Last week, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod’s 2025 ENGLISH DISTRICT convention took place at Concordia University, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

District conventions, which are held every three years by each of the Synod’s 35 districts, take place the year before the triennial LCMS national convention.

These gatherings include time for conducting business, electing officers, and sharing information.  The conventions also offer opportunities for worship, nurture, missions, inspiration, and fellowship.

Pastors, teachers, other commissioned ministers, and lay delegates elected by congregations are required to attend.  This year, our own, Pastor Owen Duncan served as the official delegate of Faith Lutheran Church, Naples, FL.

This has been a characteristic of the church since Pentecost. This element of “leadership and structure” showed itself at The Church in Jerusalem and continues today.  The leadership of the Jerusalem Church was initially composed of the apostles, with Peter and James, the brother of Jesus playing important roles.  Acts 15:13-14 really highlights James’ leadership during the Council of Jerusalem: “When they had finished speaking, James declared, ‘Brothers, listen to me.  Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.’”

The early Church in Jerusalem was characterized by community and shared resources.   This is similar to what takes place at an English District convention.

What also is similar are the challenges faced by the church of yesterday, today, and even in the future.  Those significant challenges in the Church of Jerusalem included internal disputes and external persecution.  The martyrdom of Stephen, as recorded in Acts 7, marked the beginning of a severe persecution that led to the dispersion of believers throughout Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1).

The Church Council in Jerusalem remains a symbol of the unity and diversity of the early Christian community, rooted in the teachings of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Its legacy continues in each of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod as it continues to inspire believers to live out their faith with boldness and compassion.

In Christ,
Pastor Don Treglown