LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 75

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SYNOD REPORTS
of diverse worship styles with a liturgical dancer, traditional, gospel, praise, and Spanish choral groups from district congregations.
Friday was dedicated to mission education. Dr. Kurt Senske of
Lutheran Social Services of the South spoke on our vocation to live
as God’s missional people. The Rev. Tony Cook, Concordia Seminary
professor, spoke about the society and culture in which we are living
and have our mission. The lunch hour included a shortened Lifetree
Café experience. The Rev. Greg and Susan Finke of Dwelling 1:14
introduced the idea of missional communities.
The president’s report began with the theme for the next triennium.
“It’s not time to focus on buildings, elections, resolutions, reports, or
doing business. It’s Time—That They May Know Jesus! It’s time we
follow the ministry example of Jesus which we find in His Word. Not
waiting for people to come and meet us, but going to connect with
people where they are gathered.”
The report concluded with the following priorities to support the
people of the Southern District in fulfilling their mission: Support
the planting of new starts to ensure the best possible place, plan, and
person for the mission; Assist congregations in focusing/refocusing
their mission work; Practice good stewardship in our operations to
increase the resources available for the mission; Transition staff from
program providers to mission facilitators who connect our congregations to the best mission practices; and Utilize a form of governance
which enables the leadership to focus on the mission and be accountable to its work.
The official business session began Saturday with elections, and
concluded after 3 hours and 30 minutes. All resolutions presented
were adopted, the most significant being:
TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT AND THE ETHIOPIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH MEKANE YESUS

Whereas, LCMS World Mission began work in Ethiopia in 2000
as part of a larger East Africa strategy for training leaders among several people groups in East African countries; and
Whereas, LCMS World Relief and Human Care began mercy
work in Ethiopia in 2001 by supporting a garden at the Baro Bethel
Bible School and has sponsored other projects including garden for
Christian schools, a women’s micro-enterprise project, wells, clinic
repairs, and food assistance; and
Whereas, The LCMS, working with various synods (which are
similar to the LCMS districts) of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church
Mekane Yesus (EECMY), signed a partnership agreement with the
EECMY in January 2010 that formalized the relationship for mutual
mission as church bodies and provided a framework for the exploring
each other’s understanding of our Lutheran identity; and
Whereas, In the midst of the influence of many other church bodies in Africa, the relationship between the LCMS and the EECMY
is to help convey a confessional witness based upon the Scriptures
and the Lutheran Confessions (Cf. Synod Constitution Art. II); and
Whereas, The congregations of the Southern District have been
richly blessed by its many connections with the EECMY through the
president as well as other staff members of the Concordia College
Alabama, the translation of the Book of Concord into Amharic by
one of our district pastors, the Southern District Pastors’ Conference
support of the Master Builders Center, and the sharing of the best
mission practices though PLI and the travel of Southern District pastors to Ethiopia; and
Whereas, we believe that even greater blessings await the
Southern District congregations, church workers, and Concordia
College Alabama by a strengthened relationship with the congregations of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY);
therefore be it

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Resolved, That the Southern District express its strong desire for
greater mutual conversation, encouragement, learning, and support
between the congregations of the Southern District and the congregations of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus; and be
it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the Southern District be
encouraged to commit to lifting up the people of Mekane Yesus that
they may become even greater confessional witnesses to the love of
Jesus Christ so that more may come to know God’s amazing grace;
and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the Southern District commit to building a relationship with congregations of Mekane Yesus so
that we can study their best mission practices and become more effective instruments of reaching people in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida,
Louisiana, and beyond who do not yet know the love of Jesus Christ,
and also provide support resources for a strong Lutheran confessional witness in the congregations of Mekane Yesus; and be it further
Resolved, That the leadership of the Southern District explore
ways in which its congregations together may provide confessional
support for the congregations of Mekane Yesus; and be it further
Resolved, That the people of the Southern District be encouraged
to commit to support the work of Mekane Yesus congregations by asking the children, men, women, professional church workers, churches
and schools to support the brothers and sisters in Mekane Yesus with
their prayers and gifts; and be it further
Resolved, That 50 percent of the 2012 convention offerings be
first fruits toward a goal of 1,000,000 Birr (approximately $60,000)
of support for the work of Mekane Yesus; and be it further
Resolved, That the offering be used for doctrinal materials that
are in accord with Article IV of Synod’s Constitution to assist with
the proclamation of pure Gospel among their people; and be it finally
Resolved, That being empowered by the Holy Spirit working
through the Gospel and blessed beyond our wildest expectations, we
give God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all praise and glory.
Kurtis D. Schultz, President
R3-03-33

Southern Illinois District
The Southern Illinois District (SID) comprises 96 congregations,
22 parochial schools, 3 Lutheran high schools, and 18 freestanding
preschools and daycares. This emphasis on Christian education continues to be a blessing. Fully three-fourths of SID congregations are
classified as rural or small town. The challenge is doing ministry in
areas with both declining and aging populations.
East St. Louis is a blighted inner city with numerous challenges. A
decade ago, the district started a parochial school in connection with
Unity Lutheran Church. Unity Lutheran Christian Elementary School
has exceeded all expectations. The first eighth-grade class graduated
in 2012. The majority of the graduates attend Metro East Lutheran
High School in Edwardsville. Unity Lutheran Church has a revitalized
ministry with an enthused laity doing acts of mercy in the community.
Prison ministry is a significant outreach of the district. Some 27
prisons, jails, and institutions are visited weekly by pastors and laity.
A new campus ministry was opened at Southwestern Illinois
College in Belleville. Another is at Southern Illinois University in
Edwardsville. The district’s flagship campus ministry is at Southern
Illinois University in Carbondale.
The staff and congregation at Our Savior Lutheran Church also do
intentional outreach to the Chinese Community in Carbondale. Zion
Lutheran Church in Belleville sponsors a Korean congregation that
meets in their facility and is served by one of Zion’s assistant pastors, the Rev. Jin O. Jeong. There is a growing Hispanic population
2013 Convention Workbook