LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 116

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116 SYNOD REPORTS

congregations, Grace Lutheran in Becker, Minnesota, thereby
forming Shepherd of Grace senior living complex. Workshops
to assist congregations with senior ministry will be taking place
with Good Shepherd Community and Church Resources of
California.

3. Becoming Northern Lights—an outreach resource fair—has
been held the past three years along with Tell the Good News
rallies and Lutheran Hour Ministries “Equipping to Share”
workshops.

4. A statewide crisis team has been established by the Minnesota
North and South districts to respond to crisis situations that
occur in our congregations, schools, institutions, and their
respective communities. The crisis team offers spiritual,
emotional, and physical support to them.

5. With the growing challenges which rural/small-town
parishes/schools are facing, a task-force has been formed to
address the various issues and provide resources.

6. The Minnesota North District has six mission-funded congre-
gations; four campus ministries; two ministries to Native
American people; one ministry to the hearing impaired; nine
elementary schools; twenty-three preschool/daycare centers;
and one education/retreat center/outdoor ministry (Lutheran
Island Camp & Retreat Center).

7. According to resolutions from the 2003 and 2006 district
conventions, each circuit of the district is to establish a Circuit
Mission Committee, which is to look at their area for possible
new congregation starts; promote district, national, and world
missions; provide opportunities for God’s people to be equip-
ped in sharing their faith; and assist each congregation in
developing an intentional mission plan.

8. We have been blessed with an active and growing parish nurse
program. .

9. A Mission Partners Summit Meeting was held with a represen-
tative from every entity, organization, group, and position that
is involved in some way in the work of the district.

In the Word

1. For five consecutive years, theological conferences have been
held jointly with the North Dakota District.

2. District-wide “Getting into the Word” events are being planned
to encourage and help our people to study God’s Word.

3. Continued growth opportunities for pastors are being planned
that will focus on preaching, teaching, visitation, and outreach.

4. All delegates to our district convention received a copy of the
Bible Study: “Blessed are the Peacemakers” and were encour-
aged to use it in their congregations.

5. A variety of annual retreats are held at Lutheran Island Camp
& Retreat Center focused on the study of God’s Word.

. + Through Christ:

The message of God’s grace in Christ Jesus is more than suffi-
cient for us in these changing and challenging times. His Gospel
will be our power in whatever weakness we may have, in whatever
trouble we may experience. The Church ever lives in the afterglow
of Easter. The risen Lord is her only strength. The world of man is
her field of action. “Forward in Faith” is her motto. The Word of
God is her infallible tool. By the power of that Word, we know
what our mission is: to proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the
salvation of the world. We’re here to love others as He has loved us
and to forgive as He has forgiven us; starting right here, right now!
“Living and Forgiving as God’s Holy People: In Peace, In Mission,
In the Word . . . Through Christ!”

Donald J. Fondow, President

2007 Convention Workbook

R7-05-14
Minnesota South District

“It’s Time to Fish—Catch, Equip and Release!” was the theme
for the 2006 Minnesota South District convention, and it serves as
the theme for the current triennium.

The Lord continues to challenge the district in bringing the
Gospel of Jesus Christ to an increasing and more ethnically diverse
population. The district challenges its congregations to see their
communities as their mission field and to nourish, train, and equip
members through Word and Sacrament to share the story of God’s
love and salvation through Jesus Christ. Our goal is to plant 50 new
churches in the Minnesota South District by 2017.

Minnesota is now home to immigrants from various nationali-
ties, and their number is increasing. In partnership with congrega-
tions, the district provides guidance and support for missions
among the Chinese, Sudanese, Hispanic, Hmong, Southeast Asian,
Liberian, Somali, Swahili, Eritrean, and Ethiopian immigrants, as
well as Native Americans and the Deaf. This work resulted in the
reception of Grace International Lutheran Church, Robbinsdale,
Minnesota, as a member of the LCMS. Our campus ministries are
also actively involved in outreach to international students. Six im-
migrant leaders participated in the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of
Theology (EIIT) seminary program leading to ordination. The first
EIIT graduates will be ordained in 2007.

In addition to our missions among immigrants, we also continue
the work of planting new Anglo congregations. This effort resulted
in this past triennium in the formation of two new congregations
and their reception into the LCMS: Family of Christ, Rochester,
and Saving Grace, Delano. New church plants have been or are
being started in Circle Pines, St. Bonfacious, and Victoria. We also
have entered into partnership with the Minnesota North District to
plant two new congregations in Monticello, which is at the border
of both districts.

The increasing opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus
Christ within the district poses the challenge of raising funds to
support this work. This past year, the district convention formally
adopted the “It’s Time to Fish” mission initiative campaign, which
is designed to raise awareness of mission opportunities within the
district and to provide individuals and congregations ways to sup-
port them.

Through its Congregational Services Subcommittee, the district
continues to provide support for its congregations and church
workers. A number of theological convocations were held this past
triennium, and additional ones are being planned. The subcommit-
tee also implemented two senior high youth gatherings and one ju-
nior high youth gathering in the district.

This past triennium, the district board of directors entered into a
partnership with the Minnesota North District to establish a Min-
nesota State Crisis and Consultation Program. The program pro-
vides for a trained crisis response team to assist the district
presidents in providing a timely response and appropriate assis-
tance to congregations and workers facing crises.

We rejoice that several new schools were started this past tri-
ennium. We now have 51 Lutheran early childhood centers, 50 el-
ementary schools, and eight high schools serving nearly 9,000
students. These schools, along with their teachers and administra-
tors, raise awareness of mission opportunities and provide impor-
tant assistance in the task of catching, equipping, and releasing.

This past triennium has provided graphic reminders of the ur-
gency of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Minnesota South
District commits itself to encouraging and helping congregations
to catch, equip, and release, so that more Christians will be in-
volved in the task of spreading the life-giving Gospel of Jesus
Christ.

Lane R. Seitz, President