The Missouri District is comprised of 286 congregations, with 106,686 baptized and approximately 84,214 communicant members. Its 99 educational ministries serve approximately 13,710 enrolled students from early childhood through high school. There are also 1,704 roster ed church workers serving in congregations, schools, recognized service organizations, and Synod entities. 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 three million people.
A. Missouri District 22nd Convention The district held its 22nd regular convention under the theme “Bold Hope in Christ,” drawn from 2 Cor. 3:12. The convention essayist was Rev. Dr. Kevin Golden, associate professor of exegetical theology, dean of theological research and publication, and director of resident field education at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Special guests included LCMS First Vice-President Rev. Peter K. Lange, who served as preacher at the opening Divine Service and gave a report highlighting key ministry efforts across the Synod with a video from President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, and LCMS Second Vice-President Rev. Benjamin T. Ball, who assisted in the opening service and report by responding to questions on a variety of topics related to church life and mission. In his report to the convention, District President Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan highlighted four critical targets for the 2025–28 triennium: Church Worker Recruitment and Retention, Discipleship in the Home, Mission Field: Missouri, and Leadership Development, all rooted in the over arching theme of “Bold Hope in Christ.” The convention included a series of videos, including one shown during Hagan’s report, as well as videos on campus ministry, multi ethnic ministry, SHINE!, our seminaries, Lutheran schools, and family ministry. Delegates adopted Res. 4-01, which realigned circuits across the district in an effort to bring circuits into conformity with the Synod requirements for electoral circuits. The convention
also adopted Res. 3-01, celebrating the upcoming 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism (2029) by encouraging congregations, and especially heads of households, to teach the faith in the home. The resolution affirms the Small Catechism’s vital role in faith formation and commends its use as part of the Church’s ongoing educational mission. Res. 1-03 encouraged and celebrated multi ethnic ministry by recognizing Missouri’s historic legacy of outreach to diverse communities and by calling congregations to renew their commitment to reaching people of all backgrounds with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Delegates also adopted Res. 3-06, which publicly opposed Missouri Constitutional Amendment 3, which legalizes abortion up to fetal viability. The resolution affirms the LCMS’ long-standing stance in defense of the unborn and urges congregations to advocate for life in faithful, peaceful, and proactive ways within their communities. Finally, Res. 2-01 approved the district’s Strategic Plan Critical Targets for the 2025–28 triennium, providing a road map for ministry priorities and mission focus across congregations, schools, and ministries in the district. The convention reelected Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan to his fourth term as district president. Also elected were Rev. Craig Otto as first vice-president, Rev. Randy Asburry as second vice-president, Rev. Samuel Powell as third vice-president, and Rev. Rick Cody as fourth vice-president.
B. Strategic Plan The district’s strategic plan for the 2025–28 triennium has four critical targets: 1. Church Worker Recruitment and Retention—The congregations and schools of the district have been richly blessed with faithful pastors, teachers, and other servants. As we look together at the challenges facing the Church, we recognize the need to be intentional about recruiting servants for the future and providing support to care for those who serve. This target remains a top priority for the district. 2. Discipleship in the Home—The Scriptures and the Confessions teach that the home is the primary place of faith formation. The district will continue this emphasis by working with congregations, schools, pastors, and school administrators to provide training and resources, so that each home can be a place where Christ is at the center and families are growing through learning God’s Word and the Small Catechism. 3.
Mission Field: Missouri—We live in a mission field of more than three million people who are not connected to any church. This critical target establishes the priority of providing resources and training for congregations to collaborate in reaching the lost with the Gospel. 4. Leadership Development—Congregations and schools are in need of leadership training for both staff and lay leaders. Governance models of the past are not serving our existing structures well. The district will provide training and support related to governance models and for various leadership roles in congregations and schools for both roster ed workers and laity.
C. Key Initiatives Supporting these four critical targets, the district has several key initiatives in the works. The Tomorrow’s Teachers and Preachers initiative focuses on building the district’s church worker endowment fund to support the education of aspiring church workers in
Missouri. Training workshops for elders and other congregational leaders will be held throughout the district during the triennium.
Mission Field: Missouri training workshops will also be offered to congregations to support their efforts in reaching out to their communities. A “Tell the Next Generation” Conference was held in November 2025 to support family discipleship.
D. Changes to District Staff The district executive staff had two significant additions since its last convention. Joshua Swartz began serving as the director of schools on July 1, 2022. His leadership and support of Lutheran schools and the introduction of MOScholars has been particularly important. Peter Kirby joined the staff as the executive director of congregational services in January 2023, overseeing support for congregations and the survey process of calling congregations. The district is blessed with the leadership of veteran staff members who are dedicated to the support of the congregations, schools, and church workers they are called to serve. The district has been operating without the leadership of its elected president, R. Lee Hagan, since his stroke in July 2025. Craig Otto, the elected first vice-president of the district, has been serving as interim president for most of the triennium so far. We continue to pray for President Hagan’s recovery and return to his position when he is ready. R. Lee Hagan, President Craig D. Otto, Interim President