R24 Eastern District

R24

Eastern District The 101st Convention of the Eastern District of The Luther - an Church—Missouri Synod was held June 20–21, 2025, on the campus of First Trinity Lutheran Church in Tonawanda, N.Y . The convention theme was “Born Again to a Living Hope” drawn from 1 Peter 1:3. The Rev. John L. Pingel, district president, presided.

The Rev. Jason Christ served as convention chaplain, the Rev. Ron Breight as election committee chair, the Rev. Sean Walters as credentials committee chair, and Mr. Gordon Tresch, Esq. as convention manager.

The Rev. Christopher Esget, East-Southeast Region vice-president, served as Synod’s representative and presented to the convention at several junctures in the convention proceedings. Among those who addressed the convention were Mr. Jon Allen, who chairs the Eastern District board of directors; Dee Gyb, president of the Eastern District LWML; the Rev. Nycholas Grieg, who brought

2026 Convention Workbook 109 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS the congregations and their call committees to develop call lists.

As the number of calling congregations has increased (more than doubled in the past year), we have sought to increase the time and focus of our staff for this critical ministry to our parishes.

B. Mission Rev. Derek Mathers, mission executive and assistant to the bishop, continues to work with groups in our district who are intentionally and actively open to church planting opportunities. This past year, it was a great joy to welcome a new church plant, Shepherd of the Canyon Lutheran Church in Gold Canyon, Ariz., and her pastor, Rev. Dr. Mark Wood, into our district and officially as a congregation of our Synod.

Our 1-1-1 fundraising program (see 2019 Res. 8-02) continues to provide support for missions. Each year the proceeds are split between a national and an international mission.

The district makes use of the Office of National Mission’s re:Vitality resources. These encourage congregations to be intentional in their time, energy, and effort for connecting to their communi - ties. We are focused on making strategic use of the Congregational Assessment of Development and/or Decline Study (CADDS) as a preparatory part of the congregational calling process.

We continue to give considerable financial support to the Dominican Republic Lutheran Mission as well as to our campus ministries.

Working through our Canadian congregations, and alongside our Synod’s leadership, we have strengthened our relationship with Lutheran Church—Canada, sharing resources and building fellowship.

C. Education School Ministry Executive Albert Amling visits our 37 schools and their leadership each year to provide counsel and assistance with administrative challenges and growth opportunities. He is actively involved in two new school starts at Fairlawn Lutheran (Fairlawn, Ohio) and the Southern Arizona Lutheran School Association (SALSA) in Tucson, Ariz.

Our district was blessed to receive a $50,000 grant from the Bolick Foundation to enhance efforts towards campus ministry and Lutheran school starts.

D. Care for Church Workers The English District Ministerial Health Commission exists to be a resource for all rostered English District workers. The commis - sion is also available to all spouses and children of rostered church workers. The English District website includes a toolbox where our workers can access helpful materials designed to enhance health in every facet of life.

Debt reduction is a real concern for our church workers. The English District provides considerable funding for the educational debts of our workers. For the past two years we also partnered with the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) and the Lilly Foundation to enhance this aid for our workers.

E. 2025 English District Convention The 58th Convention of the English District was held June 26–28, 2025, on the campus of Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich. Below are some of the resolutions passed at the convention:

Resolution 1-01B: To Encourage the English District of The portunities for continuing education for church workers across the district; and increased efficiency in the call process. Among future endeavors will be the establishing of Lutheran Braille Centers in all four regions; increased stewardship education throughout the district; facilitating partnerships between congregations as a means of continuing Word and Sacrament ministry; the targeting of areas which have potential for future mission establishment; with the addition of a full-time education executive to district staff, increased interaction and support of schools throughout the district with the goal of financial stability, growth in numbers, and support of workers; with increased interaction with congregations, increased financial participation of congregations in support of district endeavors.

Staff serving the Eastern District office, in addition to the district president, include Mr. Bruce Sutherland, executive assistant, Stewardship and Discipleship; Mrs. Ruth Marzano, administrative assistant to the district president; Mr. Kevin Gundell, education executive and assistant to the president; Mr. John Fretthold, business manager; Rev. Peter and Stephanie Johnson, Communications. Mr.

A.J. Sinisgalli, regional vice-president, LCEF, maintains an office at district headquarters.

Challenges affecting the Eastern District are similar to those found across the Synod. Cultural winds opposing the Gospel are strong. Many congregations face decreased funding and declining membership. Nevertheless, God’s Word and Sacraments remain efficacious. God’s Word continues to be proclaimed—grace and peace. People continue to be brought to saving faith in Christ and sustained in that faith through Word and Sacrament ministry.

John L. Pingel, President