Hagan elected to second term in Missouri

The Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan of St. Charles, Mo., was elected to his second term as president of the LCMS Missouri District at the district’s 20th convention, June 10–12 in Columbia, Mo. Hagan was elected on the first ballot.

Also elected were:

Rev. William Marler, senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield, Mo., first vice-president;

Rev. Dr. Kevin Golden, pastor of Village Lutheran Church, St. Louis, second vice-president;

Rev. Brian Thieme, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Columbia, third vice-president;

Rev. Kristopher Morris, associate pastor, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Lake Ozark, Mo, fourth vice-president; and

Rev. Samuel Powell, associate pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Jefferson City, secretary.

The elected officers will be installed during the next meeting of the district’s board of directors, July 25–26 in St. Louis.

Hagan

Under the theme “Faithful Witnesses,” delegates adopted bylaw changes that reorganize the district’s structure by replacing four ministry boards with a new Council on Mission and Ministry. The task force that studied the district structure and recommended the change focused on efficiency, clarity of purpose and effective stewardship.

The convention also voted to encourage schools and education ministries to participate in the district’s “Plus One” initiative, which seeks to have each district congregation engage its community in one new way. Coaches are provided to help congregations better understand their communities and develop/evaluate new efforts to reach out and serve their neighbors.

More than 100 of the district’s 293 congregations already are taking part in “Plus One,” and the resolution urges all district congregations to “prayerfully consider” participating in the initiative.

Delegates also voted to affirm that marriage is the “exclusive union of one man and one woman” and that same-sex marriage is contrary to Scripture and God’s design for creation. The resolution asks that pastors and congregations “deal compassionately with those who experience same-sex attraction and gender identity issues” as well as with their families, friends and others who are impacted by those who struggle with such issues.

The convention also will ask the LCMS, at its 2019 convention, “to continue to provide resources that enable the church to confess the truth boldly and deal compassionately with those who struggle with same-sex attraction and gender identity issues, along with those who care for them.”

Members of the Missouri District praesidium are, from left, First Vice-President Rev. William Marler, Second Vice-President Rev. Dr. Kevin Golden, President Rev. Dr. R. Lee Hagan, Third Vice-President Rev. Brian Thieme and Fourth Vice-President Rev. Kristopher Morris. (Jodi Carlson)

Posted June 14, 2018