LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 115

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SYNOD REPORTS 115

istries. The district continues to seek ways of best communicating
for the building and extending of God’s kingdom. Ultimately, all of
our communication is based upon the desire to share the Good
News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Church Extension Fund in the Michigan District is in its
106th year (organized in 1901 to provide funds for new mission
congregations). God has richly blessed this ministry, growing to
$256.9 million in total assets at year end 2006. This compares to
total assets of $243.4 and $230.5 million at year end 2005 and
2004, respectively. CEF in Michigan continues to enjoy a solid
capital ratio of 15.27 percent, with net assets of $39.2 million, ex-
ceeding the Synod’s Board for Church Extension guidelines. Dur-
ing the last triennium, the Michigan CEF provided the refinancing
of the long-term debt at Concordia University in Ann Arbor. In
2006, CEF approved a new loan to CUAA for the refurbishing and
replacement of the utility infrastructure (plumbing, heating, elec-
trical), which will ultimately be funded by energy cost savings for
the university.

There are obviously many challenges in the service of our Lord,
but He is faithful and continues as Lord of the Church! His faith-
fulness uplifts us for we are His redeemed children who are re-
freshed by the power and the presence of His Holy Spirit to be His
people ready for service.

C. William Hoesman, President

R7-05-12
Mid-South District
The ongoing mission of the Mid-South District is expressed in these
words:

As an alliance of congregations and schools, the Mid-South District
provides leadership, resources, and encouragement for reaching the
lost for Christ’s Kingdom.

At its 2006 convention, the district celebrated its 40th anniver-
sary using the theme “Ablaze! by Grace—Hearts on Fire to Share
Christ’s Love” based on Rom. 12:11-12. The theme provided the
district the opportunity to look back and give thanks for the abun-
dant grace of God during its first 40 years and then to look ahead
and focus on where God is leading the district in the years ahead.

During the past triennium, the board of directors developed and
adopted a new strategic plan, which was presented at the conven-
tion. The plan focuses on five critical targets that were selected by
a representative group from across the district made up of the cir-
cuit counselors, the lay delegates to the 2004 convention, a number
of commissioned ministers, the board of directors, and the district
executive staff. The five critical targets and the corporate goal for
each target are as follows:

Laity: A nurtured and equipped laity, vigorously using their
God-given gifts and abilities to intentionally reach out to the lost
with the Gospel and effectively serve in their congregations, com-
munities, and the district.

Professional Workers: Equipped and effective workers with
hearts on fire, providing leadership, training, and inspiration to their
congregations and schools for the work of sharing the Gospel.

Congregations: Strong, vibrant, Spirit-filled congregations
compelled by the love of Christ, selflessly supporting, encourag-
ing, and networking with each other in expanding healthy, fruitful
ministries and planting new congregations to better reach the lost
with the saving message of the Gospel.

Schools/ Early Childhood Centers: Christ-centered, academi-
cally excellent education programs, viewing themselves as mission
outposts, intentionally embracing students, their families, and their
communities with a Christlike love and the saving message of the
Gospel.

Mission-Focused Unity: District and congregational leaders,
staff, and members clearly understanding, enthusiastically affirm-

ing, and actively working together to accomplish our corporate
mission and vision.

As part of this plan, the board of directors approved a pilot pro-
gram focused on revitalizing declining and plateaued congrega-
tions. In 2007, the district staff is beginning with 12 congregations
that have made a decision to participate in the pilot project. The
five-year goal of the revitalization effort is to have at least 50 per-
cent of the congregations growing by 2012, with growing being de-
fined as having at least a 5 percent annual growth in worship
attendance.

The district continues.to expand its partnership with the East of
Lake Victoria Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tan-
zania and has joined in a concentrated effort to reach the Sukuma
people through a church planting movement.

As an alliance of congregations and schools, the Mid-South
District sees itself involved in great spiritual battle and is commit-
ted to doing all it can to faithfully proclaim a never-changing Christ
to our ever-changing world.

Kenneth E. Lampe, President

R7-05-13
‘ Minnesota North District

Living and Forgiving as God’s Holy People: In Peace, In Mis-
sion, In the Word ... Through Christ! is the theme that guided the
Minnesota North District before, during, and now beyond our 19th
regular convention (May 2006). This theme is based upon Colos-
sians 3:12-17.

The following report sets forth the efforts by God’s grace and
guidance to provide opportunities to grow and go as God’s Holy
People:

In Peace

1.In an effort to assist congregations to develop a culture of
peace and deal with conflict, biblically and confessionally, we
have held training events for our circuit counselors, called-
workers, and laity led by Ted Kober of Ambassadors of Recon-
ciliation.

2. The district board of directors established the position of
Congregational Care Counselor to work with congregations
when conflict arises; Jead them in a study when a pastoral
vacancy occurs; and focus them on the biblical aspects of being
faithful to Christ and His mission.

3. A Church-Worker Care Coordinator is in place to provide
spiritual, emotional, and physical guidance to our called
workers who, along with our Ministerial Health Commission,
is developing materials for congregations to form Congrega-
tional Care Committees for called-workers and guidelines for
sabbaticals.

4. Two Mental Health Conferences have taken place: “Prescrip-
tion for the Soul (and Psyche too)” and “Prescriptions for the
Christian Family” with Professor Harold Senkbeil and Dr.
Beverly Yahnke as presenters.

In Mission

1. A new mission was begun in Monticello, Minnesota (Alive
Lutheran), in partnership with the Minnesota South District.
The intention is to continue to look at other locations that
border our two districts for collaboration in future mission
Starts.

2.A partnership has been forged with Good Shepherd
Community of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, a senior living
campus, to assist us in providing ministry and care for a rapidly
increasing senior citizen population. Senior apartments along
with assisted-living residences, and a memory loss facility is
being constructed as an attachment to one of our mission

2007 Convention Workbook