Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 141

2026 Convention Workbook
106 
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
several unique contexts including the greater Bay Area, an extreme-
ly diverse population with over 7 million people. The central val-
leys of California contain some of the world’s richest farmland and 
sizeable population centers. The coasts, foothills, and mountains 
boast majestic vistas, historic cities, and rich culture. Northern Ne-
vada’s important population centers near Lake Tahoe are growing 
quickly. Foundational communities along I-80 and US 50, though 
of lesser population, offer stability and infrastructure to the working 
population there. The islands of Hawaii have 1.5 million residents 
and almost 10 million visitors yearly. The active military popula-
tion in Hawaii numbers over 44,000 people. Opportunity abounds.
Recognizing its long history and diverse population, the dis-
trict met in convention May 15–17, 2025, under the theme Fruit-
ful Branches, Pruned for Growth, based upon John 15:1–3. The 
convention reaffirmed the district’s strategic ministry plan with the 
overarching goals:
•	 Increasing Connection and Collaboration
•	 Expanding Leadership Development
•	 Sparking Growing Ministries
•	 Focusing upon Worker Wellness 
•	 Resourcing for Ministry
In addition, the convention accepted the executive summary 
strengthening the ministry plan’s focus upon the engagement of 
all congregations’ opportunity to find their place in God’s mission. 
The convention affirmed the plan to offer greater participation for 
commissioned ministers at our district convention and urged sim-
ilar practices for the Synod in convention. A stronger framework 
for support and supervision between the President’s Office with the 
regional vice-presidents and circuit visitors was recommended, and 
the road towards church worker sabbaticals was strengthened. No-
table accomplishments this triennium include:
A. Strengthening of Communications
Our e-newsletter process received a significant upgrade for the 
purpose of effective and timely district connection. Regular plan-
ning sessions were implemented. The Mission Table Podcast host-
ed by Rev. Paul Ferguson was begun, striving to bring productive 
mission and ministry content to our congregations.
B. Partnering for Productive Ministry
•	 The Mission Training Center, a theological and missiological 
educational platform intended for lay leadership and operat-
ed in partnership with the West Coast districts has strength-
ened its enrollment under Rev. Jonathan Priest. Foundations 
of Lutheran Teaching, a curriculum in partnership with able 
Lutheran educators, offers sound LCMS foundation for non-
called teachers in our Lutheran schools.
•	 Training of new pastors continues in partnership with the 
Pacific Southwest (PSW) and Northwest districts and in 
relationship with the Post-Seminary Applied Learning and 
Support director.
•	 CNH and PSW districts have partnered with the Lutheran 
Church Extension Fund (LCEF)’s Real Estate Solutions to 
add an additional staff member, enabling greater sustainabil-
ity combined with soul impact to our valuable ministry sites 
which may not be replaced if sold.
•	 LINC Bay Area, under the leadership of Rev. Aaron Putnam, 
continues to be a valuable partner in ministry for the district, 
attention during this triennium (R12-01A, R12-03A, R12-04A). 
Issues including staffing, governance, funding models, and oppor -
tunities for witness continue to be analyzed so that the proclamation 
“Christ is risen, indeed” may be shared with boldness and vigor 
with students and their families.
C. Celebration
With a dedicated staff, supportive praesidium and circuit vis-
itors, and committed workers, the district has had many reasons 
to celebrate. The 62nd Regular Convention of the Atlantic District 
had the theme “In This Hope, We Were Saved” (Rom. 8:24). With 
the Lord’s work celebrated and a number of resolutions passed, the 
Atlantic District is committed to nurturing Christians and reaching 
out to others (R1-03A, R1-05A, R4-06, R6-02A, R6-04, R7-06B, 
R9-08A, R11-02A, R11-03A, R11-05). Servants of Christ were 
recognized as individual congregations and schools were celebrat -
ed with “mission minutes” throughout the convention. During the 
convention, Unity Lutheran Church in Albany was received as a 
congregation, the result of a merger between two other congrega -
tions in Albany. Amidst the many baptisms and confirmations in 
parishes, the ordinations and installations during this triennium 
have been answers to prayers as pastoral vacancies continue to be 
filled and navigated. 
Church worker wellness continues to be championed (R1-06A, 
R1-07, R11-01A). Pastors’ conferences with generous scholarships 
and Chrism masses at which pastors renewed their commitment to 
service fostered worker wellness. Retired workers were gathered, 
honored, and encouraged with multiple Veterans of the Cross lun-
cheons. All-workers conferences and retreat opportunities were 
shared for professional church workers. 
The Witness in the Public Square gathering continues to be a 
grand celebration of the Lord’s amazing grace with the Church’s 
ongoing refrain “Christ is risen, indeed” as different people were 
honored for how they have shared the love of Jesus in public set-
tings. It continues to be a magnificent time of communicating, ed-
ucating, and celebrating Christ crucified and risen as the one true 
faith continues to be believed, taught, and confessed.
Towards the conclusion of this triennium, the new district office 
space became fully functional. The meeting spaces for pastors’ con-
ferences, the district board of directors, pastors’ wives’ retreats, and 
other educational opportunities have been a blessing, facilitating 
the gathering and encouraging of the faithful in their God-pleas-
ing work. Having not had a permanent home for many years, the 
Lord’s children have cried aloud, “Christ is risen, indeed,” as new 
life has been communicated with these reimagined and renovated 
facilities. As a geographically central locus for educating the saints 
and celebrating the Lord’s goodness while remembering the past 
and posturing for the future, the chapel, library, meeting rooms, and 
offices underscore the ongoing commitment to vigorously make 
known the love of Christ by word and in deed with an evangelical, 
catholic, and reforming habitus to the praise and glory of God—the 
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—as the proclamation resonates 
throughout and from the Atlantic District, “Christ is risen, indeed!”
Dien Ashley Taylor, President
R22
California-Nevada-Hawaii District
The California-Nevada-Hawaii District (CNH) encompasses