LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 57

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SYNOD REPORTS
In the last three years, we were able to plant two new congregations in the district: New Hope Lutheran Church in Charles City and
St. Silas Lutheran Church in North Liberty. Both cities have substantial opportunities to take the Lutheran confession into communities
who have not heard the Word from our lips. Both congregations are
faring well. Last year marked the conclusion to the efforts IDE made
in cooperation with Human Care and World Relief to construct a
Deaconate Center in Palanga, Lithuania. It was a seven-year project that was finished with a wonderful celebration in July 2012. The
center is serving a congregation in Palanga as well as an excellent
outreach center for the Lutheran Church of Lithuania.
Publications of the district continue to display activities in the congregations and theological growth in the church. The IDE Today keeps
the district informed of all the vacancies, calls, and installations, congregational events, and district missions. A new publication has begun
this year called Theological Journal for the Church (TJC). The intent
of the publication is to address pertinent issues in the church with
articles written by our pastors in the district. Each article is around
1,500 words with footnote references. Each publication will address
one topic from the three different estates (the church, the home, the
society). They will be theological in content but not in terminology.
Our goal is that these articles be written in the language of the laymen so that we can strengthen the doctrinal and practical acumen of
the baptized. Our prayer is that growth in the Word will translate into
more confession of Christ in the community through given vocations.
A challenge that IDE faces in the upcoming years is the declining
population in our rural areas. This is due to smaller family sizes as
well as corporate farms taking the place of the smaller family farm.
Congregations are facing aging membership. While it is true that the
population in rural America is declining, there is yet no shortage of
unchurched in these areas. There is much work to do and a great harvest of souls in rural Iowa. We will do this by remaining faithful to
the Word we believe is true and the Confessions we trust are a correct exhibition of the Word. Faithfulness is complete when what we
believe is confessed with our lips. The confession is celebrated in the
Divine Service and lived in the daily vocations among our neighbor.
In and through this, Christ will bless His Church here and around
the world.
Brian Saunders, President
R3-03-09

Iowa District West
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. … Show
yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned,
so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say
about us … so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God
our Savior. (Titus 2:1–10)

Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete to straighten out what was
left unfinished in organizing the church. He was to appoint elders,
qualified leaders, and pastors. In the face of opposition from outside
the church and false teachers within, Paul charged Titus to “teach what
accords with sound doctrine.” He was also to teach them how to live as
believing children of God in their vocations. Titus was to show himself “in all respects as a model of good works … so that in everything
they might adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (emphasis added).
Paul had mentored Titus. Now, Titus was to be a teacher and model
of good works to faithfully pass on the Gospel that had been entrusted
to him. So it has been throughout the history of the Church. One generation teaches another by word and deed. Now, this responsibility
has been entrusted to us!
Our focus for the next triennium reflects the fourth part of our district’s vision, Joy in Modeling.

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During the past triennium, the district board of directors and staff
have sought to be models of Christian stewardship of the resources
entrusted to our care. A move into a new office building will serve
the needs of the district for years to come. While increasing the percentage of the district income remitted to the Synod by one percent
per year (now at 45 percent), the board also balanced the budget.
We hope this will serve as a model and encouragement for all of our
congregations.
The retirement of a key staff member has led to an adjustment of
the staff and the utilization of part-time executives in school ministry, youth ministry, stewardship ministry, and rural missions. A task
force has been appointed to study the staffing needs of the district
into the future.
The missions committee has proposed a bold new mission strategy, which has resulted in increased support for district missionaries,
grants to assist congregations in implementing new local mission programs, and a stronger rural mission initiative. Despite the changing
demographics in our rural communities, our goal is to encourage all
of our congregations to turn from an inward focus that asks, “What
must we do to keep the doors of our church open?” toward an outward focus that asks, “What has the Lord of the Church called us to
do to serve and proclaim His Gospel in our community and beyond?”
It is critical that we continue to prepare future pastors, teachers,
and professional church workers. Through our endowment funds and
our annual “Joy in Ministry” banquet, the district continues to provide generous financial aid to our students preparing themselves for
ministry and assistance to every IDW student attending one of our
Concordia universities.
Equally as important in the work of passing on our faith is the
training and equipping of our lay leaders. The district staff continues to provide workshops for teachers, elders, treasurers, secretaries,
youth leaders, emergency responders, organists, stewardship committees, evangelists, and trustees. The IDW Lay Leadership Institute
provides even more in-depth training.
Our eight Lutheran schools and 46 preschools equip our children
to take their places as Christian men and women in their churches
and communities.
The youth of the district are engaged in gatherings, camps, servant events, and mission trips through IOWAY, “Individual Outreach
With Adults and Youth.”
Our partners, the ILLL and the LWML, are actively recruiting and
training younger members. Lutheran Family Service continues to
serve and strengthen families and people of all ages. Camp Okoboji,
one of the finest Lutheran camps in our country, provides the place
and programs for families, youth, and children to relax, to learn, and
to grow stronger.
We are keenly aware that this is our time to take our place among
the company of saints throughout the ages who have faithfully carried out the Lord’s mission and passed the blessings and responsibility
to us. Now may we joyfully “teach what accords sound doctrine,“
show ourselves “model[s] of good works,” and “adorn the doctrine
of God our Savior.”
Paul G. Sieveking, President
R3-03-10

Kansas District
“The servant mission of the Kansas District is to equip, encourage
and empower each congregation in its mission vision and Christcare ministry.”
Grace to you and peace, from our God and Father, and our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ, the resurrected Lord! Amen.
2013 Convention Workbook