47th Regular 2025 District Convention | Day 1 Recap

Below the Recap are Resources you need for Tomorrow (Thursday)

Opening Devotion

Convention chaplain Rev. Jean-Enoch Berus, St. Paul's LA & Grace Compton, opened the Convention in prayer and liturgy. The Convention was blessed by the musical offerings of members of The Songwriter Initiative, a ministry of the Center for Worship Leadership at Concordia University Irvine. A devotional message was then proclaimed by Rev. Jim Henkell, PSD Ministry Exec on the topic Redeemed to Tell, reminding us that it is not just what happens to us, but what God has done for us as he has redeemed each of us to tell of his good works.

Registration Report - As of 1:38PM

Pastoral Delegates - 125
Lay Delegates - 131
Advisory Ordained Delegates - 28
Advisory Commissioned Delegates - 16*
Guests - 75

*The PSD is utilizing 16 Commissioned Ministers to provide a "pre-vote" on Resolutions in an effort to raise the voice of commissioned ministers who are not afforded a vote in the Bylaws of the LCMS.

District Changes

Roster changes over the last triennium are reported in the Convention Workbook and can be found on pages 36-62. During today's business, President Gibson highlighted that as of June 1, 2025, the Pacific Southwest District is home to 491 Pastors & 928 Commissioned Ministers. Additionally, President Gibson celebrated that there have been 75 Pastoral Installations over the last three years.

Standing Rules & Agenda Adoption

An amendment was brought to the floor recommending a change to standing rule three to lengthen the time microphone time to speak from 2:00 minutes to 3:00 minutes. The amendment did not pass and the Standing Rules were adopted as listed in the Convention Workbook (page 14).

The agenda as listed on pages 7-9 of the Convention Workbook was adopted without discussion.

Redeemed to Tell - Stories of God @ Work

President Mike Gibson provided the second half of the District President's Report (Part One is linked under "Previously Shared Resources"). In this report he encouraged congregations of the PSD to remember that "your church is perfectly sized for what God wants you to do right now!"

The slides from President Gibson's report can be found in the Convention App.

Rev. Dominic Rivkin, PSD Mission Executive shared the many resources available to congregations, schools, and people of the district to empower them to better serve their communities as witnesses of the Gospel. In sharing the resources, he shared stories of these resources at work, including celebrating 100 in 10.

Resolutions

25.02.04 To Thank Former District Presidents of the Pacific Southwest District and to Confer the Title of "District President Emeritus of the Pacific Southwest District approved with 95% of vote

25.02.05 To Welcome and Serve the Synodical Convention Delegates and Paraticipants at the National 2026 Convention in Phoenix approved with overwhelming majority vote

25.01.05 To Engage the World at the "LA28" Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games approved with 97% of vote

Elections

District President Election: Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson elected with 88% on the first ballot for a third term as District President.

Vice Presidents: The Regional Vice President elections were held first and then the ranking of them as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th VP. The results are listed below:

Region 1 - Rev. Dr. John Palka, 4th VP

Region 2 - Rev. Dr. Dustin Parker, 3rd VP

Region 3 - Rev. Dr. Mark Manning, 2nd VP

Region 4 - Rev. Vince Harman, 1st VP

Resources for Tomorrow

Workbook Supplement #2 includes floor nominations received for tomorrow's elections, changes to the ballot as a result of today's elections, and changes to resolutions as a result of today's floor committee hearings. Resolutions not amended can be found in "Workbook Supplement #1" and when clicking "Resolutions (without changes)"

Workbook Supplement #2

Previously Shared Convention Resources

Convention Schedule

Convention Website

Convention Workbook

Workbook Supplement #1

Resolutions (without changes)

Convention Hall Seating Layout

Convention App

We have built a convention app on a platform called Guidebook. The app will be important for delegates at the convention as it is where we will post amendments, floor nominations, and send out important updates throughout the convention. To download the Guidebook app, scan the QR code below, or if you are viewing this email on your phone, tap the button below the QR code. After the app downloads, you will be prompted to download the "2025 PSD Convention: Redeemed to Tell" guide.

Download the App (Scroll to the bottom of the page to download)

President's Report Part 1