Official Workbook report source text
Official Workbook source-navigation report record. No analysis has been added.
- Report number/id
- R31
- Report title
- R31 Michigan District
- Workbook start page
- 115
- Workbook end page
- 116
- Source pages
- 115, 116
- Source status
- source_checked
- Committee
- Not available
R31 Michigan District As People of Hope, vigorously making known the love of Christ, the Michigan District addresses four critical targets: (1) Great Commission Ministry, (2) Great Compassion Ministry, (3) Healthy Congregations, and (4) Healthy Church Workers. We seek above all things, through our congregations, workers, laity, as well as every program and activity, to fix people’s eyes on Jesus. For Christ is risen. Indeed. The district is comprised of 146,295 baptized members, 334 congregations, 2 missions, 5 high schools, 66 elementary schools, and 122 early childhood centers. A. Concordia University Ann Arbor The most bitter experience in the district in this triennium was the closure of the Concordia University main campus in Ann Ar - bor. Although experiencing record-setting enrollment, a vibrant and positive campus life, and generous emergency financial sup- port pledged from many within and outside of the district, the ad- ministration of Concordia University Wisconsin moved ahead with 2026 Convention Workbook 116 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS to provide the necessary resources to strengthen congregations and schools to assist them in the fullest use of precious resources of the Gospel and all God’s gifts. A strong emphasis has been placed on assisting congregations to be faithful stewards of the gifts God offers so that they may help their members profoundly impact their communities with the Good News of Christ crucified and risen. Through the district’s IMPACT efforts, we have continued to raise dollars to fund and support missions and ministries throughout the district. IMPACT has raised over $3 million to continue to support the missions and activities of the district. Cooperative arrangements have been developed to assist small- er congregations in exploring collaborative efforts for ministry. At least two examples of this collaboration have been introduced into a “hub-and-spoke” type of relationship. Another model encourages two or more congregations to share services to build ministry effec- tiveness together. The district has launched a “Grow-Grant” pro- cess that allows all congregations, schools, and agencies to apply for start-up dollars to bring new mission and ministry initiatives. Additionally, there has been one new mission plant in the Nashville area as well as three other locations for more mission church plants. The Mission and Ministry committee will be reviewing potential sites for microschools and homeschool co-ops. The district continues its church planting efforts through a rela- tionship with the Synod and its Church Planting Simplified project. Three additional potential church plant sites are being developed along with several replants and a number of revitalization efforts of the Mission and Ministry subcommittee of the board of directors. On the international scale, the continuation of our support for in- ternational and national missions includes convention support for the South East of Lake Victoria Diocese (SELVD) of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Trinity HOPE in Haiti, and the Lutheran Institute of Managerial Enterprise (LIME) with the Malagasy Lutheran Church. The district also provided one-time as- sistance to St Martin’s Lutheran Church in Ghana for its expanding ministry. The Congregational Assessment Resource (CAR) and COM- PASS continue to flourish, with over 12 other districts and over 100 congregations and schools using the CAR tool pioneered by the district and implementing the process offered by the district’s COMPASS program to help them find a new direction for their ministry and mission outreach. These resources have been shared with the Council of Presidents, Synod leadership, Concordia Plan Services, and the Lutheran Church Extension Fund. The district will continue to provide leadership, resources, and encouragement for congregations, schools, and church workers on their focus for mission and ministry. The district established a Set Apart to Serve task force to iden- tify, encourage, support, and recruit church workers for Christ’s kingdom. Through town hall meetings, individual visits to con- gregations and schools, and regular newsletters, these efforts are showing tremendous results here and throughout the Synod. During academic years 2025 and 2026, the district had 11 and 13 men re- spectively in one of the several seminary tracks toward ordina- tion—a ratio of one seminarian for every 1,750 confirmed members of the district’s membership. Thanks be to God! The 2025 district convention adopted resolutions that focus on the mission and ministry that is entrusted to our stewardship of the Gospel of Christ. The district continues to conduct extensive eval - uation of the viability and optimization of our ministries across the district, including: The convention reelected David Davis to a second term of of- fice; Darryl Anrzejewski, Erik Cloeter, Craig Bickel, and Drew Gruenhagen were elected first–fourth vice-presidents, respectively. E. Michigan District—Church Extension Fund Our Church Extension Fund (CEF) continues to be a strong partner with our district. CEF annually provides over $1 million in support through sponsorship, grants, and other support. CEF continues to provide low-cost loans to congregations for building, renovation, and church worker housing, and competitive invest- ment instruments to all our members. This next year our CEF is celebrating its 125th year of ministry as an independent extension fund in the district. F. Concerns across the District Filling pulpits and classrooms continues to be a great challenge. We have been blessed by the training of dozens of specific ministry pastors. We continue to find public school teachers who are inter - ested in serving in our schools, but we find the colloquy process, especially for teachers, more difficult to access than we think nec- essary. Like many other areas across the country, we have closed many congregations. We work with distressed congregations to build re- lationships with other stronger congregations to enhance ministry to their communities so as to limit the loss of our presence in the community. G. Building Christian Character During this triennium, the district continued to advocate for more disciplined Bible reading that we might always build on Scripture alone. We have accented stronger personal relationships with pastors and lay leaders through coordinated efforts in visits, phone calls, and other contacts. Through balanced conferences and communications, we refuse to succumb to internecine conflict. We are committed to being People of Hope: Vigorously Making Known the Love of Christ. For Christ is risen. Indeed! David A. Davis, President