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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 131

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

A Next Generation of Church Workers
Recruiting future church workers is a top priority in the district. The recruitment committee works tirelessly to foster growth
for these vocations. Concordia University, Irvine (CUI) has seen
encouraging growth in church work students, with a steady rise in
district enrollees. Working in partnership with Set Apart to Serve,
congregations and schools are encouraged to invite young and old
to serve in professional church work. We are pleased to report that
in the 2025–26 academic year, 49 men from our district are participants in the various pastoral formation pathways offered by our
Synod. The recent triennium has seen a growing partnership between the Synod’s Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support
(PALS) and the West Coast districts’ Ministry Applied Practice.
Rev. Jonathan Manor, director of PALS, is an annual presenter and
participant. The exchange of resources and practices is a blessing
to both. (Res. 6-01, “To Affirm and Strengthen Set Apart to Serve
in Word and Action”; Res. 1-06A, “To Direct Districts and Council
of Presidents to Provide a Strategic Plan for Addressing the Wellness of Church Workers”; Res. 6-06A, “To Support and Participate
in Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support and Preach the
Word”)

Celebrating Our Schools
The district’s 136 schools continue to be a cornerstone of Gospel ministry, reaching over 19,000 students and their families.
We have embraced a bold vision to become the private schools of
choice in the Southwestern U.S. District schools have established
several artificial intelligence (AI) lab classrooms to learn how to
appropriately integrate AI educational technology into Lutheran
school classrooms. 2025 marked a leadership transition as we said
goodbye to Executive Director of Schools Rachel Klitzing after 28
years of service to the district and the Synod. At the same time,
we welcomed Executive Director of School Administration Xavria
Schwarz, who serves alongside fellow Education Executive Superintendent of School Innovation Eun Chu Kim. We are pleased to report that Eun Chu Kim participated in the effort to produce uniform
Lutheran Academic Standards for Synod schools. (Res. 12-04A,
“To Commend and Give Thanks for Lutheran Schools”; Res. 1201A, “To Produce a Uniform Set of Lutheran Academic Standards
for Our Schools”)

Equipping the Saints
The Mission Training Center (MTC) has blossomed into a vibrant platform, offering ministry training to laypeople so that they
can better serve alongside their pastors. MTC is a partnership of the
Northwest, California-Nevada-Hawaii, and Pacific Southwest districts and CUI. Seventeen online courses are now available, making
quality instruction accessible and affordable. Foundations of Lutheran Teaching (FLT), offered through MTC, helps non-Lutheran educators in our schools learn what is Lutheran about Lutheran
education and deepen unity in doctrine and mission. We pray that
FLT will lead to more teacher colloquy and rostered educator status. (Res. 6-04, “To Affirm and Provide Guidance for the Service
of the Laity”)

Small and Multi-Congregation Parishes
With a growing number of smaller congregations, many of
which can no longer afford a pastor, the district works closely with
small congregations and multi-congregation parishes. Congregations are personally engaged through the work of District Ministry
Executive Rev. Jim Henkell, who brings local and shared resourc-

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es available through Office of National Ministry to assist congregations in finding a path in a changing season of ministry. (Res.
1-02A, “To Aid Small Congregations and Multi-Congregation Pastors and Parishes”)

Koinonia Project
The district hosted a Koinonia Project to discuss pathways for
pastoral formation. The gathering was held in Las Vegas Jan. 7–8,
2026. One hundred and twenty individuals representing twenty
LCMS districts participated. The Synod resources created by the
sainted Rev. Dr. Herbert Mueller were used to shape the event
and guide the conversations. Seven brief presentations primed the
pump for significant times of table discussion and captured content.
A report is available on the district website. (Res. 4-01A, “To Commend and Encourage Continued Use of the Koinonia Project and
Give Thanks to God for the Sainted Rev. Dr. Herbert C. Mueller,
Jr.”)

Disaster Response—LA Fires
From Jan. 7 to 31, 2025, wildfires devastated parts of the Los
Angeles area, with Santa Ana winds blowing up to 100 miles per
hour. Over 200,000 people were evacuated, with fire destroying
more than 18,000 homes and structures. The communities of Altadena and the Palisades were significantly impacted, including
numerous members of district congregations who lost everything.
The response to the disaster from within the district and across the
Synod was amazing. Special thanks to Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson and
LCMS Disaster Response for their guidance and resources. A year
later, Rev. Chris Schaar of Historic First Lutheran, Pasadena, and
Rev. Dr. Martin Lee of Holy Cross Lutheran, Palisades, continue
to provide outstanding ministry to their members and community.
The resources received by the district enable these congregations to
provide both the spiritual and financial support necessary for many
years of rebuilding. Thank you to all in the LCMS who provided
support in this crisis. (Res. 3-04A, “To Commend and Give Thanks
for Synod Work regarding Disaster Response”)

Rejecting Racism
The district is greatly blessed by its racial and cultural diversity. To ensure our continued unity, a video and discussion resource
was created for use during the 2025 district convention as an effort
to reject racism, rectify past wrongs of commission and omission
within the district, and focus on future opportunities in ministry
within our communities. This resource is available for circuits and
congregations to use as they walk together. (Res. 11-02A, “To Reject All Forms of Racism and Affirm Our Witness to All People”)

Innovative Stewardship—Real Estate
Solutions
The district is working in partnership with Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) and the Real Estate Solutions team to help
congregations strategically repurpose property for ministry sustainability. Proposed district projects exemplify this effort to build new
housing, community spaces designed to support mission, housing
for workers, and to generate sustainable ministry income. The district is grateful for the outstanding leadership and trusted partnership of LCEF.

A New Home for District Ministry
In September 2024, the district moved its office to CUI’s Spectrum campus. The relocation was possible thanks to a close part2026 Convention Workbook