Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 157

2026 Convention Workbook
122 
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Fifty-five pastors serve our congregations, mostly full-time, but 
some part-time. Of these, 17 have been in their congregation less 
than 10 years. So, although there have been many new pastors in 
the district, many more have enjoyed lengthy ministries in their 
current congregations. We also have five specific ministry pastors 
serving congregations and several retired pastors who are still regu-
larly serving. We are blessed with faithful pastoral leadership!
Liturgical worship, using the liturgies in our hymnals (mostly 
Lutheran Service Book), is also what is taking place in most of our 
congregations on Sundays (and other days). The Word of God’s 
salvation in Christ is being clearly proclaimed and also given out 
sacramentally. The weekly reception of the Lord’s Supper is stan-
dard in the majority of New England congregations.
B. Schools
There are three elementary schools in New England: Immanuel 
Lutheran School in Danbury, Conn.; Immanuel Lutheran School 
in Bristol, Conn.; and Trinity Christian School in Keene, N.H. The 
schools are visited annually by District President Beinke and Busi-
ness Manager Brenda Bacon, with classrooms visited and a lunch 
for the teachers and staff provided. The district also hosts the prin-
cipals of the schools at the district office quarterly, providing an 
opportunity for mutual help and support. Finally, the district also 
provides for ongoing training and support for the teachers at an 
annual training day, which is held at one of the schools.
There are also 16 preschools and early childhood centers that 
are run by congregations in the district. They serve as a service 
to and outreach into their communities and provide a wonderful 
opportunity for bringing the Gospel of Christ to children and their 
families. 
C. Missions
For several years now there has been a congregation in the Bos-
ton area that is reaching out to and serving immigrants from Ethi -
opia. Bethel Oromo Lutheran Church is a small congregation and 
is currently without a pastor, but it has been receiving assistance 
from LCMS Oromo pastors and church leaders from throughout 
the Synod to help them during this vacancy. This help from our 
brothers and sisters across the Synod is much appreciated, as there 
are currently no Oromo-speaking pastors in New England.
First Lutheran in Boston has for years had an outreach to the 
many college students attending the schools in the Boston area. 
This has resulted in many students embracing Christ and our Lu-
theran teaching of His Gospel and also joining the congregation. 
It is a vibrant congregation with people of many different cultures 
and language groups … and foods, which are often shared together 
on their patio! If you’re visiting the Boston area, plan to attend on a 
Sunday and rejoice together in the Gospel and fellowship!
North of Boston, Messiah Lutheran in Lynnfield, Mass., has an 
outreach to people of Portuguese heritage, of whom there are many. 
The pastor has learned the Portuguese language and offers a service 
in that language, yet also each month joins together in worship the 
English- and Portuguese-speaking members of the congregation.
St. Paul’s Lutheran in Providence, R.I., is a congregation that is 
made up primarily of Liberian people who have emigrated to the 
U.S. One of their members is now enrolled in the seminary and 
is preparing for service to them. They also support mission work 
among the Gbarnga people of Liberia.
In the Lakes region of central New Hampshire is Lakes Region 
R38
New England District
The New England district was created out of the Atlantic Dis-
trict by the 1971 Synod convention. It encompasses six states: Ver-
mont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and 
Connecticut. Some of our congregations are in the fairly large cities 
of Boston, Mass.; Providence, R.I.; and Nashua, N.H. Most, how-
ever, are suburban or rural congregations which are fairly small 
and are at a significant distance from one another. For this reason, 
the district is divided into only five circuits, with five circuit visi-
tors and three elected vice-presidents assisting the district president 
with his work.
When the numbers of congregations and parishioners are tal-
lied, New England is a small district: 65 congregations with around 
9,300 confirmed members. There are certainly disadvantages in 
this, one being the small district staff. Only the president is full-
time; the business manager is half-time (and also serves as the Lu-
theran Church Extension Fund [LCEF] regional district vice-pres -
ident half-time), a deaconess serves part-time, and the president’s 
administrative assistant is part-time. All other district workers serve 
as volunteers. One significant advantage of being small, however, 
is that the pastors and other church workers of the district know one 
another well and are very supportive of one another. The district 
president visits every congregation of the district at least once (and 
some, several times) over the triennium. During the 2022–25 trien-
nium, those visits were to evaluate and encourage the pastors and 
other church workers of the district. During the 2025–28 triennium, 
the congregation members, and especially their leaders, will hear 
their district president preach and teach on Church and Ministry, 
using Dr. Walther’s theses as a basis for discussion. Our business 
manager is also a great resource to our congregations, providing 
help and guidance with LCEF resources and especially with finan-
cial and tax issues.
Most of the pastors of the district faithfully attend their circuit 
winkels, which provide opportunities for worship together as well 
as in-depth discussion of matters of doctrine and practice. Discus-
sion is robust and fraternal. They also faithfully attend the pastoral 
conferences which the district provides twice a year. Commissioned 
workers are also welcomed at these winkels and conferences. Won-
derful fellowship and learning opportunities are fostered at these 
gatherings.
The district also has several deaconesses serving within it, with 
one having completed her training this spring and now serving the 
district as a called worker. Her focus is especially upon the families 
of church workers, whom she checks in on regularly. Another dea-
coness started and runs a recognized service organization in Ban-
gor, Maine, called Hope for Healing. She uses horses to connect 
with military veterans who are dealing with post-traumatic stress 
disorder, and then to minister to them with God’s Word of healing 
and comfort in Christ.
A. Congregations
Most of the 65 congregations in the district have fewer than 200 
members, and over half of the congregations average fewer than 50 
in worship on any given Sunday. This makes it difficult to support 
a pastor or other church worker. Currently, 10 percent of our con-
gregations are being served by visiting pastors, as available, as they 
cannot support a pastor of their own. Another 10 percent are, or 
were recently, vacant and involved in the call process.