Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 156

2026 Convention Workbook
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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
4. Collaborate with the Synod’s Members and 
Partners to Enhance Mission Effectiveness
Individuals, congregations, and the district have a strong part-
nership with Mission Central, but God’s mission is also right here. 
Every One is His Witness. We are currently developing a Lay For -
mation Initiative to help our laity live out their vocations in Christ.
5. Promote and Nurture the Spiritual, 
Emotional, Financial, and Physical Well-Being 
of Pastors and Professional Church Workers
Our personal lives and relationships are our loudest Gospel 
message. God calls us to live in and live out that Gospel, first to 
those closest to us, which in turn speaks to those around us. Confer-
ences, trainings, intentional communication, and individual interac-
tions seek to promote an engaged faith integrated in all of life. We 
are working to bless workers’ spiritual relationship with our Triune 
God. We are working to nurture cognitive, emotional, physical, and 
financial health. We are working to build strong bonds in marriage, 
family, and close friends. Enhancing the relational health of our 
workers strengthens our work to reach out to the lost with a heart 
for the hurting.
6. Enhance Early Childhood Education, 
Elementary and Secondary Education, and 
Youth Ministry
As of this writing, we host 26 freestanding early childhood cen-
ters, 31 elementary schools, and 6 high schools. Several of these 
have been established in the last triennium, and several more are in 
the planning stages. We sent 1,280 participants to the LCMS Youth 
Gathering and hundreds more to Higher Things. Some 600 youth 
attended our most recent annual Middle School Youth Gathering. 
7. Strengthen and Support the Lutheran 
Family in Living Out God’s Design
It is a joy to see Concordia University, Nebraska, renewing its 
Masters in Family Life Education and to see the developing part-
nership of Concordia Center for the Family and Concordia Semi-
nary, St. Louis, in strengthening congregations to help parents as 
the primary faith-shapers for our children. We are excited to finan-
cially support our members in attending these trainings and work-
ing to strengthen family ministry.
Koinonia
We cannot walk together if we do not talk together. We cannot 
talk together if we do not meet together. As leaders, we seek to 
care for one another, foster unity, and build trust in our work to-
gether of forwarding the Gospel message. We need one another. 
A healthy Synod must have healthy relationships. God calls us to 
work together. As a Synod, we have committed to walk together. 
Pastors communicating, congregations cooperating, and reconcili -
ation happening are signs of a healthy Church. Visitation is an ele-
ment that benefits this unity. We also tried a more extensive effort 
for Koinonia in the areas of closed Communion, differing worship 
styles, and online technology. We meet together around Scripture 
and our Confessions to transparently and fraternally discuss issues 
of doctrine and practice, to build relationships, to foster trust, and to 
seek better practice and understanding. To God be the glory.
Richard L. Snow, President
E. Opportunities
Because God has promised that He will provide workers for His 
harvest field and has assured us that His Word does not return to 
Him void, we see many opportunities for ministry in the district. 
The strength and competence of our well-educated clergy are re-
spected within our communities. As Montana’s larger cities contin-
ue to grow, younger people are seeking an unchanging truth amid a 
world of constant change and uncertainty. We have what they need, 
and we are “not ashamed of the Gospel” for it is the power of God 
for salvation to everyone who believes. 
Ryan D. Wendt, President
R37
Nebraska District
Christ Is Risen Indeed and He lives in us and works through us! 
God is at work drawing us into Himself, building each one of us, 
growing us together, and reaching out through us that others, too, 
might believe. Amid our brokenness, God has chosen you and me 
as members of His Body to perform His gracious work. Follow-
ing the seven mission priorities of the Synod, the Nebraska District 
congregations and staff are working to:
1. Plant, Sustain, and Revitalize Lutheran 
Churches
The work of the district is fundamentally the work of each con-
gregation serving the Body of Christ with Word and Sacrament and 
sending people out into their vocations as witnesses of the Savior. 
Parents, grandparents, and guardians are called to make disciples 
of the children God has placed in their life. Ministry opportunities 
like Vacation Bible School, daycares, preschools, schools, youth 
ministry, and small groups are used to develop relationships and 
foster discipleship, service, and outreach. V ocations of neighbor 
and coworker give us the opportunity to reach out with Christ’s 
compassion and Gospel. We have had the joy of planting several 
congregations, with plans to plant at least three more in the near 
future. We have outlined a clear process to help congregations 
evaluate their current culture and assess next steps for ministry. As 
district president, assisting in the call process is my highest prior -
ity. Visitation and evaluation to encourage congregations are also 
critical priorities.
2. Support and Expand Theological Education
Our seminaries receive great support from individuals, congre-
gations, and the district. While seminaries have responsibility for 
preparing our pastors, theological education and formation begins 
in the home and congregation. Conferences, circuits, and leader -
ship development focus on lifelong formation of our pastors.
3. Perform Human Care in Close Proximity to 
Word and Sacrament Ministries
Human care is the work of every congregation as we live out the 
compassion of the Lord. Nebraska is also the proud home of many 
service organizations, including Orphan Grain Train, GracePoint 
Institute for Relational Health, Jesus Our Savior Lutheran Outreach 
and School, Lutheran Family Services, Our Place After School 
Care, and Homestead Refuge. Nebraska also has very active Lu-
theran Early Response Teams.