Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 158

2026 Convention Workbook
123
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
an advantage. It means that, while the district is the smallest of 
districts in terms of churches and geography, we are close. First, 
we are close in distance, meaning that circuits are small and sis-
ter congregations are nearby. As our congregations struggle with 
the high cost of living and housing, they are finding it ever more 
advantageous to build relationships with nearby congregations and 
share a pastor and ministry. Our close proximity makes this easier 
to do. Second, we are close in relationship. Our close proximity 
enables us to gather more easily for circuit meetings, district meet-
ings, training, and fellowship. We enjoy a high level of collegiality 
and friendship, which fosters the care and well-being of our pastors 
and church workers. Third, district president visitation is facilitated 
as most congregations are within an hour’s drive of the president’s 
home and all are within two hours. To that end, all the district con-
gregations received a presidential visit in the first 16 months of the 
new district president taking office in September 2021 and most 
a second “official visit” by June 2025. Some, for various reasons, 
have received additional visits.
Synod Focuses
The district has sought to respond to the resolutions of the 2023 
Synod convention. The following is a brief report of the work ac-
complished according to the resolutions directed to districts:
1-03A
 Plant churches – Strategic Plan, 
Target 3
1-07A Care of workers – Strategic Plan, Target 2
2-07A Support International 
Missions – FORO exploration trip 
to the Dominican Republic 
3-01  Life Ministries 
– Participation in New Jersey March for 
Life
3-04A Disaster Relief – Disaster Relief 
Team training
4-01A Koinonia – Participated in SMP
 Koinonia
5-13A Online T
echnology – Subject at Pastor Conferences
6-02A, 6-03A Pastoral Formation – Subject at Pastor Confer -
ences / Discussions with pastoral candidates
6-04 Service of Laity – Presidential missive
6-06A PALS – 
Work with area districts to form a group
6-09 Provide for pastors’ families
 – Strategic Plan, Target 2
7-06B Support Universities – District Scholarships
The 
seven mission priorities dating back to the 2016 Synod con-
vention continue in the background, helping to shape the district’s 
ministry response to its mission and challenges.
Ministry and Strategic Plans
Back in 2021, it was determined that a ministry plan was needed 
to help stabilize congregations and move them forward in minis-
try. The result was the Initiative for Ministry Development (IMD). 
Working in conjunction with the Lutheran Church Extension 
Fund’s Ministry Solutions unit, the district has developed a long-
term, ongoing plan to help congregations develop and implement 
ministry plans. The plan had three phases:
•	 Small Church Clarity (SCC) helps smaller congregations 
develop and implement a manageable and effective annual 
ministry plan. The plan includes a simple guiding statement, 
goals and action steps in the areas of worship, study of the 
Word, fellowship, service (outreach), and a printed brochure 
presenting the ministry of the congregation for distribution 
Lutheran Church, the most recent mission start in New England. 
This group of dedicated believers is supported as a campus of Grace 
Lutheran in Nashua, N.H., and worships in Moultonborough, N.H. 
The surrounding populace is 70 percent unchurched, so the need for 
the Gospel in that region is great!
In Connecticut, Our Savior in South Windsor has an outreach 
to the Asian Indian community, with a member just having finished 
his seminary studies and been ordained and installed in the congre-
gation for service to that community.
Service to our neighbors for their bodily needs is also taking 
place through our congregations. St. Paul’s in New Hartford, Conn., 
supports Hands of Grace, a food and clothing bank that is led by a 
specific ministry pastor from the congregation who also brings the 
Gospel to those who are served. Two other congregations in Con-
necticut support similar ministries: Our Savior in South Windsor 
with The Bridge and Christ in Amston with Caring Shepherds.
New England is a challenging area of the country for proclaim-
ing Christ, as the states of New England rank as having the highest 
percentage of unchurched people in the country. The people also 
tend to be well educated and very liberal in their thinking. Even 
so, serving my entire ministry in New England—beginning with 
serving as a vicar at St. Luke’s in Dedham, Mass., in 1984–85—has 
been a joy. Serving since March 2021 as district president has been 
an honor and a privilege. To our heavenly Father, through our Lord 
Jesus Christ, be the glory; and by the work of the Holy Spirit, may 
His blessing rest upon us!
Robert D. Beinke, President
R39
New Jersey District
Ministry Situation and Challenges
From the Jersey Shore to the Appalachian Highlands, from the 
New York suburbs to the Philadelphia suburbs, from the sandy Pine 
Barrens to the fertile dairy lands, New Jersey is a wonderfully di-
verse place to live and proclaim the Good News that Christ Is Risen 
Indeed! Yet, the geography only points to an even more diverse 
demographic. New Jersey is the home to more scientists and engi-
neers per square mile than any other area of the world. Religiously 
and ethnically, it is host to the second-largest population in the U.S. 
of Jews, Muslims, and Cubans, the largest population of Peruvi-
ans, as well as high numbers of Portuguese, Brazilians, Hispanics, 
Arabs, African Americans, Asians, Chinese, and Italians. In fact, 
23.4 percent of its residents were born outside of the U.S.! This 
great diversity of people of over 9.5 million and growing is all gath-
ered together into 8,721 square miles, making New Jersey the most 
densely populated state in the U.S. Yet there are only four cities 
with a population greater than 100,000! That means the population 
is spread out over a multitude of smaller cities and municipalities.
The challenges of culture, language, religion, thought, and worl-
dview are readily evident within this environment. The question 
is how does a well-established, relatively long-term resident, pri-
marily of a northern European descent, church share the Gospel of 
the risen Christ with such a diverse population? The good news is 
that this is happening and with God’s blessing will accelerate in the 
coming days. Both our prayers and our work aim at reaching all the 
people of New Jersey in their great diversity one person at a time. 
Ironically, the dense population of New Jersey is, in some ways,