LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 123

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SYNOD REPORTS 123

R7-05-24
Ohio District

Like other districts in our Great Lakes region, the Ohio District
faces numerous economical and demographic challenges. Our
young people continue to migrate from rural areas to larger popula-
tion centers both in and out of state. Our overall population contin-
ues on a slow-but-steady decline. Our population continues to age.
We continue to be subject to the cyclical nature of the automobile
industry and the ripple effect that produces in other sectors. Rising
health costs have made it necessary for some churches to seek other
means for securing Word and Sacrament ministry. Of course, when-
ever such unsettling shifts occur, God is providing doors for faithful
Gospel proclamation! Opportunities for witness to immigrant popu-
lations are growing. Opportunities still abound to reach out to the
two-thirds of the Baby Boomers who are unchurched and are look-
ing for a meaningful way to give back to society.

Our 2006 Ohio District convention put into place changes to the
code of regulation that enables the district to complete its move to
policy-based governance. This change has enabled the board of di-
rectors to set a clear direction: “The Ohio District—LCMS exists to
fulfill the Great Commission in ways that are faithful to Scripture
and the Lutheran Confessions as demonstrated by: (1) Congrega-
tions functioning as mission outposts. The indicators that congre-
gations are functioning this way include an increase in the number
of mission outposts and/or ministries, an increase in the number of
cross-cultural ministries, an increase in the number of adult/child
baptisms, an increase in worship attendance as a percentage of total
membership, an increase in Bible study participation, and a grow-
ing lifestyle of Christian stewardship. (2) Professional church
workers effectively leading their unique ministries. Indicators for
this include a decrease in staff-congregation controversies due to
negative circumstances, an increase in professional church worker
participation in development-related programs, an increase in the
number of “visionary” professional church workers, an increase in
the number of “visionary” missionary outposts, and a decrease in
worker turnover. (3) Congregational, district, and Synod resources
effectively linked with each other. Indicators will be an increase in
partnership between staff and their counterparts in other districts,
an increase in partnership between mission outposts within the
Ohio District, an increase in partnership between mission outposts,
staff, and Synod resources, an increase in reporting of mission out-
Post success stories, and an increase in accessing these resources
through technology.

With these in place, as well as new staff additions of Rev. Kevin
Wilson as mission and ministry facilitator, Rev. Jeffrey Stephens
as director of ministerial resources, and Rev. Terry Cripe as newly
elected district president, the staff has been able to devise strate-
gies that will help us move toward achieving those ends under the
guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.

Project BOLD (Building On Legacies Developed) has been a
financial blessing to our district. Under the development of gift
planners Pat Bilow and Glenn Richter, Project BOLD has given
our people opportunities to fund ministries of their choice either by
making deferred gifts or by making over-and-above gifts through
“adoptive agreements” for very special current ministries. So far,
more than $4 million has been pledged.

Our future plans include a renewed teaching on biblical stew-
ardship using the “Consecrated Stewards” materials, continued
planning for new ministries, especially to the largely unreached
populations in West Virginia, and wiser use of staff time through
video teleconferencing.

The parochial school system in the Ohio District is doing well
in the suburbs, though it faces huge challenges in the urban areas.
At a time when the need for reaching urban children and their fam-
ilies with the Gospel is urgent, our urban Lutheran schools con-

tinue to close. Many urban congregations and schools are unhealthy
for a variety of reasons. At our last district convention, we enacted
a scholarship program to benefit children of urban schools so that
they could continue to attend. This is the first of many steps that
we will face to ensure that our schools continue to be centers for
Gospel outreach.

The financial condition of the Ohio District Lutheran Church Ex-
tension Fund, Inc. is also reflective of the ever-changing economy
within Ohio. Investors watch all markets carefully and, therefore, only
when interest rates on investments are artificially high is there a steady
stream of new investment dollars. This “trickling” of new investment
hindered our ability to loan funds to congregations to meet their
needs. To be sure, each project was funded to the fullest extent of
need but some projects were forced to delay their original starting date
by several months in order that we could ensure financing. A new
computer banking system and added staff during 2005 have bolstered
the overall operation of the ODLCEF, better positioning us to meet
the demands of our congregations and our investors with increased
services, greater productivity, and reliability.

We pray that the Holy Spirit will stir up God’s people with a
passion for the lost and a desire to grow in their faith. God is faith-
ful. He will do it.

Terry L. Cripe, President

R7-05-25
Oklahoma District

This is a very important year for the people of Oklahoma for
we are celebrating our centennial. Each city and small town has
been planning special events to mark our state’s 100th birthday.

The Oklahoma District is only eighty-three years old, but in those
83 years God has helped us to flourish. The OK District now has:

¢ 81 congregations

¢9 elementary schools

* 28 preschools

¢ 23,513 baptized members

¢ | high school

¢ 17,942 communicant members

¢ The first district office, separate from a parish church

The Oklahoma District staff all serves in full-time vocations and
graciously volunteer their time in the administration of our min-
istry. These talented people and the generous members of the con-
gregations of the Oklahoma District have embraced the Ablaze!
movement with the plan to plant twelve new congregations by
2017; the revitalization of forty congregations; and an enlarged
high school outreach program to help our youth learn how to share
the Gospel with their peers.

We Oklahomans thank God that He has blessed us with 100
years as an independent, strong people who have withstood many
adversities and we look forward to the future where we can set Ok-
lahoma hearts Ablaze! with His Word.

Paul A. Hartman, President

R7-05-26
Pacific Southwest District

“As the Pacific Southwest District our mission is to effectively
resource congregations and schools to fulfill the Great Commis-
sion.” (Mission Statement, 2006)

Our vision is to be Ablaze! as a contagious community of
healthy, missional congregations and schools with:

* courageous leaders transforming their communities
* an ever-increasing number of people being won to Christ
¢ churches overflowing with ministry partners

2007 Convention Workbook