District President’s Report Pastor’s Conference Trinity Lutheran Church Mountain Home, Arkansas October 20,21, 2015

Devotional Thought Identity In Christ “Do not rejoice that even the demons are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” – Luke 10:20 Seriousness In Sanctification “Watch your life and doctrine closely so that you will save yourselves and your hearers.” – 1 Timothy 4:16 Passionate for Souls “Who is weak and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin and I do not inwardly burn?” – 1 Corinthians 7

Pastoral Vacancies Synod Wide Vacancies:  77 pastoral vacancies  6 2 vacant parishes District Vacancies:  Little Rock – Served by Larry Cross  South Austin – Served by Silas Krueger  Camp Shiloh – Served by Mark Enter Calls o David Kapler – to Cornville, Arizona

CMO – Video For Your Leaders Would hope that every congregation would strive for a 10 % minimum.

One in Christ – Debt Retirement  Goal is 4.7 million to retire debt to selves  You should have material  November 22, is Kick Off Sunday  July 1, 2015 is the end of the campaign.  $15.75 per communicant member should do it.  $75,000 already given

WELS VEBA INSURANCE  Provides Consistent benefits throughout church body  Helps the calling process – no insurance work to do.  In VEBA premiums includes vision and disability (not found in most exchange programs)  The healthy members pay for the unhealthy  No cherry picking young workers out of VEBA and leaving old People in  Premiums will go up 4% in 2016  Asking a called worker to pay part of their premium is not at synod code  Open Enrollment this fall November 2105 to 2016  Currently 18 % of WELS called workers are not in VEBA  Circuit Pastors will be calling to ask a few questions about your Health Insurance coverage

WELS VEBA INSURANCE  Open Enrollment this fall November 2105 to 2016  Currently 18 % of WELS called workers are not in VEBA  Circuit Pastors will be calling to ask a few questions about your Health Insurance coverage

Miscellaneous  Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage Statement  Self Assessment Forms are going digital  Mary Video – Christmas Outreach  Constitution – COP Resolution  Calls in the District – Three recently returned.  Building Use Policy Statement to come out soon

More Miscellaneous  WLCFS – Member Assistance Program  Reformation 500 th anniversary plans  LCMS/ELS/WELS meeting  WELS/ELS/CLC meetings  CICR – Met with ELS about fellowship

South Central District News  We will have an “ Ignite Conference” Abiding Word, Houston, on January 18, This is for pastors and lay leaders to gather with Pastor Jon Hein and/or Pastor John Sharf and learn how to strategically plan their ministries. This conference will have limited capacity (first come, first serve).To sign up see David Bivens.  Professor Tom Kock has agreed to be the special keynote speaker at our next Grow Conference, February 4-5, Now is the time to ask lay men and women to come.