LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 58

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58

SYNOD REPORTS

The Kansas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
continues to pursue the mission of our Lord. There are countless
episodes that are recorded by the men, women, and children of the
church. They are recorded in the histories of the congregations and
ministries of our district.
I am always hesitant to try to list them, because such a list is never
exhaustive. Please hear these words as a synopsis of many, many
works that our God is doing in and through the people of God.
We have invested ourselves in the continuing effort to revitalize and transform congregational ministries. One account that was
indicative of this work of God was in a congregation that my great
grandfather helped found. When I began my service in the district, I
met with the congregation and discussed their future. At that meeting, we had a serious discussion, and it included an honest discussion
about their closure. God thought differently. In the last triennium,
the same congregation accomplished a significant building program
because they were running out of Sunday School space. The Lord
continues to accomplish these things through the inspiration of His
people looking for new horizons of where God is leading.
We have invested in the Transforming Congregation Network, and
many of our workers and congregational leaders are seeing their setting and their communities with “new eyes.” What a blessing of God.
We continue to know transformation as a district as well, with
consolidation and new alignments in our work. We share partnerships in various ministries with the Nebraska, Oklahoma, Iowa West,
and Missouri Districts.
It still comes down to this: It is “the servant mission” of a district
dedicated to the “mission vision and Christ-care ministry.”
Keith Kohlmeier, President
R3-03-11

Michigan District
Choosing to emphasize the Synod’s loci of Witness, Mercy, Life
Together in the 2012, 2015, and 2018 Michigan District Conventions
(in a unique way and different order), the June 2012 convention theme
was IMAGINE ... Living as God’s Forgiven and Forgiving Family
(Life Together). The next two convention themes will be IMAGINE
… Living as God’s Loved and Compassionate Community (Mercy)
and IMAGINE … Living as God’s Saved and Sent Servants (Witness).
A new logo and tagline were developed for the
Michigan District representing its identity in, and
purpose for, the contemporary context in which we
live: People of Hope … Vigorously Making Known
the Love of Christ. We are People of Hope even
though the State of Michigan has lost about
500,000 people, which is roughly the combined
populations of Grand Rapids, Warren, and Sterling
Heights, the second, third, and fourth largest cities. Grateful for our
salvation in our crucified and risen Savior, we embrace the words
of Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by
the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Two theological conferences were enthusiastically received by
laity and professional church workers. The Theological Conference of
Worship and the Theological Conference on Apologetics were offered
in three different locations on three different weekends. Because of
the growth in faith and knowledge they afforded, two more are being
planned: a Theological Conference on Church & State in 2014 and a
Theological Conference on Prayer in 2015.
While annual regional pastors’ conferences are planned by a committee of pastors in each region, the district has taken a very deliberate

2013 Convention Workbook

approach to the planning of its annual all-district pastors’ conferences
through the help of district-appointed committees.
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2010 Not All Who Wander Are Lost with Ken Hamm (Creation Museum) and Tony Cook (Concordia Seminary, St. Louis)
2011 Lead Us Not into Temptation dealt with care for one another in
an area of increasing danger for pastors: internet abuse with pornography, gambling, etc.
2012 First of All: PRAY! was an encouragement for pastors and their
wives to renew their commitment to scheduled daily prayer time
alone with the heavenly Father

Additional all-district pastors’ conferences and a Professional
Church Worker Conference continue to be organized:
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2013 All Pastors’ Conference—Spiritual Disciplines with Dr. John
Kleinig
2014 Professional Church Worker Conference for all professional
church workers in the district is being planned under the theme
Imagine Immeasurably More.

Under the tagline Transforming Spirits—Stories—Cities,
the Michigan District’s Urban Ministry Initiative, A2E (Acts 2
Enterprise), called Rev. Christopher Bodley to provide leadership and
direction to Detroit and other urban areas. The ministry encompasses
spiritual, social, educational, and human-care dimensions. Efforts
continue with the anticipation of having a charter school open in
Detroit within the next 12–18 months.
Over 16,000 students attend an LCMS-sponsored early childhood
center, elementary school, or high school in Michigan. God uses these
ministries to help parents in their role of nurturing their children’s
faith. Over 1100 adults daily share Christ through these ministries and
raise up People of Hope who are rooted in Christ Jesus.
Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA) was perilously close to
closing, which would have been injurious to the district and Synod as
well. Now, through the grace of God, CUAA has entered into a preferred future of thriving, not just surviving. Special thanks to
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Interim CEO Dr. Rusty Nichols, Acting President Randy Luecke,
and the CUAA Board of Regents
President Patrick Ferry and the rest of his leadership team at Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) including Roy Peterson, Ken
Gaschk, Al Prochnow, Ross Stueber, and the CUW Board of Regents
Synod’s Presidents Kieschnick and Harrison
Synod’s Board of Directors
The Michigan District Church Extension Fund
The Indiana, Ohio, and English Districts
The Concordia University System

Tracking to be one university on two different campuses by the
end of June 2013, CUAA and CUW will have one president, one business office, and one board of regents.
The Michigan District Church Extension Fund (CEF) is separately
incorporated from the district and thrives under the continuing, capable leadership of Mr. Ronald Steinke. CEF has been and continues
to be a great blessing to the district. At the end of its most recent fiscal year, its total assets stood at $275.7 million, with total net assets
of $50.4 million, representing a strong capital ratio of 18.3 percent.
By God’s grace, protection, provision, and power, we will remain
effective as People of Hope as long as we are anchored to God’s Word
and Sacraments. As God’s Forgiven and Forgiving Family, the people of the Michigan District will strive to “hold fast the confession of
our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” We will
also boldly “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good
deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of
some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the
day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23–25).
David P. E. Maier, President