LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 61

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SYNOD REPORTS
9. We will use biblical formational processes to align leaders with
God’s mission.
Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern
what is the will of God.”
10. We will assist congregations in developing new starts and new
ministries to gain new believers.
Mark 4:8: “And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain,
growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and
a hundredfold.”
11. We will implement new ways and means of funding God’s
mission.
1 Chronicles 29:9: “The people rejoiced at the willing response
of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the
Lord.”

In response to Initiative 2 above, the Minnesota South District will
implement the Koinonia Project among eight of our 24 pastoral circuits as a one-year pilot, seeking greater concord and harmony among
our pastors. To implement Initiatives 8 and 9 above, in 2013 we will
add to our district staff a part-time director of school services and a
second, full-time assistant to the president for mission formation.
Dean Nadasdy, President

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Rev. Matthew Schultz joined the Missouri District staff. His
responsibility is working in urban St. Louis to recruit and equip volunteers for ministry in the city of St. Louis.
Statistically, the district numbers 300 congregations, with 133,000
baptized souls served by 293 parish pastors. In addition, there are 58
elementary schools with 9,800 children enrolled. The district has 52
early childhood centers not affiliated with elementary schools; they
have an enrollment of 3,180. Seven high schools have 1,745 students
enrolled. The number of sole pastor vacancies has averaged fewer
than 10, and the number of vacancies not actively calling a pastor
has averaged 21.
The population of the state of Missouri continues to grow. The
state has experienced significant challenges due to the economic
recession. Many congregations have encountered financial challenges. Several congregations have reduced the number of full-time
staff, including ordained and commissioned ministers of religion.
The Missouri District, under God’s guidance and blessing, is committed to faithfully proclaiming the Gospel and administering the
Sacraments. Our prayer is that members of the congregations of the
district and all who hear the Gospel will grow in God’s grace and
faith in Jesus Christ.
Ray G. Mirly, President

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Missouri District
“Life Together,” based on Romans 12:4–5, was the theme for the
2012 Missouri District convention. “Life Together” serves as the
theme for the 2012–2015 triennium.
President Mirly’s report to the 18th convention of the Missouri
District gave thanks to God for blessing the Missouri District with 35
mission initiatives. He encouraged congregations, rostered workers,
and lay leaders to be prayerful, intentional, and deliberate in seeking opportunities to be mission outposts from which the Gospel is
proclaimed.
Synod President, Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, conducted a Bible
study with delegates and guests. Through means of a video report,
President Harrison shared highlights of the mission efforts of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He explained the three-fold
emphasis of the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod:
Mercy, Witness, and Life Together. He concluded his time with a
period of questions and answers.
The convention essayist was the Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, president
of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Meyer emphasized
that we spend a lot of time talking about God and not much time talking to Him. He invited the delegates to listen in as he conducted an
extended conversation with God.
The convention adopted the Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI)
as a district-wide mission project for the new triennium. Ms. Martha
Mitkos addressed the convention regarding LMI.
Important resolutions adopted encouraged support for the
Koinonia Project; encouraged congregations and pastors to work
toward harmony in worship; encouraged study of proper admission
to the Lord’s Supper; encouraged the planting of new churches; and
encouraged congregations to support the district and Synod.
Rev. Dr. Ray G. Mirly was elected to serve a third term as Missouri
District President. Also elected to the Praesidium were: Rev. Dr. Lee
Hagan, First Vice-President; Rev. Dr. Kevin Golden, Second-Vice
President; Rev. Alan Wollenburg, Third Vice-President; and Rev. Dr.
Ron Rall, Fourth Vice-President.
During the past triennium, the Missouri District board of directors
focused on equipping lay leaders through regional training events. It
intends to continue training events to encourage and equip lay and
pastoral leaders.

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Montana District
The Montana District consists of 67 congregations of God’s people gathered around Word and Sacrament and comprising some
14,000 souls. The district has two congregations outside the borders
of the state of Montana (Williston, North Dakota, and Salmon, Idaho).
Congregations of the Montana District support six day schools and
15 preschools or day cares. They also support missions to the Crow
and Cheyenne Indian reservations and to the Montana Developmental
Center (developmentally disabled).
The theme for the district’s 2009–2012 triennium was from
Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” We remembered and
rehearsed God’s faithfulness in keeping us secure in our confession
of the faith. This theme built the foundation for the theme of the 2012
district convention from Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation.” Only when we are faithful
to the Word of God do we have something to say that is of benefit to
the whole creation.
How do we know when we have gone into all the world?
Forswearing the world’s map of success, and numbers and dollars
and growth, which have a tendency to become the source of idolatry,
the Montana District has settled on measuring our proclamation of
the Gospel by the trinity of faith, hope, and love.
God is faithful. He gives His people the gift of faith. In this faith,
we are used by Him to live and speak the Gospel. The gift of hope also
comes from God. It comes in spite of the fear of failure. The fear of
failure often keeps us from trying new ways to proclaim the Gospel.
Since God is a God of hope, we can take some risks and trust His
Word to do what it says it will do. Love is not our power. It comes
from God. God is love. He loved the world so much He sent His Son
to be the Savior. God’s love is at work in His people, using them to
live and speak the Gospel to the whole creation.
God has blessed the Montana District. In the past triennium, we
have been blessed with a new congregation, as district congregations supported a missionary-at-large to work in Thompson Falls.
We have been blessed with a new preaching station in Dillon, the
work of our congregation in Ennis. We have issued a call to start
2013 Convention Workbook