Official Workbook report source text
Official Workbook source-navigation report record. No analysis has been added.
- Report number/id
- R44
- Report title
- R44 Ohio District
- Workbook start page
- 128
- Workbook end page
- 129
- Source pages
- 128, 129
- Source status
- source_checked
- Committee
- Not available
R44 Ohio District Scripture Alone was the theme of the Ohio District’s 2025 con- vention, based on 1 Thess. 2:13. Drawing from our Reformation heritage, the theme speaks to our continuing confession that Scrip- ture is the sole source and norm of Christian faith and life. Since the purpose of Scripture is to reveal Jesus’ work of justi- fication, the district celebrates the 2026 Synod convention theme, Christ Is Risen Indeed. The theme itself is based on 1 Cor. 15:20–22. Ohio District Planning District president visitation in 2022–23 found district churches remaining steadfast in confessional Lutheran doctrine and practice. However, an inordinate number of congregations were struggling with mission and ministry coming out of the pandemic. Congre- gational leaders were unsure how to bring back members who left during the pandemic and how to reach unchurched and spiritually lost people in their communities. To learn the congregational and school needs and opportunities, the district partnered with the Lutheran Church Extension Fund to create a district planning process. The process started by gather - ing church and school leaders in regional discovery sessions. Af- ter sharing the needs and opportunities of their congregations, the leaders were sent home to share what they learned from fellow church leaders. The process also sought feedback from school ad- district, finding that there were three key behaviors exhibited by trusted adults in their lives that made a significant impact on their choice to enter a church work vocation. First, the adult showed up non-judgmentally and got to know them. Second, that trusted adult saw something in them. Third, that trusted adult found creative ways to say yes to that youth’s ideas for serving in the church. Our YLI is all about encouraging and tracking these key behaviors throughout our ministries: (1) know the youth, (2) name the gift, and (3) find the next yes. A.3. Invest School Leadership Invest is a leadership development process in our school minis- tries that prepares educators for administrative levels of leadership in school organizations. Administrators identify teachers and staff members with the potential to be servant leaders at the adminis - trative level and begin pouring into them as mentors through the district Invest program. Invest offers cohort-based curriculum spe- cifically targeted to school leadership. This also becomes an avenue for colloquy conversations for non-rostered teachers and opens a pathway to a formal church work vocation. A.4. Mission Training Center (MTC) Lay leaders in congregations have need for training and equip- ping too. The long history of lay training in the district led to the establishment of Mission Training Center (MTC). MTC is an online training opportunity that offers courses and webinars in worship planning, devotional leading, community outreach, Christian doc- trine, spiritual care, and much more. Once operated in partnership with Concordia University, Portland, the district currently partners with the California-Nevada-Hawaii and Pacific Southwest Districts to offer MTC through Concordia University, Irvine. Districts across the Synod access and utilize this valuable lay training resource. A.5. Set Apart to Serve These four prior key leadership emphases have enabled us very naturally to engage in fulfilling 2023 Res. 6-01, “To Affirm and Strengthen Set Apart to Serve in Word and Action.” Our leadership initiatives—NOW LI, YLI, Invest, and MTC—provide a broad fun- nel from which people engage Set Apart to Serve resources and con- sider at a deeper level a life of service in vocational church work. B. District Grant Programs The district offers Catalyst grants, Faith in Community grants, and Community Care grants to encourage new ministries—and new bridges into our communities—through congregations. Ministry en- tities are given the opportunity to request time-limited grants that are designed to help them start something new in their scope of in- fluence. C. All Peoples Commission The district recognizes that the Gospel is for all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages whom we will one day join with as redeemed believers in Jesus from all over the world around the throne of God (Rev. 7:9). We also realize, as 2023 Res. 11-03A, “To Love and Dis- ciple Peoples of All Ethnicities, Languages, and Skin Colors,” well noted, that our nation is increasingly home to people from all regions of the world, giving us a unique opportunity to engage the mission of the Church right here. We view this as an opportunity to learn from and invest in leaders from a variety of ethnic backgrounds who share our confession of Jesus Christ as LCMS Lutheran Christians. Our district’s All Peoples Commission is encouraging ministries to engage in Gospel-focused ministry to partner with, to invest in, and 2026 Convention Workbook 129 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS moved from active to emeritus status. The district also had 4 tran- sitional interim pastors accept calls to serve district congregations. In the past triennium, 37 commissioned ministers accepted calls to the district schools and churches. A total of 17 commissioned ministers transferred out of the district. Sanctity of Human Life In 2023, the state of Ohio proposed a constitutional amendment to legalize abortion. District congregations and church workers re- ceived a pastoral letter concerning the proposed amendment, urging members to vote against the proposed amendment. Churches and church workers also received legal guidance from the district with parameters for addressing such issues of public policy. In addition, statements outlining the LCMS biblical stance on abortion were provided to state and national news outlets. To provide further support for the sanctity of human life, the district participated in the March for Life in Washington, D.C., in January. LCMS participation was led by the LCMS Life Ministry and supported by all 35 LCMS districts. Kevin A. Wilson, President