Official Workbook report source text
Official Workbook source-navigation report record. No analysis has been added.
- Report number/id
- R52
- Report title
- R52 Southern District
- Workbook start page
- 135
- Workbook end page
- 136
- Source pages
- 135, 136
- Source status
- source_checked
- Committee
- Not available
R52 Southern District The Southern District covers Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Panhandle of Florida. From the farthest east in Mexico Beach, Fla., to the farthest west in Shreveport, Miss., is 1,000 miles as the crow flies. Within this large geographic area we have 149 congregations. I attempt to visit every congregation in the district at least once A. Wellness and Witness A.1. Wellness A central aspect of the district’s work is the health of our mis- sion stations and workers. Healthy workers make for healthy churches. Healthy churches make for a healthy and strong witness. The district is promoting worker wellness teams in every congre- gation. Teams are encouraged to engage the workers and to inquire about their spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial well-being. As worker wellness teams are created, the district will offer grants, partially matched by the congregation, that may be used to support workers’ health. A.2. Witness The district includes seven states and the District of Columbia. The specific context of mission and ministry varies greatly across this geographical region. Context is celebrated and respected as we seek to share the Gospel with the people God has placed before us and expand the reach of the LCMS by planting new starts. The district is committed to 21 new starts in this current district triennium. This is a grassroots effort from congregations and their members, supported by a partnership with the district and the Syn- od’s church-planting efforts. The district will support 10 renewal efforts. These include min- istries in areas where maintaining a Lutheran presence is essential to serving the community and proclaiming the Gospel. Renewal efforts will work in partnership with the district to develop a plan of action that creates new paths of service for the sake of the people God has placed before that ministry. B. Scholarships and Debt Reduction Vacancies remain a significant challenge as congregations seek pastoral leadership and care. The district in convention affirmed all routes to ordination and the expansion of routes to ensure that pas- toral leadership will be offered to congregations and mission starts, and to provide opportunities for people in various contexts and life situations to receive quality education for service to the Lord and His Church. The district is honored to be part of Set Apart to Serve, in which several congregations and workers are serving as pilot congrega - tions and cohort members. The district in convention elected to commit to raising up future workers in each congregation. B.1. Scholarships In an effort to support students seeking theological education and church service, the district will increase scholarship dollars. These scholarships include undergraduate education and all routes through seminary to meet the growing needs of our congregations and mission stations, and the unique context they serve. B.2. Debt Reduction The district is committed to assisting church workers with stu- dent debt accrued while in undergraduate and seminary programs leading to service in the Church. The district in convention voted to increase grants to help lower debt, thereby relieving the financial burdens on our workers so they may focus on their callings and their vocations to their families. C. Leadership Initiatives The district is committed to providing meaningful opportunities 2026 Convention Workbook 136 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS Initiative 1: Focused Outreach Activity Our Lord Jesus has called us to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20). This hard work requires vision, leadership, training, and the calling of new laborers for the Lord’s harvest (Matt. 9:38). We are pursuing this by: • developing plans and funds to call district missionaries in partnership with congregations/circuits (several profiles: cir- cuit rider, church planter, outreach pastor, etc.); • utilizing the Synod’s Church Planting office to assist us with research and planning; • creating an ongoing, district-wide outreach program, Come Home for Christmas; and • issuing Outreach Grants to congregations to inspire and fund outreach efforts on the front lines of ministry (applications for 2026 are now live for $30,000 in grants!). Initiative 2: Matrix of Support for Lutheran Schools With one school for every three parishes, the district is at the forefront of Synod districts when it comes to Christian education. The Synod operates the largest network of Protestant schools in America and the district has more students in its schools (3,600+) than do many public school districts. Our schools today face nu- merous challenges, and the district is addressing these needs by: • developing training, support, and mentoring for teachers who need to step into the role of administrator (a pilot pro- gram has already begun in one location); • partnering with congregations and teachers to get more teachers trained and rostered as certified Lutheran teachers through colloquy (five approved applications for colloquy grants already); • ongoing support for accreditation procedures; • assisting in debt relief for church workers; • promoting competitive salaries and benefits for Lutheran school teachers; • working with the Faith Coalition to advocate and lobby for Christian schools in Illinois; and • participating in Set Apart to Serve to recruit more teachers. Initiative 3: Spiritual Care of Remote Congregations All across the district, and especially outside the Metro East, there are smaller congregations in need of full-time, ordained pas- toral care. Many of these churches are in rural areas that have limit- ed financial resources because they are small in size, but their love of God is anything but small. Indeed, they are on the forefront of mission precisely because they are located in areas without a large Lutheran presence. The district is focused on providing these con- gregations with a dependable means of receiving Word and Sacra- ment ministry by: • walking alongside congregations as they explore forming multi-point parishes (three new partnerships were piloted this year); a triennium. I am out in the district almost every Sunday preaching, teaching, ordaining, installing, and connecting with pastors and con- gregations. A. Congregations The district has 149 congregations with 28,000 baptized mem - bers. Our average congregation worships with fewer than 50 people in attendance. Of the 22 historic Black congregations in the district, 12 cannot afford a full-time pastor and are in danger of closing. Cir- cuit 12, centered in Selma, Ala., has 7 historic Black congregations being served by 2 pastors. The challenges are great, but so is our God. B. Schools The district has 18 early childhood development centers, 9 K–8 schools, and 1 high school. C. Missions There is more work to do in mission than we have money or trained people to support. We are currently working to train 500 lay missionaries that will help revitalize the ministry and mission of their home congregations as well as act as core groups for future church plants. Our newest church plant is happening in Helena, Ala., just outside of Birmingham. We are also seeing congregations begin to grow with new families from their area. We are also seeing young men in their 20s beginning to seek out our churches and pastors, desiring greater theological, biblical, confessional, and liturgical depth. One common denomina- tor, though, is the pastor and congregation being welcoming of new people. To God alone belongs all glory, honor, dominion, and kingdom in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Eric C. Johnson, President