The Missouri District is comprised of 291 congregations, with 128,000 baptized and approximately 100,000 communicant members. The 105 educational ministries serve approximately 14,100 enrolled students from early childhood through high school. There are also 1,600 roster ed church workers serving in congregations, schools, Recognized Service Organizations, and Synod entities. Missouri District missions focus on church planting, multi ethnic, urban, rural, and small-town missions; campus ministries; and military outreach as our congregations seek to reach our mission field of more than 3 million people.
A. Missouri District 21st Convention
The Missouri District held its 21st Regular Convention under the theme “Tell the Next Generation,” based upon . The convention essayist was Dr. Mark Kiessling, director of youth ministry in the LCMS Office of National Mission. Special guests included Synod President Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, who led a Bible study, and Fifth Vice-President, Rev. Benjamin T. Ball, who served as the preacher at the opening Divine Service. In his report to the convention, Missouri District President Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan highlighted the five critical targets for the 2018–2022 term: Healthy Servants, Healthy Congregations, Healthy Schools, Engaging Communities, and Equipping Families. The convention included a series of “Tell the Next Generation” videos, highlighting ways in which congregations and schools are passing on the Christian faith. Resolution 2-01 encouraged congregations, schools, and district leadership to encourage and support families in their role of faith formation in the home. The convention also highlighted the Missouri District 2021 and 2022 SHINE! events, which included 5,500 and 8,100 participants respectively. The delegates adopted Res. 1-01, which encouraged participation in SHINE! during April 14–23, 2023. The convention adopted Res. 3-02, which encouraged the Synod to develop resources to aid congregations and schools in addressing gender identity issues “that enable the Church to confess the truth boldly and deal compassionately with those who struggle with gender identity issues as well as with those who care for them.” Resolution 3-03 affirmed biblical anthropology and denounced racism as anti-Gospel belief. Additional resolutions commended the work among immigrants and refugees, campus ministries, and support for those who serve in the Armed Forces and their families. The convention reelected Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan for his third term as district president. Also elected were Rev. William Marler as first vice-president, Rev. Kristopher Morris as second vice-president, Rev. Brian Thieme as third vice-president, and Rev. Jason Shaw as fourth vice-president.
B. Strategic Plan
The Missouri District’s strategic plan for the 2022–2025 triennium has four critical targets: 1. Church Worker Recruitment and Retention—The need for the next generation of church workers is great in schools and churches. This critical target will work to develop strategies to promote church work vocations and support those already serving.
2. Family Discipleship Expansion—This target includes providing trained coaches to assist congregations in developing support for parents within congregations. 3. Community Engagement—These strategies include helping congregations move beyond one-time events to consistent service and witness engagement to their respective communities. 4. Shared Ministry—The opportunities for collaboration among our congregations are many and necessary as we look at declining numbers of seminary graduates and shrinking church membership and attendance. This target will utilize circuits and their respective leadership to foster such cooperative work.
C. Key Initiatives Supporting these four critical targets, the Missouri District has several key initiatives in the works. The first Missouri District Lutheran College Fair was held in November 2022, with representatives from six LCMS university campuses, both seminaries, and Synod’s Set Apart to Serve. The Missouri District has launched family discipleship coaches to assist congregations in equipping parents for family discipleship in the home. A biennial “Tell the Next Generation” Conference was held in 2021 and 2023 to support family discipleship.
D. Changes to Missouri District Staff Rev. Gene Wyssmann retired from serving the Missouri District at the end of 2019 and was succeeded by Rev. Marty Hasz. Dr. Alan Freeman and Casey Carlson took new positions with Synod’s Office of National Mission and Concordia Plan Services, respectively. Joshua Swartz joined the staff in 2022 as Director of Schools, and Rev. Peter Kirby came on board in 2023 as Executive Director of Congregational Services.