R1.2.1 Office of National Mission

R1.2.1

Office of National Mission The Office of National Mission (ONM) coordinates and supports domestic ministries that serve congregations and schools through the districts of the Synod (Bylaw 3.8.2.4). The ONM will enliven, equip, coordinate, and engage congregations, schools, and recognized service organizations (RSOs) through districts in order to enhance their local and regional missions and ministries.

During this triennium, through the districts, the ONM has focused on God’ s Mission Here in North America by supporting congregations, schools, and circuits to plant new congregations and schools, strengthen existing congregations and schools, evangelize the lost, retain the faithful, and care for workers (2023 Res. 4-02).

A. Worship LCMS Worship ministry nurtures a culture of confessional faithfulness, artistic excellence, and integrity in the presentation, distribution, and reception of God’s life-giving gifts in Word and Sacrament. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

• Hosted the 2024 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music with 540 in attendance. Preparations are underway for July 12–16, 2027, at Concordia University Wisconsin.

• Received a $750,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. in support of “Sing, Pray and Keep His Ways,” a five-year project devoted to nurturing child faith through Lutheran wor - ship.

Rev. Sean Daenzer, Director B. Mercy Ministry Area The ONM Mercy Ministry Area takes up the work of LCMS World Relief and Human Care in North America.

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor, Managing Director B.1. Deaconess Ministry LCMS Deaconess Ministry encourages and supports the for - mation and professional service of Lutheran women theologically trained to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through acts of mercy, spiritual care, and teaching the Christian faith under the supervision of a pastor. There are 365 deaconesses on the LCMS roster, which represents an increase of 92 women over the past decade. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

• Coordination and consultation with Synod deaconess train - ing programs and RSO programs.

• Created a Post-certification Applied Learning and Support (PALS) program for deaconesses in the first three years after being commissioned. Twenty-four deaconesses have participated in PALS for deaconesses.

B.2. Disaster Response and Training LCMS Disaster Response provides training, resources, and financial assistance to districts, congregations, and RSOs affected by disasters. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

• Over 3,200 new Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) volunteers were trained, and over 72,000 hours were logged by all LERT volunteers.

• The Basic LERT Training underwent significant revision to make it more accessible to interested volunteers.

• Provided 111 grants totaling $3.43 million nationwide to support disaster relief and response (2023 Res. 3-04A).

• Following Hurricane Helene in North Carolina in 2024, awarded 11 grants totaling $714,000 to assist affected ministries (2023 Res. 3-04A).

• After Hurricanes Milton and Helene impacted Florida, provided 9 grants totaling $560,000 to support recovery efforts (2023 Res. 3-04A).

Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson and Rev. Michael Meyer, Directors OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

2026 Convention Workbook 17 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS through congregational health ministries. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

• Collaboration with the LCMS Parish Nurse Council that coordinates the districts’ parish nurse leaders and health initiatives; supported the annual meeting of district parish nurse representatives. There are currently 277 parish nurses serving in 33 districts.

• Created mental health resources (see the separate Report

R60 on 2023 Res. 3-03A).

B.7. Recognized Service Organizations The granting of RSO status by the Synod signifies that a service organization, while independent of the Synod, fosters the mission and ministry of the Church, engages in program activity that extends the mission and ministry of the Synod, is in harmony with the programs of the boards of the Synod, and respects and does not act contrary to the doctrine and practice of the Synod (Bylaw 6.2.1).

These organizations serve nationally and internationally as they extend the mission and ministry of the LCMS by providing acts of mercy, witness, and education. There are currently 339 RSOs. Over the past triennium, 95 organizations have received status, of which 30 were new organizations applying for RSO status and 65 were renewing RSO organizations. There were 47 RSOs terminated of RSO status and four applications were denied.

Deaconess Dorothy Krans, Director B.8. Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry Specialized Pastoral Ministry (SPM) was renamed as Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry in 2023 to reflect the variety of special contexts the ecclesiastically endorsed rostered church workers serve in, such as civilian chaplaincy roles, counselors, and clinical spiritual care educators. These workers bring the love of Christ through compassionate spiritual care to individuals in hospitals and health care facilities; long-term care facilities; senior communities;

prisons; law enforcement, fire, and rescue agencies; disaster response; and workplaces. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

• Ecclesiastically endorsed 25 church workers.

• Three calls issued through the Board for National Mission.

• Launched Lutheran Visitation Education, a distinctly LCMS training program for rostered church workers that is recognized as a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) equivalent course.

• Distributed 34 Prison Ministry kits to inmates and LCMS prison chaplains for visitation, services, and pastoral care.

Plans for the next triennium:

• Continue to train workers through Lutheran Visitation Education annually.

• Provide resources and training for Prison Ministry with the generous support of the LWML (2023 Omnibus Res. A).

Rev. Brian Heller, Director B.9. Worker Well-Being The Synod’s fifth mission priority is to promote and nurture the spiritual, emotional, financial, and physical well-being of pastors and professional church workers. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

• Collaborated with Concordia Plan Services and districts to B.3. Family Ministry The seventh LCMS mission priority is to strengthen and support the Lutheran family in living out God’s design. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

• Created over 100 resources to encourage family devotions (2023 Res. 12-02, Res. 12-05) and other supports to the family.

• Developed Created Male and Female resources to address sexual orientation and gender identity; engaged youth on this topic at the LCMS Youth Gathering (2023 Res. 1-04A).

• Holding a Family Summit on Manhood/Fatherhood in spring 2026 (2023 Res. 12-05).

Plans for the next triennium:

• Encourage congregations, districts, and RSOs through new and existing initiatives targeted to Tell the Next Generation.

• Continue to provide Created Male and Female resources.

• Create resources to support the family.

Rev. Andrew Becker, Manager B.4. Grantmaking ONM offers grants to aid LCMS congregations, RSOs, and districts to vigorously make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches and communities. In the past triennium, ONM awarded 74 national development grants totaling $1,626,251.67 to benefit projects throughout the U.S.

Deaconess Maryann Hayter, Manager B.5. Life Ministry Through LCMS Life Ministry, the Body of Christ comes together to value all human life—from conception to natural death.

LCMS Life Ministry speaks up for life, cares for people in body and soul, and teaches about the sanctity of human life. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

• In 2023–25, the Life Ministry matching grant program gave 61 grant awards to congregations and districts to support education, advocacy, and local pro-life human care efforts with emphasis on beginning of life needs. Estimates are that 38,100 people were served by 2,512 volunteers.

LCMS grants totaling $500,496.75 were disbursed to match congregational contributions of $618,083.12 for a total of $1,115,579.87 (2023 Res. 3-01).

• Facilitated LCMS participation in 42 different Marches for Life at the national, state, and local level. The estimated number of participants in 2024–25 is 4,780 Lutherans.

• Published podcast episodes, conference sessions, and resources to respond to human trafficking (2023 Res. 3-02A).

• Held a conference in 2025, conducted webinars, provided training, and published new resources (2023 Res. 3-01).

• Consulted and collaborated with the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to address abortion and use of fetal tissue in vaccines (2023 Res. 11-04).

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor, Director B.6. Health Ministry LCMS Health Ministry works to support and promote Christ-centered health and wellness of body, mind, and spirit

2026 Convention Workbook 18 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS • As of Nov. 2025, there are 92 church plants either active or building to activity (2023 Res. 1-03A).

• Church Planting Workshops for seminarians at both seminaries (2023 Res. 1-03A).

• Work is being done to launch more education and training for church planting teams (2023 Res. 1-03A).

Rev. Quintin Cundiff, Director C.3. Discipleship Ministry LCMS Discipleship Ministry is focused on supporting congregations through their districts as they develop lifelong disciples of Jesus. Discipleship Ministry offers resources that address both the “gathering” and the “shepherding” aspects of Jesus’ Great Commission. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

• Promoted witness, outreach, and revitalization through Every One His Witness and re:Vitality workshops that provide training for church workers and laypeople in strategic planning, meaningful community outreach, and ministry to inactive members (2023 Res. 6-04).

• Gathered and shared resources to aid small congregations and multi-congregation pastors and parishes with Partner - ship Project resources (2023 Res. 1-02A).

• The process for using the Congregational Assessment of Development/Decline Status (CADDS) self-assessment tool has been reworked to enable more widespread use as districts and congregations have increased use of this tool.

Plans for the next triennium:

• New re:Vitality workshops focused on assimilation and incorporation of members, and a workshop on outreach for churches with schools.

Rev. Dr. Heath Trampe, Director C.4. Stewardship Ministry LCMS Stewardship Ministry continues to provide workshops, conferences, and resources to help pastors and congregations teach and practice faithful stewardship in their own settings. Four pastors have been trained to be circuit and district presenters.

C.5. School Ministry LCMS School Ministry assists, equips, and uplifts school educators, district staff, and especially education executives, as well as congregational leaders so that through them children may be equipped as disciples of Jesus Christ. There are 1,664 early childhood centers, 722 elementary schools, and 114 high schools in the LCMS. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

• National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA): 674 schools are accredited (early childhood centers, K–8 schools, and high schools).

• Conducting Genesis Project studies as requested to help congregations discern the feasibility and mission effectiveness of starting a school.

• School Leadership Development Program (SLED) has continued to form faithful, mission-driven administrators; expanded support for early childhood directors through the Early Childhood SLED initiative.

• Facilitated a special offering to support grants by MinistryFocus for student debt of Commissioned Minister—Teachers create a strategic plan that addresses the wellness of church workers and assisted with the development of a District Wellness Initiative (2023 Res. 1-06A).

• Created new resources and developed a pilot program to assist congregational lay leaders in creating a loving and supportive culture (2023 Res. 1-06A).

• Soldiers of the Cross provided $241,705 in financial assistance to 98 rostered church workers; Veterans of the Cross provided $717,751 to 30 recipients.

• $474,200 in grants were issued for district programs and to RSOs, including DOXOLOGY , Shepherd’s Canyon, and GracePoint Relational Health, that provide wellness programs and services to rostered church workers.

Plans for the next triennium:

• Address the wellness needs of young church workers identified in 2024 research.

• Continue the District Wellness Initiative roll-out to all districts.

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor, Director C. Witness Ministry Area The ONM Witness Ministry Area supports the local mission work that proclaims Christ in congregations and schools including urban areas, on college campuses, in rural areas and small towns, and among people of different ethnicities.

Rev. Michael Meyer, Managing Director C.1. All Nations Ministry All Nations Ministry equips churches to reach out to people “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Rev. 7:9). Whether black, Hispanic, Native American, or of another ethnicity, all people need to hear the saving message of Jesus Christ. United in Christ, LCMS members gather together in wor - ship and reach out to more than 60 ethnic and 45 language groups in the U.S. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

• Increased collaboration and wellness among leaders of ethnic ministries through the All Nations Council, through publication of an online directory and dashboard, and by providing grants for conferences and outreach (2023 Res. 1-05A).

• Provided visitation, consultation, encouragement, and support to ethnic ministries throughout the U.S. (2023 Res.

1-05A).

• Developed new multilingual materials for witness and discipleship plus a new catalog of existing materials in order to facilitate utilization.

• Working with CPH for a scholarly book focused on the work of the LCMS in discipling peoples of all ethnicities, languages, and skin colors (2023 Res. 11-03A).

Rev. Stephen Heimer, Manager C.2. Church Planting LCMS Church Planting comes alongside districts and their new church plants to support church planting teams with resources, training, and tools. Eligible church plants are able to apply for grant funds made possible through the generosity of the Bolick Foundation. Accomplishments over the past triennium:

2026 Convention Workbook 19 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS