Why District?

³⁶ And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Acts 15:36

One Sunday I was shaking hands with members after service. It was a normal visit of one of our congregations: God’s Word was proclaimed, Holy Communion administered, and we lifted our voices in prayer and praise. A young lady in 5^th grade shook my hand and boldly asked, “Do you have your own church?” I explained to her how my new calling meant I was an overseer of many churches and schools, but no longer served a particular parish. She confidently responded, “You should get your own church, I think you would love it!”

In 1963 the MN North District was created so that our walk together in Christ would be “brought closer to home”, literally to better serve the local parish.  Prior to this time, the Minnesota District had well over 500 congregations and schools, which made it very difficult to provide quality doctrinal oversight and spiritual care for our workers. MN North started with the same conviction of this young lady, “To help saints serve their own church that they love.” Each day God is at work, by His Word, around the pulpit, font, altar, confirmation classes, Bible studies, and serving others in the name of Christ. We in the district office are still committed to this “close to home” walk together so that we may faithfully “proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (I Peter 2:9).”

One does not need to explain that much has changed since 1963. How does the district office continue to keep supporting our congregations and schools while keeping the mission the same? The MN North Board of Directors has prayerfully considered this question over the last 20 months and unanimously voted to begin district wide, focus group conversations over the next year to receive input from our called workers and laity. We have contracted with Dr. Stacy Lung, Executive Director of Lutheran Island Camp, to connect with all our 18 circuits for these conversations. Our prayer is that from these focus groups, by prayer and the Word, we will better understand the needs of your work on the ground as we evaluate our future service to all of you. If you receive an invitation on your email to be part of these focus groups, please take the time to provide your insights. We value your thoughts and seek the Lord’s help.

The Lord bless your Lenten season. The gifts of Christ are ready!

In Christ (I Peter 5:6)

Rev. Brady Finnern, District President

We welcomed our District DCEs and other Parish Professionals to the office for a time of encouragement and fellowship in January. They gathered around the theme "Work/Life Balance" and enjoyed a time of discussion with Rev. Keith Brustuen. If your congregation has a staff member who would benefit from gatherings like this, please share their contact information with Diana in the District Office at [email protected]

The Alexandria Circuit and missionaries Jacque Breman and Delano and Linda Meyer have been supporting the Lutheran Church in Malawi for many years. Circuit supported seminary students at Neema Lutheran Seminary, Matongo Kenya, Rev. Vyson Makwakwa (Left) and deaconesses Constance Maganga and Elina Banda graduated and were ordained in 2023. 

Vicarage Applications

If your congregation is interested in hosting a vicarage in 2024-2025, your application must be submitted to the District Office by March 1, 2024.

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LCMS 2023 Congregation Year-End Statistics and Lay Leader Updates – Due March 31, 2024

It is that time again to submit your congregation’s end-of-year statistics and update your current list of lay leaders at the following website: https://lc.lcms.org/.

Use the same login information that you used last year to register your Presidential Voters. If you cannot remember the username and/or password you created for your congregation last year, follow the on-screen helps on the login page to recover your login credentials.

Up-to-date statistical information is essential for the Synod as it plans current and future ministry efforts. Such information is also critical for determining proper voting representation at conventions.

Emails for lay leaders will be increasingly important as channels for critical convention communications.

The deadline for congregation statistics and lay leaders is March 31, 2024, you may also review your congregation’s profile and lay leader information anytime throughout the year to make sure your contact information, service times, and other important data are current.  

Continuing Education Funds Available

Do you have a goal in 2024 to learn a new skill set or refresh an old one? Don’t let the expense of professional development/continuing education stand in your way. The District Office has funds available to assist professional church workers with these types of programs. Our Continuing Education Grant application is available on the forms section of our website. Complete the application today and grow your professional ministry skills in 2024.

School Leadership Development

Thanks to the continued support of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, the Office of National Mission, and LCMS School Ministry, we are excited to announce that the School Leadership Development (SLED) Program registration is now open (https://luthed.org/school-leadership-development-sled/)! 

Nominations for SLED 24 are open through March 15.

Individuals interested in SLED 24 can apply online via the LUTHED link and must complete the application (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L23V5DF), self-assessment and two professional assessments from school leaders.

If you have a potential future leader on your staff, please encourage them to apply for SLED and share the application links with them. Once you know they have applied, please share the following information about the nominee with the District Education Executive ([email protected]).

• Nominee’s full name
• Email address
• Cell phone number
• School serving
• School phone number
• City, State
• Present position
• Reasons why the nominee would potentially be a good candidate for leadership

Link to application: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L23V5DF

Luthed link: https://luthed.org/school-leadership-development-sled/

State Bible Bowl

Since the late 1980’s the MN North & South Districts of the LCMS have held an annual MN State Bible Bowl Competition for youth in grades 7-12.  The Bible Bowl Competition is a double elimination competition between teams of up to 4 members per team.  Each round consists to 15 oral questions.  There also is an individual competition which consists of 50 multiple choice questions.  The questions for Bible Bowl are from a chosen book of the Bible (ESV translation). For the past 10+ years the MN State Bible Bible Bowl has been a collaborative effort with the Northern Wisconsin District.  

The 2024 MN State Bible Bowl competition will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at Concordia University - St. Paul.  The Book of the Bible for the 2024 State Bible Bowl is the Book of Acts (ESV Translation). Registration deadline is March 18 ($40/team).  Rev. Steve Breitbarth [email protected] is the coordinator for MN North with Rudy Mauer [email protected] the Coordinator for MN South and Rev. Mark Palmer for the North Wisconsin District.

REGISTRATION:  Send $40.00 per team, with names of each participant to:

                                    Rev. Rudy Maurer 

                                    P.O. Box 113; New Richland, Minnesota 56072 

                                    Checks may be made payable to “MN State Bible Bowl.”

Organ available! Contact Keith Hepola for more information: [email protected]

Drummond Island Lutheran Church is an active faith community uniquely situated at the eastern end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This congregation is seeking a pastor who can serve two days each week (Wednesday and Sunday). This position would be ideal for someone who would like to remain active in retirement or for a pastor who is self-employed in a different field but who also enjoys sharing God’s Word and caring for His people on a regular basis. If you are interested in learning more please contact:

Rev. Mark Brandt

Michigan District North and East Region Facilitator

[email protected]

989.284.5619

Does your congregation have news to share? Send your photos and stories to our Lutheran Witness Editor, Rev. Travis Lauterbach at: [email protected]

Connecting the Dots Just Got Easier

MN North District | PO Box 604, Brainerd, MN 56401 | 218-829-1781 | [email protected] | www.mnnlcms.org