wisconsin District

“An Unforgettable God” was the theme for the South Wiscon-
sin District’s 50th convention in the summer of 2003. This theme,
developed from the words of Is. 49:15-16, expresses God’s grace
and mercy as the District continues to move forward in nurturing
her members and acts as a backdrop for the District as she reaches
out toward unbelieving people in our unbelieving world.

It is the intent of God’s people in South Wisconsin to expand
mission outreach all across the District. This is accomplished
through the establishment and support of ministries: (1) Direct
mission starts; (2) Circuit and/or individual congregation
mother/daughter starts; (3) Mission outreach and expansion
through cooperation with local congregations to reach people of
specific ethnic, cultural, or language groups; (4) Ongoing support
of specialized ministries that are reaching populations not ordinar-
ily reached by existing congregations; (5) Participation in DELTO
and other ethnic and cross-cultural theological education programs.

Two mission starts recently became self-supporting. They in-
clude Lamb of God, Kenosha and Living Word, Jackson. Two new
mission starts were initiated: a Madison area Hispanic Outreach in
conjunction with Living Christ, Madison, and another Milwaukee
area Hmong Outreach related to Benediction, Milwaukee.

South Wisconsin extended a call to Rev. Dan McMiller, a re-
turning Panamanian missionary, to serve as Missionary at Large to
the city of Milwaukee, with immediate assignment to Shepherd of