Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 117

LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 117

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

117

•

Reaffirming Church Planting

ers, and the kingdom of God with the Good News of the Gospel.

•

Continuation of Our Relationship with the SELVD in Tanzania

R33

•

Commending Support of Trinity HOPE in Haiti

•

Maintaining Accountability and Transparency of Financial
Gifts from God’s Stewards

•

Encouraging Financial Support for Professional Church
Workers

•

Establishing Locum Tenens Ministries for the District

•

Establishing an LCMS Men’s Ministry

•

To Shape the Faith Formation Paradigm for Generation to
Generation

•

To Encourage Generational Ministry

•

To Evaluate, Study, and Use Biblically-Based Stewardship
Services

•

To Encourage and Facilitate Personal Evangelism

•

To Encourage Further Consideration of Successful Completion of Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Coursework before
Ordination and Placement

•

Regularizing SMP Classification

•

To Extend Overture to the 2026 Synod Convention Concerning Specific Ministry Pastoral Training

•

To Direct Offices of National and International Mission to
Decline Applications of Recognized Service Organization
Status from Organizations Currently Supporting, Advocating, or Otherwise Promoting LGBTQIA+ Agenda and Lifestyle and To Direct Offices of National and International
Mission to Revoke RSO Status of the Same

•

To Participate in Building a Culture of Church Work Formation and Recruitment

While we recognize an overall trend of declining congregational
membership and support for congregations and the church at large,
the district has focused attention on the many external factors that
impact our vitality and effectiveness. The large geographic size of
our district and our relatively small number of congregations requires us to be strategic in the services we provide to our congregations, schools, early childhood centers, and church workers. As
a result, our strategic initiatives will include the following goals:
•

Reestablish the Small and Rural Congregation Council

•

Continue the Education, Family, and Youth Ministry Executive position

•

Develop efficiencies and accountability in church planting
to maximize use of limited and valuable resources under the
church planting covenant

•

Continue to expand the fundraising efforts to support the essential services of the district to its membership

•

Continue and encourage participation in the pastors’ wives’
retreats

•

Celebrate the district’s 60th anniversary

Following the 2025 district convention, we are committed more
than ever to increase our size, abilities, and resources in the ongoing privilege of serving our member congregations, church work-

Roger C. Paavola, President

Minnesota North District
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the
excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Strengthened in Christ. Faithful. Visitations.
Each week in the Minnesota North District, 194 congregations
proclaim the crucified and risen Lord Jesus, forgive and retain sins,
and mercifully serve their communities in His name. Every school
day, our 7 elementary schools, 1 high school, and 17 preschools declare the truth of Christ to our young people and instruct them in His
ways. I am deeply humbled by the commitment and steadfast faith
of our workers, our congregational leaders, and all the baptized who
abound in the mercy of Christ.
The purpose of our district is to preserve and promote unity in the
one true faith (1 Cor. 1:10). We pay careful attention to what we believe, teach, and confess because salvation is at stake (1 Tim. 4:16).
One of our central goals is to ensure that our confession of faith remains the same for generations to come. More than 70 percent of our
congregations are over 100 years old. We pray that 100 years from
now, our ministries will still confess the same inerrant Scriptures,
the same bloodied and resurrected Christ as Lord, the same Small
Catechism, and will trust the same Holy Spirit to grow the Church
through His Word. The Lord grant it by His grace.
To remain steadfast in Christ, we continue to prioritize visitations. Our office is lean, only three full-time staff, and ready to serve.
Since 2022, we have visited 191 of our 194 congregations and are
scheduled to complete visits to every ministry by the end of August
2026. Our ongoing goal is to visit each ministry at least once every
triennium through the district president, vice-presidents, and circuit
visitors. Each visit centers on prayer, building up the Body of Christ,
encouraging our workers, and exhorting one another to holy living.
We thank the Lord for the opportunities to uphold the sanctity
of human life by two congregations, Redeemer Aurora and Faith in
Silver Bay, extending mercy through their Swaddling Clothes ministries. As pastoral vacancies continue to increase (currently 55 of
our congregations are without a called pastor), more than 160 men
attended an elders retreat to strengthen their spiritual leadership and
assistance in their congregations. The importance of teaching the
faith in the home is being actively promoted through circuit seminars and various district initiatives.
While many changes occur each day, we cling to the same promises of our Savior. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and
forever” (Heb. 13:8).
Brady L. Finnern, President
R34

Minnesota South District
In 2022, the 79th convention of the Minnesota South District
was convened under the theme of “Everything in the Name of Jesus.” Delegates gathered together to partner in the district’s mission
to “cultivate leaders intentionally engaged in the mission of God.”
2026 Convention Workbook