Christ is risen indeed! The Good News of the crucified and risen Lord echoes through the Central Illinois District (CID)’s 148 congregations, which are spread out among half of the counties in our state. This Good News is sorely needed in a “bad news” world. On Jan. 28, 2026, CID President Michael Mohr was arrested by federal law enforcement on charges related to child pornography. The present report is being written shortly thereafter. We pray God’s hand of justice and mercy will prevail for all affected by this situation and for the whole church. We ask the Lord for His continued grace and wisdom. In view of the president’s in capacity, on Feb. 2, 2026, the CID board of directors designated the undersigned as acting president, to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the presidency. I welcome the prayers not only of the district but also of the larger Synod. The previous year, 2025, had already been a time of chang-
es in CID’s staff. The Rev. Dr. Ken Schurb moved to modified (part-time) service for the district on Sept. 1, continuing to work in evangelism. Taking up his former activities in missions is new staff member Rev. Patrick Gumz, M.B.A., who doubles as the CID office’s business manager. Stewardship responsibilities have been assumed by the district’s campus pastor at Illinois State University, the Rev. William Jensen. Also, Rev. Charles Olander retired from his position as planned giving counselor at the end of 2025. Mr. Trip Rodgers continues as assistant to the president for Congregational Life and Education. Mr. Hugh Shown serves as office bookkeeper, as well as in a variety of other ways. Mrs. Amy Holmes works on a deployed basis in district communications. They have provided continuity in our work, along with Mrs. Christine Anderson and Mrs. Susan Short, the staff of the Central Illinois District Church Extension Fund. CID has also been served by capable volunteer coordinators in several areas: the Rev. Rodney Blomquist in Prison Ministry, Mr. David Ward in Life Ministry, and until recently Mr. Stephen Born and Dr. Cynthia Stein we del in Disaster Response (LERT). We appreciate their valuable contributions. In consultation with Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ, CID developed a set of “Witnessing Helps” to assist congregations in teaching the four witnessing skills specified in the Synod’s 2023 Res. 1-01A, “To Stimulate Training for Witness”: (1) beginning an evangelistic conversation, (2) listening discerningly to un church ed people, (3) making a simple statement of the Gospel, and (4) defending the resurrection. These Witnessing Helps and associated materials may be found online at cidlcms.org/outreach witness-ministry.html. Since 2022, CID has cooperated with the Southern Illinois District and, specifically, one of its northernmost congregations (Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Farmersville) in offering a Small Church Summit. It meets twice a year, winter and summer, in various locations in the two districts, offering an opportunity for edification, learning, networking, and mutual encouragement. On two occasions its keynote speaker was from the Synod’s Office of National Mission (ONM). This is one way of carrying out 2023 Res. 1-02A, “To Aid Small Congregations and Multi-Congregation Pastors and Parishes.” The CID board of directors has not yet established a wellness plan for workers and their families, per 2023 Res. 1-06A. However, the district was the first to cooperate with Concordia Plan Services, which has made monetary grants available to districts to enhance church worker wellness. As a result, information on the Vitality program is soon to be released within CID, and one person in the district is on the way to certification as a mental health first aid trainer. CID is honored to have been involved by ONM in field-testing “Beyond the Classroom.” This is an adaptation of the existing re:Vitality “Connect to Disciple” module specifically designed for congregations that have Lutheran schools—elementary, secondary, or preschool. It helps the congregations reach out to un church ed family members of school pupils. We will be thrilled to see it upon its general release. Training for Lutheran school administrators, entry-level and ongoing, has been a priority. CID continues to offer increased administrative leadership opportunities through Future Lutheran Administrators Mentoring and Education (FLAME). Since 2023, it has joined the Northern and Southern Illinois Districts in hosting the summer Illinois Lutheran School Administrative Conference. Deaf Ministry in CID is in a time of transition. In late 2024, the district’s longtime missionary to the deaf, the Rev. Thomas Phillips, accepted a call to Michigan. CID probably cannot afford a full-time replacement, so the search is on to call a sign language–capable pastor who can serve our districtwide deaf parish on a part-time basis. Also, since most of the work with the deaf is now handled through this multi point parish, with a deaconess in training, the district is attempting to sell the Christ Lutheran Church for the Deaf building in Jacksonville. Funding the Lord’s work as carried out corporately by the district has been a recurring concern for CID. Overall, while offerings received by our congregations have been increasing through the last 25 or so years, what the churches have remitted to the Synod and district has been declining. In addition to noting this ongoing concern, the 2025 CID convention took two actions in the area of finances. In one of these, the district authorized a $3 million funding campaign, to provide for repairs and upgrades at district-owned facilities, most of which are mission sites, and to continue building endowments for district missions. It also reaffirmed “A Dollar for Missions,” which CID first adopted in 2022 pursuant to the Synod’s 2019 Res. 8-02. Our 2025 district convention reaffirmation seems to have been taken seriously. By the end of 2025, CID received more than twice as much in “Dollar for Missions” contributions for that year as the total it had received in either 2023 or 2024. Since CID’s last Synod convention report, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Peru disbanded, and Trinity Lutheran Church, La Rose merged with St. Paul Lutheran Church, Varna. Through the Small Church Summit and other means, our district continues trying to counsel very small congregations about their options. The challenges of ministry sometimes seem overwhelming. The limitations of us all often frustrate. The perils of our own sins always threaten. Yet, like St. Paul, we can be “as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything” (2 Cor. 6:9–10). For Christ is risen indeed! Mark R. Eddy, Acting President