Official Workbook report source text
Official Workbook source-navigation report record. No analysis has been added.
- Report number/id
- R29
- Report title
- R29 Iowa District West
- Workbook start page
- 113
- Workbook end page
- 114
- Source pages
- 113, 114
- Source status
- source_checked
- Committee
- Not available
R29 Iowa District West One hundred sixty-five congregations comprise Iowa District West. Interstate 35, with a few exceptions, serves as our eastern border. Our 2025 district convention convened under the theme “One generation commends Your works to another” (Psalm 145). LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison preached during our opening Divine Service, “The Word of God is living and active!” District President Rev. Dr. Steve Turner expressed gratitude and love for the delegates and for the opportunity to serve as the district president for 10 years. He spoke of the strides our district has made in ethnic ministries, in partnerships between congregations, and in support for God’s mission. “Our strength does not lie in us, but in the grace and peace that comes from Jesus Christ.” Our convention essayist, the Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich of Con- cordia University, St. Paul, spoke of the changing of generations. President Friedrich told the story of his family’s history in the dis- trict. “While times are changing, our theology and confession do not change.” The Rev. Paul Egger was elected president of Iowa West Dis- trict on the first ballot. The Rev. Jonathan Riggert was elected first vice-president and the Rev. Benjamin Dose, second vice-president, also on first ballots. 2026 Convention Workbook 114 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS convention. Following is a brief summary of progress on the major direc - tives and priorities that have guided our work since the last Synod convention: District Resolutions 2022 Res. 22-01-03, To Encourage Kansas District Con- gregations to Seek Opportunities to Collaborate and Partner to Enhance Mission and Ministry in the Kansas District: The Partnership Project was launched in 2020. District congregations, schools, and circuits are encouraged to consider ways in which they can be “better together” for the sake of advancing the Gospel in their location, and that the district identify, refine, and develop re- sources as needed to support the Partnership Project and encourage use of these resources. 2022 Res. 22-02-02, To Recommend and Implement a Rigor- ous Program of Study in Circuit Winkels: The district president provided to all circuit visitors and pastors of the district a template for the Traditional Synodical Conference Winkel Model, which provides, on a monthly basis, for significant and adequate time de- voted to (a) the regular, formal study of God’s Word in the original languages led by a circuit pastor; (b) the regular, formal study of our blessed Confession and/or the Lutheran dogmatic tradition led by a circuit pastor; (c) the regular, formal study of an historical, pas- toral-theological, or polemical topic led by a circuit pastor; and (d) regular, formal pastor-led critique of the winkel preacher’s sermon. 2022 Res. 22-03-01, To Encourage the Implementation of the Church Worker Care Manual in LCMS Kansas District Congregations: The lay leaders of district congregations are en- couraged to implement the Church Worker Care Manual with their pastor(s) and other professional church workers (if applicable) within the 2022–25 triennium; and that church worker care teams or other appropriate boards or individuals within the congregation would focus their efforts on praying for, encouraging, and offering respite opportunities for church workers, promoting and supporting financially the continuing education of their called workers, and providing compensation for church workers that meets or exceeds established guidelines in the district. Synod Priorities Bylaw 4.4.4, Visitation: We conducted 31 “official” visitations in the district since the last convention. The visits were intentional- ly based on Constitution Article III and Bylaw 4.4.4 (e). Visitation in this triennium will also be centered on the same focus. 2023 Res. 1-01A, “To Stimulate Training for Witness”: We are using and actively encouraging the use of all re:Vitality resources. 2023 Res. 1-03A, “To Plant More Churches”: Church Plant- ing Simplified is currently being used with two new church plants. 2023 Res. 6-01, “To Affirm and Strengthen Set Apart to Serve in Word and Action”: The district is actively supporting this church worker recruitment initiative with prayer and active engage- ment. 2023 Res. 6-09, “To Recognize and Honor the Pastor’s Wife”: We recognized all church workers and their anniversaries with dessert following the convention Divine Service. Performance Assessment We strive to be good stewards of the gifts entrusted to our care. Here are a few ways the district staff and the board of directors have tant Mrs. Jill Davis (15) to Mrs. Michelle Hammersland; Lutheran Church Extension Fund Vice-President Mrs. Carole White Mander- nach (26) to Mr. Josh Remington; and Gift Planning Coordinator Mr. Jim Schroeder (36) to Mr. Leon Shoenfeld. With so many rookies and much to learn, we thank God for our continuing experience in the district office of (in decreasing order of years of experience): Business Manager Roger Curtis, Execu - tive Assistants Ms. Rhonda Mohr and Rev. Dr. B. Keith Haney, Missionary-at-Large Rev. Pedro Lopez, and IOWAY Director Mrs. Julie Mann. What about missions here and around the world? Rev. Lopez has been expanding ministry opportunities with Hispanic commu - nities all around the district. Rev. Daniel Mapur has been working with the Sudanese congregation at Grace, Le Mars. There are possi- bilities for additional Sudanese ministries in Denison, Storm Lake, and Des Moines. In the middle of the district, Mission Central, under the leader - ship of Mr. Gary Theis and Rev. Steve Schulz, promotes mission awareness and support for missionaries sent around God’s earth. Our Lutheran Women’s Missionary League with mites and prayers supports district, Synod, and worldwide outreach. Our district sends 40 percent of our receipts on to the Synod for the Synod’s work. Another blessing: More of our district congregations are return- ing to our biblical, confessional, historical practice of every Sunday Communion: the Lord’s Supper for the Lord’s people each Lord’s day, answering the question “How often would Jesus like to meet at His table with hurting souls and care for them?” We in the district look forward to our Lord’s work under His blessing as we gather for our 2026 Synod convention, celebrating Christ Is Risen Indeed! We live in this reality now and into days eternal by His grace. And we anticipate His return, crying out with all His faithful, “Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly!” Paul D. Egger, President