Convention Workbook

Report from Rev. Dr. Larry Stoterau
President, Pacific Southwest District
“So that through the church the manifold wisdom
of God might now be made known to the rulers
and authorities in heavenly places.” Ephesians
3:10
During the past triennium The Pacific Southwest
District has been doing ministry under the theme,
“Inviting Conversations – Empowering Words.”
Three years ago our convention focused on the
mission we each have to share the love of Christ
through our conversations with those we
encounter in our daily lives. As Jesus prayed for
those who “believe through their testimony” John
17:20 he also demonstrated those opportunities
through his encounter with the Samaritan Woman
at the well, John 4.
When we met in June, 2009, our nation had
entered into a serious recession. Our
congregations were already experiencing the
results of a decrease in school enrollment,
offerings and other resources. We were challenged
to think about doing ministry in different ways
with fewer resources. Through these past three
years, we have continued to experience the
challenges and opportunities which are the result
of economic challenges.
At the 2009 Convention we focused our attention
on the ABLAZE goals adopted by the 2004
convention of the Synod. With our brothers and
sisters throughout The Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod we continue to participate in the ABLAZE
movement with its goals:
• Sharing Christ with 100 M people by
2017, the 500 th anniversary of the
Reformation
• Planting 2000 new ministries
• Revitalizing 2000 plateauing or
declining congregations
• Doubling the number of career
missionaries in foreign mission fields
During his tenure in office, President Kieschnick’s
three fold emphasis was, “One Mission – One
Message – One People.” President Matthew
Harrison, elected in 2011, has provided our synod
President’s Report
with his three fold emphasis, “Witness – Mercy -
Life Together,” which we will hear more about
during his President’s Report to the convention.
With new synod leadership and with restructuring
adopted by the 2011 Synod Convention we have
entered into a new era in the LCMS.
What has not changed is the effect of the
recession on our churches and schools. During
the convention a full report will be provided to
the delegates. We began 2012 with 310
congregations/ministries and 192 schools
(Preschools, Elementary and High Schools). While
some of our schools are flourishing, many are
challenged with declining enrollment and
resources. As parents are unemployed or
underemployed, many cannot afford the tuition
for a Lutheran School.
For the churches the declining financial resources
are forcing reductions in staff and/or salaries of
workers. Thirty-seven congregations which at one
time had full time pastoral care are now served on
a part-time basis. Twenty-five of these
congregations are in urban areas and twelve are in
more remote parts of the District. Some of our
congregations are able to remain open because
they have rented out their space to other groups,
church and non-church related.
In the midst of all the challenges congregations
and Mission Societies have started 18 new
ministries in the past 3 years. These new ministry
starts take a variety of forms including:
• Satellites
• New congregations
• Non-English Speaking Ministries
• New English Speaking Outreach within
existing congregations
One of the effects of the recession has been the
lack of mobility for our workers, especially our
pastors. Some of our workers who had planned to
retire are unable to do so because of the decline in
their investments or the value of their home. With
the increase in the number of congregations
unable to afford full time pastoral care, there is a
decrease in the number of calling congregations In
February 2012 the total number of calling
congregations in the Synod was 340. In the
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