LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 66

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66

SYNOD REPORTS
and neighborhood/community exegesis; this formation experience is convened and overseen by Rev. Jeff Thormodson.
5. Significant financial and human resources have been, and will continue to be, richly supplied through the generosity of God’s people to
neighbors of all kinds impacted by Superstorm Sandy. At the time of
this report (early March 2013), active plans are being made to establish
a volunteer ministry camp at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Point
Pleasant, New Jersey. This camp will house, support, and deploy 40–80
volunteer laborers who will serve and minister to people living along the
New Jersey Shore.
6. From now until October 31, 2017, we hope to initiate a local
and regional celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant
Reformation. The Protestant Reformation is one of the most significant
historical, social, and spiritual events in world history. Both the Church
and our culture are ever in need of experiencing the reforming ministry of
His Spirit articulated through the foundational solas of the Reformation—
Scripture alone, Christ alone, Faith alone, Grace alone—and how this
everlasting Gospel (Rom. 1:16; Rom. 3:10–24; Rev. 14:6) speaks to the
people of the twenty-first century.
7. Rev. Steve Gewecke, Rev. Deric Taylor, and Rev. Bob Kuppler.
8. Rev. Bob Holsten, Rev. David Rowold, Rev. Andrew Dinger, Rev.
John Reynolds, Rev. Dennis Bottoms, and Rev. Chris Schonberg.

R3-03-20

North Dakota District
The North Dakota District held her January 22–25, 2012, convention under the theme “Now You Are God’s People” according to
1 Peter 2:10. This convention voted on three outcomes, or areas of
focus, for the district in terms of mission and ministry.
Faithful Pastors—We agreed that the pastors of the North Dakota
District will be engaged in the daily lives of their people through Word
and Sacrament ministry and engaged with those outside the Church.
The areas of emphasis under this outcome include:
1. Witness, Mercy, Life Together. The ND District has agreed to encourage her pastors and to provide opportunities for their continuing
education in preaching, visitation, First Article skills, mercy acts in
the community, and striving for continued Life Together on the circuit, district, and Synod levels.
2. Lutheran Education. The ND District provides resources for congregations to be more aware of and to support our Lutheran schools.
We have also held children’s ministry workshops to help Sunday
Schools and care for children ages 0–12. We are also exploring the
potential for more preschools and day schools in the district.
3. Doctrine and Practice. We have begun to explore various avenues
for pastors and congregations to dialog about doctrine and practice
in venues that strive to build up the kingdom of God. We will be
holding a joint theological conference with the Minnesota North
District in 2014.

Bold Witnesses—We agreed to tell, actively and joyfully, the love
of Christ to all people in word and deed. The areas of emphasis under
this outcome include:
1. Witness, Mercy, Life Together. This task force held a “Bold Witnesses” workshop, with Adrianne Dorr and Jonathan Fisk as presenters.
Another workshop is planned for 2013 with Dr. Carl Fickenscher on
proclaiming and hearing the pastor’s sermon.
2. Kenya. The North Dakota District in convention voted on a mission partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya
(ELCK). In 2012, we provided funds for young adults, a pastor,
and a layperson to go on a Mercy Experience Trip to Kenya. Another such trip is planned for 2013. We have also partnered with the
Minnesota North District in providing funds for three of 24 orphanage rescue centers in Kenya under Project 24. The ND District has
hosted Rev. David Chuchu and Deaconess Eunita Odongo this past
year, and plans are to bring an ELCK pastor to the district in order

2013 Convention Workbook

to shadow a pastor for a number of days. Go to northerncrossingsmercy.org.
3. Disaster Relief. In 2011, Minot, ND, experienced a flood on the
scale of Hurricane Katrina, with more than one-fourth of families
and homes affected. Our Savior Lutheran Church in Minot, in cooperation with the ND District and the LCMS, are operating “Hope
Village,” a disaster relief effort in giving physical and spiritual care
to many. In this effort, a three-fourths-time pastor was called specifically to provide pastoral care to Hope Village and those to whom
mercy is shown throughout the community. Go to hopevillagend.
org.

Empowered Stewards—We agreed that the congregations of the
ND District will be actively engaged in biblical stewardship.
1. Witness, Mercy, Life Together. We have made a concerted effort in
helping our pastors and congregations understand stewardship in
terms of Galatians 2:20, that “it is no longer we who live, but Christ
who lives in us.” This emphasis is taken to pastors, Sunday Schools,
day schools, and throughout the fabric of the district. We are also in
the process of studying Paul’s collection for Jerusalem in terms of
mercy care for the Church in the greater context of biblical stewardship.
2. Youth Ministry. The North Dakota District is event driven. District
youth leaders are engaged in leading an annual junior high gathering, youth camps, national youth gatherings, Higher Things, helping
youth to be leaders in the church, mercy mission experiences, and
more.
3. Congregational Life. We have placed the congregations in four categories. These “cluster groups” meet to encourage and draw support
from one another, whether they are city churches, town churches,
healthy rural churches, or struggling rural churches. We are also
planning on hosting young adult focus groups in order to have conversation with this age group in terms of church, faith, discipleship,
worship, culture, and more.

Striving to keep up with the financial needs of a growing district, a director of biblical finance has been hired in 2012 in order to
raise funds in terms of large gifts and deferred gifts. This individual
works in cooperation with our district camp, Lutheran schools, and
the district board of directors as we meet the joys and challenges of
mission and ministry.
North Dakota has recently become the fastest growing state in
the union. This is largely due to vast oil reserves. In partnership with
the Montana District, this year we are calling upon the pastors and
congregations most affected by this oil boom to discuss and plan the
impact of ministry in the “oil patch,” new mission starts, mercy care,
and chaplaincy. With growth throughout the state, the ND District
is aggressively pursuing other potential mission starts as well. Soli
Deo Gloria!
James A. Baneck, President
R3-03-21

North Wisconsin
“Shine Your Light” was the theme of our 2012 district convention based on the passage from Ephesians 5:8, “For at one time you
were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children
of light.” Delegates were challenged to be ready to give an account
for why they believe that Jesus is the light, to reflect and share what
Jesus means to them on a personal level, and to use the gifts that God
has given to share Christ’s love with others.
In today’s world, the challenges are real for the church workers
and laypeople throughout our district. The reality in our district is that
our membership is getting older, worship attendance is declining in
many of our congregations, the children are growing up and leaving
home and not returning, and we are now living in a nation where even