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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 136

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

136

a triennium. I am out in the district almost every Sunday preaching,
teaching, ordaining, installing, and connecting with pastors and congregations.

A. Congregations
The district has 149 congregations with 28,000 baptized members. Our average congregation worships with fewer than 50 people
in attendance. Of the 22 historic Black congregations in the district,
12 cannot afford a full-time pastor and are in danger of closing. Circuit 12, centered in Selma, Ala., has 7 historic Black congregations
being served by 2 pastors. The challenges are great, but so is our
God.

B. Schools
The district has 18 early childhood development centers, 9 K–8
schools, and 1 high school.

C. Missions
There is more work to do in mission than we have money or
trained people to support. We are currently working to train 500 lay
missionaries that will help revitalize the ministry and mission of their
home congregations as well as act as core groups for future church
plants. Our newest church plant is happening in Helena, Ala., just
outside of Birmingham.
We are also seeing congregations begin to grow with new families
from their area. We are also seeing young men in their 20s beginning
to seek out our churches and pastors, desiring greater theological,
biblical, confessional, and liturgical depth. One common denominator, though, is the pastor and congregation being welcoming of new
people.
To God alone belongs all glory, honor, dominion, and kingdom in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever.
Eric C. Johnson, President
R53

Southern Illinois District
Since 1907, the Southern Illinois District has served and encouraged workers, ministries, and members of the LCMS across
the southern third of Illinois. Today the district includes 91 congregations, 20 K–8 schools, 2 high schools, 7 stand-alone preschools,
more than 300 professional church workers, and more than 33,000
baptized members.
The district exists to serve and support these local ministries by
planning, coordinating, and executing our joint Ministry, Mission,
and Mercy.
Ministry is what the Church does for her members. We make disciples: we baptize, teach, feed, and support our people. The end goal
of ministry is a stronger Lutheran.
Mission is the task of reaching out and inviting new people to
become disciples. The end goal of mission work is a new Lutheran
who faithfully attends one of our congregations.
Mercy work is kindness done in Jesus’ name. Mercy work in the
Church is always done in support of and in connection to ministry
and/or mission.
The district’s plan for Mission, Ministry, and Mercy focuses on
five critical initiatives:
2026 Convention Workbook

Initiative 1: Focused Outreach Activity
Our Lord Jesus has called us to “make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you” (Matt. 28:19–20). This hard work requires vision, leadership,
training, and the calling of new laborers for the Lord’s harvest
(Matt. 9:38). We are pursuing this by:
•

developing plans and funds to call district missionaries in
partnership with congregations/circuits (several profiles: circuit rider, church planter, outreach pastor, etc.);

•

utilizing the Synod’s Church Planting office to assist us with
research and planning;

•

creating an ongoing, district-wide outreach program, Come
Home for Christmas; and

•

issuing Outreach Grants to congregations to inspire and fund
outreach efforts on the front lines of ministry (applications
for 2026 are now live for $30,000 in grants!).

Initiative 2: Matrix of Support for Lutheran
Schools
With one school for every three parishes, the district is at the
forefront of Synod districts when it comes to Christian education.
The Synod operates the largest network of Protestant schools in
America and the district has more students in its schools (3,600+)
than do many public school districts. Our schools today face numerous challenges, and the district is addressing these needs by:
•

developing training, support, and mentoring for teachers
who need to step into the role of administrator (a pilot program has already begun in one location);

•

partnering with congregations and teachers to get more
teachers trained and rostered as certified Lutheran teachers
through colloquy (five approved applications for colloquy
grants already);

•

ongoing support for accreditation procedures;

•

assisting in debt relief for church workers;

•

promoting competitive salaries and benefits for Lutheran
school teachers;

•

working with the Faith Coalition to advocate and lobby for
Christian schools in Illinois; and

•

participating in Set Apart to Serve to recruit more teachers.

Initiative 3: Spiritual Care of Remote
Congregations
All across the district, and especially outside the Metro East,
there are smaller congregations in need of full-time, ordained pastoral care. Many of these churches are in rural areas that have limited financial resources because they are small in size, but their love
of God is anything but small. Indeed, they are on the forefront of
mission precisely because they are located in areas without a large
Lutheran presence. The district is focused on providing these congregations with a dependable means of receiving Word and Sacrament ministry by:
•

walking alongside congregations as they explore forming
multi-point parishes (three new partnerships were piloted
this year);