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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 122

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

122
R38

New England District
The New England district was created out of the Atlantic District by the 1971 Synod convention. It encompasses six states: Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and
Connecticut. Some of our congregations are in the fairly large cities
of Boston, Mass.; Providence, R.I.; and Nashua, N.H. Most, however, are suburban or rural congregations which are fairly small
and are at a significant distance from one another. For this reason,
the district is divided into only five circuits, with five circuit visitors and three elected vice-presidents assisting the district president
with his work.
When the numbers of congregations and parishioners are tallied, New England is a small district: 65 congregations with around
9,300 confirmed members. There are certainly disadvantages in
this, one being the small district staff. Only the president is fulltime; the business manager is half-time (and also serves as the Lutheran Church Extension Fund [LCEF] regional district vice-president half-time), a deaconess serves part-time, and the president’s
administrative assistant is part-time. All other district workers serve
as volunteers. One significant advantage of being small, however,
is that the pastors and other church workers of the district know one
another well and are very supportive of one another. The district
president visits every congregation of the district at least once (and
some, several times) over the triennium. During the 2022–25 triennium, those visits were to evaluate and encourage the pastors and
other church workers of the district. During the 2025–28 triennium,
the congregation members, and especially their leaders, will hear
their district president preach and teach on Church and Ministry,
using Dr. Walther’s theses as a basis for discussion. Our business
manager is also a great resource to our congregations, providing
help and guidance with LCEF resources and especially with financial and tax issues.
Most of the pastors of the district faithfully attend their circuit
winkels, which provide opportunities for worship together as well
as in-depth discussion of matters of doctrine and practice. Discussion is robust and fraternal. They also faithfully attend the pastoral
conferences which the district provides twice a year. Commissioned
workers are also welcomed at these winkels and conferences. Wonderful fellowship and learning opportunities are fostered at these
gatherings.
The district also has several deaconesses serving within it, with
one having completed her training this spring and now serving the
district as a called worker. Her focus is especially upon the families
of church workers, whom she checks in on regularly. Another deaconess started and runs a recognized service organization in Bangor, Maine, called Hope for Healing. She uses horses to connect
with military veterans who are dealing with post-traumatic stress
disorder, and then to minister to them with God’s Word of healing
and comfort in Christ.

A. Congregations
Most of the 65 congregations in the district have fewer than 200
members, and over half of the congregations average fewer than 50
in worship on any given Sunday. This makes it difficult to support
a pastor or other church worker. Currently, 10 percent of our congregations are being served by visiting pastors, as available, as they
cannot support a pastor of their own. Another 10 percent are, or
were recently, vacant and involved in the call process.
2026 Convention Workbook

Fifty-five pastors serve our congregations, mostly full-time, but
some part-time. Of these, 17 have been in their congregation less
than 10 years. So, although there have been many new pastors in
the district, many more have enjoyed lengthy ministries in their
current congregations. We also have five specific ministry pastors
serving congregations and several retired pastors who are still regularly serving. We are blessed with faithful pastoral leadership!
Liturgical worship, using the liturgies in our hymnals (mostly
Lutheran Service Book), is also what is taking place in most of our
congregations on Sundays (and other days). The Word of God’s
salvation in Christ is being clearly proclaimed and also given out
sacramentally. The weekly reception of the Lord’s Supper is standard in the majority of New England congregations.

B. Schools
There are three elementary schools in New England: Immanuel
Lutheran School in Danbury, Conn.; Immanuel Lutheran School
in Bristol, Conn.; and Trinity Christian School in Keene, N.H. The
schools are visited annually by District President Beinke and Business Manager Brenda Bacon, with classrooms visited and a lunch
for the teachers and staff provided. The district also hosts the principals of the schools at the district office quarterly, providing an
opportunity for mutual help and support. Finally, the district also
provides for ongoing training and support for the teachers at an
annual training day, which is held at one of the schools.
There are also 16 preschools and early childhood centers that
are run by congregations in the district. They serve as a service
to and outreach into their communities and provide a wonderful
opportunity for bringing the Gospel of Christ to children and their
families.

C. Missions
For several years now there has been a congregation in the Boston area that is reaching out to and serving immigrants from Ethiopia. Bethel Oromo Lutheran Church is a small congregation and
is currently without a pastor, but it has been receiving assistance
from LCMS Oromo pastors and church leaders from throughout
the Synod to help them during this vacancy. This help from our
brothers and sisters across the Synod is much appreciated, as there
are currently no Oromo-speaking pastors in New England.
First Lutheran in Boston has for years had an outreach to the
many college students attending the schools in the Boston area.
This has resulted in many students embracing Christ and our Lutheran teaching of His Gospel and also joining the congregation.
It is a vibrant congregation with people of many different cultures
and language groups … and foods, which are often shared together
on their patio! If you’re visiting the Boston area, plan to attend on a
Sunday and rejoice together in the Gospel and fellowship!
North of Boston, Messiah Lutheran in Lynnfield, Mass., has an
outreach to people of Portuguese heritage, of whom there are many.
The pastor has learned the Portuguese language and offers a service
in that language, yet also each month joins together in worship the
English- and Portuguese-speaking members of the congregation.
St. Paul’s Lutheran in Providence, R.I., is a congregation that is
made up primarily of Liberian people who have emigrated to the
U.S. One of their members is now enrolled in the seminary and
is preparing for service to them. They also support mission work
among the Gbarnga people of Liberia.
In the Lakes region of central New Hampshire is Lakes Region