About the Atlantic District
The mission and history of the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) has been one of welcoming and embracing each wave of immigrants and newcomers from around the world. Covering metropolitan New York, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and the Capital Region, the Atlantic District is set in one of the most diversely populated areas on earth.
With over 100 congregations and missions, the work of the Atlantic District is boundless, bringing God's Word and Love to people from all walks of life. Whether it's setting up new churches, or ministering to existing congregations, the Atlantic District also reaches out to the many ethnic and religious groups in New York so they may know Jesus Christ! Among the many Atlantic District missions are ministries to Hispanic, African immigrant, Asian and Deaf communities.
Our Mission Statement
The Atlantic District’s congregations, workers and agencies share God’s grace in Christ Jesus to nurture Christians and reach out to others.
Vision Statement
The Atlantic District is “Engaging the World with the Gospel of Hope” through
+ vitalized congregations that grow in the grace and work of the Body of the Christ through Word and Sacraments while reaching their neighborhoods and the world with the life and love of Christ;
+ sanctified workers who are supported so that they love, teach and lead the baptized while seeking the lost and sharing the Gospel with all people; and
+ dynamic agencies that are committed to partnerships in the Gospel that edify the faithful while transforming our society.
Passed at the September 29, 2011 Board of Directors Meeting of The Atlantic District, LCMS.
Objectives
To accomplish its mission, the AD:
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Identifies, trains and supports key leaders including clergy
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Offers faith-based programs and resources
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Provides "best practice" models: evangelism, governance, stewardship, financial management
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Initiates new mission starts/revitalization and raises up homegrown leaders
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Provides a supportive network to foster unity and build bridges
Goals Affirmed in Our 100th Anniversary Year
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Revitalize congregations and leaders so that every congregation is an active mission station
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Multiply collaborative efforts for mission and ministry to carry out ten new strategic collaborative efforts among congregations and schools
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Raise up and train 200 local mission leaders by 2017
Your Congregational Support Dollars at Work in the Atlantic District
The Atlantic District organizes resources to provide support to its clergy and member congregations, schools, missions, ministries and service agencies in the following areas. This is accomplished primarily by the work of AD staff and task forces implementing the vision and goals set forth by the President and Board of Directors of the District: -
Support to Congregations
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Crisis Resolution
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Call process assistance/ordinations/installations
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Strategic Planning
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Student Scholarships – attending LCMS college or seminary
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Properties Assessment
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Finance Assistance
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Salary Guidelines
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Worship Committee
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Task Forces – Missions, Transforming Congregations and Leadership, Parish Support and Financial Management, Lutheran Schools, Parish Education and Youth, Communications, and Health and Human Care
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Demographic Studies and Mapping Analysis
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LCEF (Investments, Loans, Services)
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Upcoming Transformation Consultations
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Missions
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Mission Society — raising up prayer and money for missions.
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Supervision of Field Developers (Chinese, Bengali, African Immigrant, Caribbean)
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New Hispanic and Mosaic Missions
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Resource for Mission Congregations/Revitalization/Church Planting
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Salary and Benefit Subsidizing of Missionaries
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South Asian Disaster Response – ongoing support
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Witness in the Public Square Benefit Luncheon – October 19, 2010
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District Youth Initiatives
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Training
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Deacon Training and Deacon Retreat
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SMP (Specific Ministry Pastor) and EIIT (Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology) programs leading to ordination for pastors
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DELTO (Distance Education Leading to Ordination)
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Transforming Congregations Network (TCN): Consultants and Coaches
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Learning Communities
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Leadership Retreat
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New Worker Orientation
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Workshops, Conferences & Conventions
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Hispanic Conference
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Small Groups Ablaze
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Daughtering Church Seminar
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Consecrated Stewards
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New Worship Supplement
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Health and Wellness seminars
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Festival of Workshops—Save the Date March 6, 2010
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Regional Workshops
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New Worker Orientation
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District Convention
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Worship & Praise/District Celebrations
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Regional Concerts of Praise
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Reformation Service – West Point
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Anniversary Celebration Events (e.g., 100th Anniversary, etc.)
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Lutheran Schools
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Support of LSA – conferences, workshops, administrative networking, 9/11 scholarships
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Provide IT Start Up Support for schools
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Intervention Assistance
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Concordia College – New York
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Scholarships – for those preparing for ordination or commissioned fulltime church work
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Communicating across the District
Stop, Drop and Pray weekly E-letter
9. Administrative Structure relating to the LCMS
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AD Board of Directors
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Roster maintenance for ordained and commissioned workers
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File Maintenance for all church workers
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Host District Convention
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Coordination for Synodical convention
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District Archives & Archivist
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Colloquy
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Call process and Vicars
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Circuit Counselor’s Retreat
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Health & Human Care
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LSS liaison
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Disaster Response (Haiti, Hurricane, Tsunami)
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Regionally trained disaster responders
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Immigration & Naturalization support
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Nehemiah Housing
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Support for Parish Health Ministries
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District Operations
Atlantic District
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
171 White Plains Road Bronxville NY, 10708
914.337.5700 Fax: 914.337.7471
www.ad-lcms.org
June 9, 2010
