Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 167

2026 Convention Workbook
132 
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Christ Is Risen, Indeed. Alleluia!
James B. Maxwell, President
R48
SELC District
“For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made 
you a light for the nations, that you may bring salvation to the 
ends of the earth’” (Acts 13:47).
The Christian Church is a missionary endeavor. Our Lord 
equips his Church with Word and Sacrament and sends His apostles 
out, baptizing and teaching (Matt. 28:19–28). Jesus promises His 
Holy Spirit to empower the mission of the Church to the “ends of 
the earth” (Acts 1:8). The apostles and early Christians, overcome 
by the Good News of freedom, forgiveness and new life in Christ, 
could not “stop speaking about what they had seen and heard”  
(Acts 4:20). In our district theme verse, Acts 13:47, the apostle 
Paul reminds us of God’s divine appointment: we are called to be a 
“light to the nations.” This image of light carries profound implica-
tions for how we live our daily lives and engage with those around 
us. In a world often shrouded in darkness—filled with uncertainty, 
confusion, and despair—our calling is to shine brightly. Just as a 
lighthouse guides ships safely to harbor, we are to reflect the love 
and grace of Jesus, guiding others toward Christ. The purpose of 
the light is clear: to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. This 
calling transcends geographical boundaries—it is a global mission. 
We are a “district without borders.” We are reminded that our faith 
is not merely for personal comfort or assurance but is meant to be 
shared. It is essential to remember that we do not shine by our own 
strength; it is the Holy Spirit who guides and empowers the witness 
of the Church. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the 
word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).
Ministry Context
The district carries out its mission in a challenging environment. 
Across North America, congregations face declining membership, 
aging demographics, pastoral shortages, and financial pressures. 
Fewer candidates are available for calls, leading to longer vacan -
cies and increased reliance on part-time or multi-congregational 
ministries. Yet these realities have not led to retreat. Instead, they 
have sharpened our focus. Trusting that “faith comes from hearing, 
and hearing through the word of Christ,” the district continues to 
center its work on proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for the 
forgiveness of sins.
Church planting and congregational revitalization remain cen-
tral priorities for our district. In recent years, the district has worked 
to strengthen existing congregations while developing new mission 
opportunities in communities where Gospel witness is urgently 
needed. In the United States and Canada, this includes revitalization 
efforts in New Jersey, “rebirthing” a dying congregation, ongoing 
multicultural outreach in Montreal, and new mission congregations 
in the South. The district has planted the first Hispanic mission in 
the St. Louis area. There, our missionary has begun conducting the 
Divine Service in Spanish. He also provides Bible studies, pastoral 
care, and English-as-a-Second-Language instruction, expanding 
Gospel outreach to underserved populations.
To support our mission efforts, the district has strengthened its 
infrastructure for church planting by providing pastoral and admin-
istrative support for mission leaders. Our goal is clear: that every 
nership with CUI and an agreement to “swap” the previous district 
office building (located on the main campus) for a new space on the 
third floor of the Spectrum campus building. The district is grateful 
to CUI for building out this welcoming and effective space. The 
new facility is tailored for 21st-century ministry support, featuring 
a 70-person high-tech conference center, breakout rooms, an area 
for catering and receptions, and collaborative workspaces that better 
serve district congregations and schools.
It is with gratitude and humility that we give thanks to God for 
the congregations, schools, church workers, laypeople, district staff, 
and others who have served faithfully during the past triennium. We 
look with excitement to future ways that the churches and schools of 
the district will be used by God to proclaim the risen Christ!
Soli Deo Gloria.
Michael E. Gibson, President
R47
Rocky Mountain District
Christ Is Risen! Indeed, as the largest contiguous district of 
the LCMS, with 164 congregations, 47 preschools, 28 elementary 
schools, and 2 high school across the states of Colorado, New Mex-
ico, Utah, Texas, Arizona, and Nebraska, we pray daily for faith to 
move mountains as we seek to remain confessionally faithful amidst 
our western frontier, proclaiming to the ends of the earth, Christ Is 
Risen!
Indeed, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. In all our 
visitation, a lot of discussions happen regarding both recruitment 
and retention of our workers. How congregations, schools, and other 
ministries treat and care for their current workers directly impacts 
the perception future workers have toward this work: Will it be a joy 
or a burden (Heb. 13:17)? Thus, in our walk together, we prioritize 
worker care so that our youth or any others led to aspire to this ser -
vice may see those who labor in the harvest field going joyfully to 
their work and singing out the Easter proclamation, Christ Is Risen!
Indeed, we have a vast amount of work to do both in the planting 
of new congregations and ministries as well as strengthening estab-
lished ones. Strategic conversations happen on a regular basis to 
ensure that ministry can continue in our cities, mountain towns, and 
rural settings with varying levels of congregational partnerships. 
The Office of National Mission continues to be a huge blessing, 
especially as we have begun to take purposeful steps to further our 
mission presence in Utah, which in many ways for us is “to the ends 
of the earth” (Acts 1:8). As droves continue to leave Mormonism, 
Lord willing, we will baptize and teach them to say, Christ Is Risen!
Indeed, as a district with cultures and age demographics as di-
verse as our climate and topography, being our Lord’s witnesses to 
the ends of the earth to us means confessing Christ to all people. As 
we have seen white supremacy surfacing anew across our country, 
we in district convention reminded ourselves that in Christ, “there 
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave
 nor free, there is 
no 
male and female” (Gal. 3:28). And be they in the womb or blessed 
with years, be they rich or poor, be they of many and various an-
cestry, our Lord “desires all people to be saved and
 to come 
to the 
knowledge of 
the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). The truth that Christ Is Risen!
Indeed, I am confident that even amid our challenges, the Lord 
will be faithful. After all, He excels in redemption and resurrection! 
Christ Is Risen!