LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 128

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128 SYNOD REPORTS

One of the greatest blessings we received was the adoption of
our congregations by the districts of our Synod. These one-on-one
relationships have formed strong loving bonds of partnership in the
work of the Gospel. We continue to marvel how God has used the
challenges we face for the strengthening of our walking together
and as an opportunity to focus our eyes on our core purpose of
bringing the Good News of Jesus to an unbelieving world.

In the fall of 2006, Camp Restore, a partnership between the
Southern District, LCMS World Relief and Human Care, Orphan
Grain Train, Laborers for Christ, and Lutheran Social Services of
the South opened with a capacity 300 volunteers as our largest re-
lief camp on the Gulf Coast (www.camprestore.org).

The Katrina relief effort coordinated by the Southern District
Recovery team has been a cooperative effort of individual Chris-
tians, congregations, schools, church workers, partner organizations
and agencies. We give thanks to God for His care and compassion
demonstrated in the sacrifices of so many of His people from all
over The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Their gifts encour-
age the spirit and fill the heart with hope, especially for those who
are in desperate need of both. We thank our brothers and sisters for
allowing the light of the love of Jesus to shine brightly. It is a bea-
con that is enlightening the dark road home. God has added their
witness to ours so that His ablazing love may be evident to the hun-
dreds of thousands affected.

The Southern District in convention adopted the following res-
olution:

Thanksgiving for God’s Care through His Church

WHEREAS, St. Paul is bold in reminding the Christians of
Galatia and the Church at large: “We must not become tired of
doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right
time if we do not give up. When we have the opportunity to help
anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to
those who are in the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9-10); and

WHEREAS, The people of the Gulf Coast and the Southern
District found themselves in great need following the devastation of
Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis, Katrina and Rita; and

WHEREAS, Many of our LCMS churches, schools, workers,
members, and the communities in which they are located were se-
verely damaged by the storms and in great need of spiritual, finan-
cial, and volunteer support; and

WHEREAS, The President of Synod, the staff of LCMS World
Relief, the leadership of LCMS districts, as well as many others
from around the church were quick to develop response plans; and

WHEREAS, The people and congregations of the LCMS re-
sponded with a generous outpouring of every resource available
and freely gave in a variety of ways to meet these needs; and

WHEREAS, Countless members of LCMS congregations from
around the country have traveled to the Gulf Coast to serve hurting
people in the name of Jesus; and

WHEREAS, This great outpouring of Jove has brought the
blessing of hope and healing and has been vital in beginning the
long process of recovery for the people of the Southern District;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the people, congregations, districts, and leader-
ship of the LCMS receive the resounding thanks of the congrega-
tions, workers, members, and staff of the Southern District for all
they have done to serve in the name of Christ in the wake of last
summoer’s hurricanes; and be it further

Resolved, That those assembled acknowledge the goodness and
mercy of our heavenly Father and the care He has provided through
His church; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Southern District in convention rise in
singing the Doxology in praise to God for His unending love and
mercy.

2007 Convention Workbook

We continue to pray “Spirit Kindle,” praying that in all things,
as He has promised God the Holy Spirit will kindle in us through
His powerful Word His passionate heart for the fulfilling of His
loving core purpose in and through us.

Kurtis D. Schultz, President

R7-05-33
Southern Illinois District

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (John 17:3). This
Scripture informs our theme: Jesus Gives Life At 100+ Mission
Outposts!

Our district includes 97 congregations, 3 high schools, and
more. We are 100+ mission outposts where Jesus gives life in His
Word. As the Synod in southern Illinois, we walk together, con-
gregations, pastors, and commissioned ministers. God gives great
blessings, challenging opportunities, and always His abundant
resources.

Eighty percent of our congregations are within 75 miles of St.
Louis, yet they are surprisingly diverse. Besides English, three
other languages are spoken in weekly worship and Bible study:
Mandarin, Korean, and Spanish.

Found in both rural/small-town communities and urban areas
east of St. Louis, the SID includes large suburban congregations,
small churches in the city, as well as large small-town parishes—a
wide variety in a small area, totaling 43,446 baptized souls and
34,236 communicants. We are blessed with 98 active pastors, 337
teachers and commissioned ministers, 23 schools, 16 preschools,
and three Lutheran high schools (two less than 10 years old—one
dedicated their first building this year). The district operates a mis-
sion school in East St. Louis with 60+ students and supports vigor-
ous campus ministry in Carbondale, both touching hundreds of
lives with the Gospel.

God gives our district the challenge of ministry (through pas-
tors and volunteers) in 26 prison and jail settings across southern
Illinois. Prison ministry represents our greatest mission expense.
In 2005, the SID hosted, together with Synod’s Board for Human
Care, the first synodwide conference on prison ministry. Are you
interested? Go to sid.lcms.org and click on prison ministry.

We continue to face funding issues. Monies congregations sent
to district in 2006 were less in actual dollars than in 1985. There-
fore, we are very careful with our budget of about $1,000,000 per
year. In September 2004, the district met in special session to in-
form each congregation of our financial challenges and to make
budget cuts (one part-time position was eliminated and less money
has been sent to Synod). Delegates also mandated a visitation of
every congregation regarding mission.

In addition, the 2006 convention required congregational visi-
tations focusing on worship and Communion practices. The district
praesidium and circuit counselors determined this would be done in
three stages. Stage one is now complete—visits with every active
pastor (by the district president, a vice-president, or circuit coun-
selor) to study Scripture, pray together, and encourage them.

Stage two, in 2007, entails meeting with the pastor and lay lead-
ers to inquire about the congregation’s mission (every congrega-
tion has a mission field) and to discuss Communion and worship
practices. Two booklets have been prepared by the district praesid-
ium and circuit counselors as discussion and teaching tools: “Un-
derstanding What Makes Worship Lutheran” and “The Practice of
the Lord’s Supper in a Christian Congregation.” Stage three will
follow up with a visit of each voters assembly in 2008.

Our purpose is twofold: to encourage congregations to become
more intentional in bringing the Gospel to those who do not know
Christ, and to address reasons for the disharmony in our midst,