LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 49

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SYNOD REPORTS 49

(8) Global Care Packages provide gift boxes of school supplies,
hygiene items, toys, and more to families around the world...to
share not only much needed items, but also God’s love.

(9) Global Work & Witness short-term mission trips offer
volunteer opportunities to churches, schools, and groups
associated with the LCMS, including activities such as minor
construction, children’s events, and medical clinics in
partnership with LHM international ministry centers.

(10) MORE Cards are witnessing card kits consisting of a
witnessing tips card for believers to use to share Christ
effectively and a quantity of witnessing cards that they can
give to those who do not yet know Jesus or who are looking to
know more about Him.

Jack Kidwell, President

Greg E. Lewis, Executive Director

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

The Board for District and Congregational Services exists to en-
able vision and outcome development, to prepare and revise poli-
cies responsive to both current and anticipated situations, and to
initiate action in order to meet the changing needs of districts and
congregations (Bylaw 3.8.6).

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. The board shall develop policies to guide the
staff in providing assistance in meeting those needs (Bylaw
3.8.6.2).

To guide its important work, the Board for District and Con-
gregational Services has adopted the following “Four Statements
of Direction”: (1) Proclaim the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ; (2)
Nurture children, youth, and adults; (3) Develop leaders; and (4)
Cultivate stewards. These Four Statements of Direction are cur-
rently addressed through six ministry areas, namely: Children’s
Ministry, Family Ministry, School Ministry, Stewardship and Con-
gregational Life Ministry, and Youth Ministry.

During this past triennium, the Board for District and Congre-
gational Services reviewed its strategic plan, during the Synod Pres-
ident’s initial Strategy Summit in keeping with the “One Mission,
One Message, One People” emphasis. In addition, the Board for
District and Congregational Services was mindful of the Ablaze! ini-
tiative in its work, and especially in grant-related projects.

In keeping with its conviction that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is
the power of the Church, creating and sustaining saving faith in the
hearts of people, and through which we are justified by God’s
grace, the board revised its critical targets, as well as its approach to
policy-based governance, in order to assure a continued emphasis
on the Gospel. At the time of this report, the Board for District and
Congregational Services is reviewing and revising its Board Man-
ual. In all its work, the board seeks to communicate the theology of
the cross, a focus on vocational gifts, and a process of accountabil-
ity, so that the saving Gospel of Christ might be proclaimed in all
its articles in spirit and in truth.

II. Personnel

Rev. Jonathan Shaw, chairman; Dr. Patricia Hoffman, vice-
chairperson; and Mr. K. Allan Voss, secretary have led the Board
during this past triennium. The period following the 2004 Synod
convention has been a time of continued adjustments, largely due

to changing personnel, financial conditions, and the ever-changing
needs of both districts and congregations.

During this past triennium, District and Congregational Services
experienced several retirements of staff. Rev. Larry Reinhardt, the
director of Stewardship, retired; until his replacement is secured,
he has agreed to serve in a part-time, deployed status. Likewise,
Dr. LeRoy Wilke, the executive director of District and Congrega-
tional Services, retired after capably leading the unit for many
years. Rev. Jeffery Schubert, formerly the director of Family Min-
istry, was officially called by the Board for District and Congrega-
tional Services to replace Dr. Wilke as the current executive
director. Rev. Schubert accepted the call and was installed as the
third executive director since the unit was originally formed. Dr.
Perry Bresemann was added to the staff, in a deployed capacity,
serving school ministry, as one of its associate directors, specializ-
ing in technology and the continued development of the Lutheran
School Portal.

As the executive staff has experienced changes, the secretarial
support staff has also changed to accommodate these personnel
transitions.

At the time of this report, the Board for District and Congrega-
tional Services has authorized the calling of a new, full-time direc-
tor of Stewardship and Congregational Life, as well as an associate
director to assist with this work. This action is in keeping with the
Blue Ribbon Task Force on Funding the Mission’s recommenda-
tions toward a synodwide “Stewardship Renaissance.”

III. Some Significant Transitions

¢ Family Ministry was combined with Children’s Ministry, under
the leadership of Dr. Judy Christian, director, and Mrs. Lori Aad-
sen, associate director.

* Outreach (Evangelism) was moved to the Board for Mission Ser-
vices, under the leadership of Rev. Scott Snow.

¢ An operational audit of District and Congregational Services has
been conducted, which examined structure, functioning, and effi-
ciency of operations and staff.

¢ District and Congregational Services’ unrestricted budget has
continued to decrease during the triennium, with corresponding
downsizing of operations and staffing levels.

¢ Resource provision continues to transition from printed docu-
ments to electronically transmitted formats.

¢ The Board for District and Congregational Services has autho-
rized an all-Synod DCS survey to surface new opportunities for
efficient and God-pleasing ministry.

¢ “Congregational Life” has been added as a ministry emphasis to
the stewardship position.

IV. Some Significant Accomplishments

* Called Rev. Jeffery Schubert as executive director, District and
Congregational Services.

¢ Sought collaborative partnerships between DCS and LCMS
World RelieffHuman Care and LCMS World Missions.

* Ministry area directors networked with both seminaries and other
Synod entities, raising awareness of DCS ministries and to pursue
opportunities for collaboration.

¢ Continued work with district leaders across ministry areas, to sup-
port congregational vitality.

¢ Established the Lutheran School Portal, a widely acclaimed, full-
service support structure for Lutheran schools and Lutheran edu-
cators.

¢ Established the Board for District and Congregational Services
Web Forum, to conduct board work in a timely fashion between
meetings and to conserve on limited resources.

¢ Commissioned a study by the LCMS Foundation to study the
feasibility of development work for DCS.

2007 Convention Workbook