Reports - Central Illinois District - Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

was adopted at our district convention 21 years ago. We are actively involved in ministry to the deaf,the developmentally challenged, college and university students, and those in our prisons.Not only do we share our financial resources with the Synod to help educate future church workers, butalso to support our Synod’s mission work throughout the world. In addition to this, we have developeda partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (ELCL). We usually visit in Latvia atleast once a year and invite them to come and share what is happening in their world with us.At our last District Convention, Archbishop Janis Vanags was with us. July 28-30, 2006, my son Keithand I attended the “Church Days” in Latvia. It was a great experience to participate in workshops andworship with our fellow Lutherans. Our District and LCMS World Relief/Human Care assisted ourcircuit councilors and a few others in visiting Latvia November 1-10, 2006. December 8-18 our districthosted the Archbishop, his wife, and Rev. Eglitis for a visit.I was invited to participate in the consecration of two bishops for the ELCL on October 13, 2007. Mywife and I and our son Kris were impressed with the festivities. We also took the opportunity to visitthe work of the diaconal center (relief efforts) in the three Baltic States. My last visit was in March of2008. My wife and I plan to attend “Church Days” at the end of July.Camp CILCACamp CILCA, which is owned by the CID and operated by the Central Illinois Lutheran CampAssociation has undergone some recent changes. The CID and the district Lutheran Layman’s League(LLL) each appoint 6 people to serve on the Camp CILCA board. A new executive director has comeon board – Rev. Chuck Johnson. We wish him and the board God’s richest blessings as they begin anew chapter in the life of the camp. We thank former director Rich Harkins for his past 18 years ofservice. Rich followed me as Camp Director when I accepted the call to St. James, Quincy. I hadserved as camp director from 1978-1990. There is an annual Camp CILCA meeting at the CID officethe second Saturday of January at 2:00 pm.The camp offers excellent camping opportunities for all ages. There are winterized facilities so retreatscan be held throughout the year. There are challenge courses and a wide variety of activities on the200+ acres. If you have never been to camp or if you have not been there for some time, I wouldsuggest you visit and find out what is available. There is a very Christ-centered program throughoutthe summer for children with very qualified future church workers serving as counselors.StaffI am very happy to report that the district has a very capable staff. Our Administrative assistants: Rev.Joel Cluver, Mr. Glenn Goeres, Rev. Wesley Reimnitz, and Mr. David Rohe (part-time in Giftplanning) bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in a variety of areas. Each excels in their area ofexpertise and I thank them for their fine work. I am also very grateful for the faithful services of Mrs.Marsha Shown who has served the District for over ten years as our Administrative Secretary andReceptionist. We also very much appreciate our part-time bookkeeper Kim Randall. Both are sohelpful to all of us in the office and those contact the office.Special ThanksI am grateful for our District Praesidium that includes first vice president Rev. Donald Pritchard andsecond vice president Rev. Daniel Bishop. They have given me much advice and assistance in the pastthree years. I am also thankful for the sixteen Circuit Counselors who have contributed much effort in2009 Convention Section B – Reports Page 2