Workbook page: 117
PDF page: 152
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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 152
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2026 Convention Workbook 117 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS ers, and the kingdom of God with the Good News of the Gospel. Roger C. Paavola, President R33 Minnesota North District But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) Strengthened in Christ. Faithful. Visitations. Each week in the Minnesota North District, 194 congregations proclaim the crucified and risen Lord Jesus, forgive and retain sins, and mercifully serve their communities in His name. Every school day, our 7 elementary schools, 1 high school, and 17 preschools de- clare the truth of Christ to our young people and instruct them in His ways. I am deeply humbled by the commitment and steadfast faith of our workers, our congregational leaders, and all the baptized who abound in the mercy of Christ. The purpose of our district is to preserve and promote unity in the one true faith (1 Cor. 1:10). We pay careful attention to what we be- lieve, teach, and confess because salvation is at stake (1 Tim. 4:16). One of our central goals is to ensure that our confession of faith re- mains the same for generations to come. More than 70 percent of our congregations are over 100 years old. We pray that 100 years from now, our ministries will still confess the same inerrant Scriptures, the same bloodied and resurrected Christ as Lord, the same Small Catechism, and will trust the same Holy Spirit to grow the Church through His Word. The Lord grant it by His grace. To remain steadfast in Christ, we continue to prioritize visita - tions. Our office is lean, only three full-time staff, and ready to serve. Since 2022, we have visited 191 of our 194 congregations and are scheduled to complete visits to every ministry by the end of August 2026. Our ongoing goal is to visit each ministry at least once every triennium through the district president, vice-presidents, and circuit visitors. Each visit centers on prayer, building up the Body of Christ, encouraging our workers, and exhorting one another to holy living. We thank the Lord for the opportunities to uphold the sanctity of human life by two congregations, Redeemer Aurora and Faith in Silver Bay, extending mercy through their Swaddling Clothes min- istries. As pastoral vacancies continue to increase (currently 55 of our congregations are without a called pastor), more than 160 men attended an elders retreat to strengthen their spiritual leadership and assistance in their congregations. The importance of teaching the faith in the home is being actively promoted through circuit semi- nars and various district initiatives. While many changes occur each day, we cling to the same prom- ises of our Savior. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Brady L. Finnern, President R34 Minnesota South District In 2022, the 79th convention of the Minnesota South District was convened under the theme of “Everything in the Name of Je- sus.” Delegates gathered together to partner in the district’s mission to “cultivate leaders intentionally engaged in the mission of God.” • Reaffirming Church Planting • Continuation of Our Relationship with the SELVD in Tan- zania • Commending Support of Trinity HOPE in Haiti • Maintaining Accountability and Transparency of Financial Gifts from God’s Stewards • Encouraging Financial Support for Professional Church Workers • Establishing Locum Tenens Ministries for the District • Establishing an LCMS Men’s Ministry • To Shape the Faith Formation Paradigm for Generation to Generation • To Encourage Generational Ministry • To Evaluate, Study, and Use Biblically-Based Stewardship Services • To Encourage and Facilitate Personal Evangelism • To Encourage Further Consideration of Successful Comple- tion of Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Coursework before Ordination and Placement • Regularizing SMP Classification • To Extend Overture to the 2026 Synod Convention Concern- ing Specific Ministry Pastoral Training • To Direct Offices of National and International Mission to Decline Applications of Recognized Service Organization Status from Organizations Currently Supporting, Advocat- ing, or Otherwise Promoting LGBTQIA+ Agenda and Life - style and To Direct Offices of National and International Mission to Revoke RSO Status of the Same • To Participate in Building a Culture of Church Work Forma- tion and Recruitment While we recognize an overall trend of declining congregational membership and support for congregations and the church at large, the district has focused attention on the many external factors that impact our vitality and effectiveness. The large geographic size of our district and our relatively small number of congregations re- quires us to be strategic in the services we provide to our congre- gations, schools, early childhood centers, and church workers. As a result, our strategic initiatives will include the following goals: • Reestablish the Small and Rural Congregation Council • Continue the Education, Family, and Youth Ministry Exec - utive position • Develop efficiencies and accountability in church planting to maximize use of limited and valuable resources under the church planting covenant • Continue to expand the fundraising efforts to support the es- sential services of the district to its membership • Continue and encourage participation in the pastors’ wives’ retreats • Celebrate the district’s 60th anniversary Following the 2025 district convention, we are committed more than ever to increase our size, abilities, and resources in the ongo- ing privilege of serving our member congregations, church work-