Mission boards meet via Zoom

The LCMS Board for International Mission (BIM) and Board for National Mission (BNM) met via Zoom on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31, respectively.

BIM

By Megan K. Mertz

The BIM met Jan. 30 to take up several important topics, including the expansion of the FORO model to the Synod’s four world regions, staffing in the LCMS Office of International Mission (OIM), and the calling of the next cohort of LCMS missionaries.

The Rev. Shauen Trump, regional director for Africa, kicked off the meeting with his report on the development of FOROs in Africa — something the Synod in convention directed the OIM to do in 2023 Res. 2-07A, “To Commend Use and Attendance of FOROs.”

The FORO (Spanish for “forum”) model is a method for bringing together interested LCMS participants from the United States with overseas partners to support the mission work taking place in a particular country. Thus far, FOROs have been operating chiefly in the OIM’s Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, but that will change in just a couple of months as LCMS staff work to initiate new FOROs in each of the other three OIM global regions.

The first two FOROs planned for Africa — one in South Africa, the other in Malawi — represent two different context-specific models that Trump hopes to use as they expand FOROs to other African church partners.

Later, in his report to the board, OIM Executive Director Rev. Dr. Cory Rajek noted that within the next three to four years, his staff plan to start FOROs in 17 new countries, creating “17 new opportunities for LCMS congregants, congregations, Recognized Service Organizations and districts to connect with a mission field.”

“The idea of the FORO is to facilitate active engagements with the mission work that the Synod is doing overseas with our beloved partners,” Rajek continued. “It’s to help LCMS constituents plug in and really harness the resources we have around one goal and one strategy, and that is planting Lutheran churches.”

Rajek also discussed missionary staffing levels, noting that there are several key budgeted positions that have yet to be filled. These include two associate regional business manager positions and St. Louis-based managers for the recruitment and business operations teams.

In addition, Rajek gave an overview of some research he has recently done on missionary retention. In 2018, 23.8% of the Synod’s missionaries were still serving at the five-year mark, which is “the point at which they are adjusted to the field and … we see their work really take off,” he said. Since then, there has been a marked improvement, and this percentage now sits at around 61.5%.

“We’ve made a deliberate emphasis in the last several years to provide proper care for our missionaries,” he continued. “Part of that includes regional chaplains, calling care coordinators to provide proper care, and training the leadership of the regions in how to care for those who are deployed.”

During the meeting, the board voted to extend calls and solemn appointments to nine new missionaries and one international educator (who will serve at one of the Synod’s international schools in Asia). A majority of those who received these calls or solemn appointments will serve in the LAC region, including in Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Panama.

During the day, the BIM also heard from LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison and Chief Mission Officer Rev. Kevin Robson.

Robson filled the board in on a number of topics, including:

Pastoral Formation Committee work that is underway in fulfillment of 2023 Res. 6-03A, “To Affirm and Strengthen the Synod’s Commitment to Well-Formed Clergy for the Sake of the Gospel,” especially regarding the Specific Ministry Pastor program and including recent interviews that have taken place with all 35 of the Synod’s district presidents; and

A possible expansion to outreach taking place at the Old Latin School in Wittenberg, Germany.

BNM

By Cheryl Magness

The BNM met Jan. 31. In addition to conducting regular business, the BNM focused on the sixth of the Synod’s Seven Mission Priorities: Enhance early childhood education, elementary and secondary education, and youth ministry.

The Rev. Peter Bender, BNM member and senior pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, Sussex, Wis., provided an opening devotion on Deuteronomy 6:4 (“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one”) and Mark 10:14 (“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God”), noting the importance of catechesis that is not merely about imparting knowledge but about loving the one being taught — which includes helping the student know his or her sin. “When we talk about enhancing education,” Bender said, “we must put ourselves in the shoes of the students and have compassion for them. Catechesis is chiefly about God’s way of teaching the faith and converting the heart.”

The BNM welcomed the Rev. Michael Schuermann, recently appointed to fill a vacancy on the board. Schuermann, who serves as pastor of University Lutheran Church in Champaign, Ill., said, “It’s going to be a great joy to serve with you on this board.”

LCMS Chief Mission Officer (CMO) Rev. Kevin Robson introduced Leslie Lawrence, who recently joined the staff of the LCMS International Center (IC) as office administrator to the CMO. She will fill the role previously held by Jeannie Smithson, who announced her retirement last year. Lawrence, a member of Transfiguration Lutheran Church in St. Louis, said she was “grateful” to begin her work at the IC: “It is a pleasure to be here to serve.”

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison joined the board for a Q&A covering a variety of topics, including:

The state of the LCMS: “[Now is] a really good moment in the church. We are finally shaking off 50-plus years of intense controversy. We still have our challenges, to be sure, but National Mission is leading the way, getting us refocused on ‘God’s Mission Here.’ ”

The Concordia University System: “I am more optimistic than I’ve ever been. Pulling policy/financial stuff away from the CUS allows them to focus specifically now on adherence to Lutheran identity and proclaiming Christ.”

Teacher burnout: “We need to take a hard look at worker well-being [and] … listen more, pay attention to what they tell us.”

Immigration: “The mandate [we have as Christians] to love one’s neighbor applies unconditionally. At the same time, laws are laws and should be obeyed. So, we have to find a balance. … As Christians, we live in two realms, and it is never easy.”

The BNM heard reports from Robson (see more in BIM update at left) and from the Rev. Daniel Galchutt, executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission (ONM).

Galchutt reviewed recent additions to the ONM support and ministry staff (story coming in the April Reporter) and noted the retirement of the Rev. Dr. Mark Wood, ONM managing director, at the end of February. He updated the board on LCMS Church Planting efforts, highlighting partnerships with 23 LCMS districts in 67 locations. He said that both seminaries have expressed interest in having ONM staff provide training for seminary students in church planting.

Galchutt also reported:

22 LCMS district presidents joined Harrison at the 2025 National March for Life in Washington, D.C. (those who could not attend sent other district representatives).

Registration for the 2025 Youth Gathering is approaching 18,000.

The December 2024 district leaders forum had 33 districts represented.

The November 2024 All Nations Council was “very well received,” and the next meeting is being planned for March or April.

Finally, the board heard from Conni Schramm, a teacher at Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine, Calif., who presented a paper on “Seven Commitments, Convictions and Non-Negotiables in Lutheran Education.” In short, the paper emphasizes Lutheran identity, having a clear mission, using materials and teaching methods that are faithful to that mission, making worship a priority, setting an example of prayer, educating parents as well as their children about Lutheran identity, and caring for the faculty and staff.

Asked by a board member what she sees as the most challenging cultural pressure faced by schools today, Schramm pointed to “the elevation of the self above all things. When children are surrounded by God’s Word, Satan is kept away.”

Posted March 7, 2025/Updated March 10, 2025