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2026 Convention Workbook 129

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

moved from active to emeritus status. The district also had 4 transitional interim pastors accept calls to serve district congregations.

In the past triennium, 37 commissioned ministers accepted calls to the district schools and churches. A total of 17 commissioned ministers transferred out of the district.

Sanctity of Human Life In 2023, the state of Ohio proposed a constitutional amendment to legalize abortion. District congregations and church workers received a pastoral letter concerning the proposed amendment, urging members to vote against the proposed amendment. Churches and church workers also received legal guidance from the district with parameters for addressing such issues of public policy. In addition, statements outlining the LCMS biblical stance on abortion were provided to state and national news outlets.

To provide further support for the sanctity of human life, the district participated in the March for Life in Washington, D.C., in January. LCMS participation was led by the LCMS Life Ministry and supported by all 35 LCMS districts.

Kevin A. Wilson, President

R45

Oklahoma District The 78 congregations of the Oklahoma District met at its 51st convention June 13–14, 2025, under the theme Praying to the Lord of the Harvest, based on Luke 10:2. Our main focus was the LCMS Set Apart to Serve initiative to raise up church workers from our congregations. The district is a fellowship of congregations committed to caring, sharing, teaching, preaching, and reaching people.

Through God’s Divine Service in Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit brings them into a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

On May 19, 2024, the district celebrated its 100th anniversary at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche. Some of the partic - ipants in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 were members of the Lutheran Church. They helped establish a foothold for the church in the Oklahoma Territory. Many had migrated to Oklahoma from Kansas. Lutheran pioneers also came from Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and the northern states. In 1922, the Kansas District petitioned the Synod to create an independent Oklahoma District.

The district is able to designate three-fourths of its budget for mission work, with the remaining budget used for administration, professional growth, and ministerial wellness. The district board of directors also steadfastly pledges one-fourth of its budget as a financial commitment to the Synod.

Several communities in our Central Region are good spots to plant new churches. These include Piedmont, Yukon, and Tuttle.

Piedmont is the fastest growing zip code in the U.S. The Yukon and Mustang areas are not far behind. Tuttle is also experiencing exponential growth. Currently, Piedmont, Yukon, and Tuttle have no LCMS presence. We are working with the Office of National Mission to plant a new church there.

The district educates children from infants to twelfth grade. We currently have 17 early childhood programs and 8 elementary/middle schools across the state. Our oldest school, established in 1926, is St. Paul in Enid. Immanuel in Broken Arrow (Tulsa area) is home to our only Lutheran high school.

ministrators and district staff. In the end, three areas of special focus became apparent for the next triennium: Equip and train congregation and school leaders in their areas of service; deepen and broaden our knowledge and understanding of Scripture and the Confessions;

launch and develop new Gospel outreach ministries.

The district plan was the tipping point for decisions concerning staffing. Rev. John Greig was called to serve as executive director of Mission and Ministry. Nicole Levy was called to serve as education executive and superintendent of Ohio Lutheran Schools. Together with Karen Dutton, director of Youth and Family Life Ministry, these mission and ministry staff are leading the implementation of the ministry plan.

To address these needs, the district’s mission and ministry staff created three themes for the next triennium. Each theme flows from Eph. 4:15–16:

Connected reflects God’s design and call for His people to walk and grow together in Christ as one Body held together in His love.

Equipped reflects God’s ongoing care for His people, providing what we need to grow in Christ and serve faithfully as each part of His Body works together in love.

Sent describes the natural overflow of a church connected and equipped in Christ, moving outward to share the Gospel while caring for and loving their neighbor.

Actions on Convention Resolutions 2022 Ohio District convention Resolution 4 called on the convention to support the strengthening of the faith and biblical worldview of district church members. The resolution was approved by the convention.

The Resolution 4 Task Force was formed to implement the resolution, chaired by Rev. Dr. Eric Tritten (Gloria Dei Hudson, Ohio). After researching the topic, the task force determined that God’s Word is the key for strengthening the faith on a daily basis. The task force put together two primary resources for congregations to use to engage members in the Word of God daily. The first is a collation of resources used by our congregations. The second is a series of videos to provide on-ramps for God’s people to study Scripture. An additional series of on-ramps are being produced.

2023 Res. 1-06A called on the Synod and its districts to create a strategic plan for worker wellness. The Synod used the annual LCMS Ministerial Care Coalitions meeting to start planning. The meeting was held in March in Orlando, Fla. Rev. Chris Eldridge, the Ministerial Health Commission chairman, and I participated in the meeting.

The district addressed 2023 Res. 1-07, “To Address Mental Health among Pastors and Other Professional Church Workers,” in three ways. First, the district affirmed the positions of care partners, who provide a confidential “listening ear” for any church worker or church worker family member in the district. The district’s Commission for Ministerial Health produced resources supporting sabbaticals for church workers, identifying resources for church worker wellness and guidance for congregational leaders in order to care for church workers. Finally, the 2025 Fall Professional Church Worker Conference was led by DOXOLOGY .

Church Workers In the past triennium, 27 pastors accepted calls into the district.

This includes 10 candidates from the seminaries. Meanwhile, 15 pastors took calls to congregations outside the district, and 21 pastors