LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 120

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120 SYNOD REPORTS

We presently have 13 of our men studying at our seminaries.
We have had 18 pastoral vacancies during the past triennium. We
have had 17 installations with five of those being candidates from
the seminary. We have six Lutheran elementary schools and an ad-
ditional 27 preschools or early childhood programs.

We continue to work hard at creating an atmosphere of trust and
care toward one another. We designate one of three pastoral con-
ferences each year to be one of discussing an area of doctrine/prac-
tice that divides us. We work to make it a safe environment as we
grow in walking together with integrity in our covenant relation-
ship with each other.

We have continued in the triennium to sponsor two Lutheran
school teacher appreciation banquets and two pastors’ wives re-
treats. We are working hard to create an atmosphere that raises up
the importance of taking care of those who serve the Lord.

It continues to be a joy to be in partnership with our beloved
LCMS. We thank God for the enabling of His people here in New
England to be increasingly contributing to our work together as a
Synod. Ablaze in Jesus is our strength, as we seek to reflect the
love of Jesus to a world that continues in darkness. We want the
world to know that darkness has been overcome, and the Light for
all is Jesus, Jesus, only Jesus!

James E. Keurulainen, President

R7-05-19
New Jersey District

The New Jersey District seeks to faithfully proclaim Jesus
Christ through its 60 congregations, a new church-planting effort, a
preaching station, 4 elementary schools, and 22 early childhood ed-
ucation centers. The last triennium witnessed a “Seeds” campaign
to raise funds to plant new congregations. A new church start has
begun along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline, with Village Lutheran
Church, Lanoka Harbor, serving as the parenting congregation. A
preaching station continues to reach out with the Gospel to resi-
dents of Northwest New Jersey and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

These mission efforts are part of the Ablaze! objective of plant-
ing 10-12 new congregations by 2017 and also a follow-through
on the adoption of ambitious “Desired Outcomes” by the district
board of directors over seven years ago. The “Desired Outcomes”
include equipping congregation members in Christian leadership
and servant ministry and bringing the Gospel to the unchurched.

The New Jersey District is the LCMS in this place. So our mis-
sion is to vigorously make known the love of Christ by word and
deed in our churches, communities, and world. Taking a bold mis-
sion-forward approach is not new. The NJ District convention in
2003 adopted Res. 3-01, “To Support the LCMS Efforts to Reach
100 Million People with the Gospel by 2017.” The 2006 district
convention met under the theme “Mission Lights” to help us en-
courage one another to be the salt and light of Jesus Christ in this
troubled world that so desperately needs Him.

In 2006, a unique mission partnership was formed uniting Our
Savior, Perryville, and its original parenting congregation, St. Paul,
Flemington, and the NJ District to provide the assistance of two lay
mission workers for an 18-month period, and to provide funds to
call a seminary candidate, all in an effort to resurrect a congrega-
tion at risk of closing.

The Ablaze! goal of equipping 100 missional leaders (both laity
and -clergy) by 2017 has been addressed since fall 2005 by a mis-
sion leader training process that has been attended by up to 25 per-
cent of the pastors in the district and 12 laity. The curriculum
developer and instructor, mission executive Rev. Dr. Anthony
Steinbronn, is playing an integral part in delivering mission leader
training to the entire LCMS.

2007 Convention Workbook

In the last triennium, almost 20 percent of district congregations
have taken part in TRIM—Transformation and Renewal in Min-
istry. District staff help congregations move from maintenance to
mission and ministry, in this comprehensive congregation study
and turnaround process, which includes not only strategic planning
but also training in stewardship and outreach.

The essence of TRIM is to help congregations address the
change experienced in our culture and communities and the change
in many congregations that are experiencing a declining and aging
membership. The Good News does not change. People still need
the message of God’s grace in Jesus Christ as it overcomes the sin
in their lives with His forgiveness.

One additional unique ministry opportunity was the response to
the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. LCMS Human Care con-
nected the NJ District with four retired pastors, three who lived in
New Orleans and one who lives in Mississippi. Assistance was pro-
vided each pastor. Of the three retired pastors in New Orleans, only
one has returned. A work team from the Nebraska District, using
supplies purchased by the NJ District, restored his home. The dis-
trict also provided workers and supplies to help restore a congre-
gation in Mississippi.

In a variety of ways, God’s people of the NJ District have been
vigorously making known the love of Christ in word and deed over
the last three years. There is still so much more to do and so many
unchurched people to reach. We will seek to enter the doors of op-
portunity the Lord is opening for us. We seek to be a vital part of
the LCMS bringing a faithful scriptural and confessional witness
to Jesus Christ to those who do not yet know Him and to nurture
the faith in those already gathered around Word and Sacrament.

William R. Klettke, President

R7-05-20
North Dakota District

“There is nothing new under the sun,” observed the inspired and
divinely wise writer of Ecclesiastes. The writer of this convention
report was keenly reminded of that observation while framing the
first draft of this report in terms of declining membership and the
corresponding shrinkage in offerings that has led to decreased op-
portunities for mission and ministry. Checking previous conven-
tion workbooks brought the “nothing new” phrase into focus. That
decline had been the essence of two previous reports! Although that
rural decline across the Great Plains has not changed, it’s high time
this convention report does change! The Lord has not called us to
be faithful with the numbers of family farms, quaint communities,
and faithful Lutherans that our state once had. He makes us useful
neighbors to over 630,000 residents of our state, faithful witnesses
to the 19,000 lost folks who claim no religion, and strong support-
ers of nearly 20,000 fellow members of 88 congregations as they
continue to be joined in a common confession of faith and
covenants of love and service with all the members of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

In the last triennium, the North Dakota District went from the
theme “Restore the Joy” to “ONE MISSION: Rekindle the Zeal.”
Zealous to be faithful with what we were given instead of what we
wished we had been given, the district continued to take steps to
be more personal in the way we provide support, more personal in
the way we give advice, and more personal in the way we offer ec-
clesiastical encouragement and supervision for the rostered church
workers and congregations of the district. Our small size allows us
to go to individual congregations and sometimes even to individual
members. We have created and provided resources for those indi-
vidual members to talk to the unchurched or uncommitted about
their Lord and to talk to one another about the power for walking