Report on the Carolinas Mission Region Convocation

The Mission Region Convocation took place on May 1st – May 2nd at Christiana Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. There was a total attendance of 134 persons from a majority of congregations within the Carolinas Mission Region. Seventy-seven delegates comprised the voting body, with thirty-two clergy delegates and forty-five lay delegates.

Business of the Convocation included the following:

• The CMR Treasurer’s report was reviewed and accepted as information.
• The 2026-27 CMR Budget was presented by the treasurer and Finance Committee chairperson. There was no discussion and the budget was adopted by unanimous vote.
• A proposed amendment to the CMR Bylaws was presented which would provide position descriptions and stipend funding for volunteer CMR officers who fulfill various administrative duties.
• This amendment was not adopted due to convoluted language and instead recommitted to the CMR Council for further discernment.
• A new amendment may be presented during the next annual convocation.

Bishop Dan Selbo provided updates on several NALC ministries:

• Since the previous convocation, the NALC has grown from 444 congregations to 567.
• There are now forty-five mission districts within seven newly formed geographical regions. Each region is served by an AAB (Area Assistant to the Bishop).
• There are currently thirty-five congregations with full time pastoral vacancies, and twenty-eight congregations with part time pastoral vacancies for a total of sixty-three congregations without a pastor.
• Currently there are sixty-two students enrolled in the NALC Seminary system.
• It is forecasted that two hundred forty NALC pastors will retire within eight years.
• Due to aging congregations and changes in our culture, congregations are encouraged to evaluate their ministries and through a process of discernment of their vision for ministry, engage in congregation renewal. The NALC will provide assistance.

South Carolina Mission District

A report was provided by Rev. Dawn Rister (Dean):

• The SCMD has grown from eleven congregations (2024) to twenty congregations (2026).
• Currently, seven SCMD congregations are without a pastor.

Ministry Partners

The CMR welcomed representatives of several NALC Ministry Partners. Displays, presentations and materials were provided for the following ministries:

• Awakening Lives for Global Mission (Pastor Bill Moberly)
• Congo Mission International (Pastor David Nuottila)
• Lutheran Military Veterans and Families (Chaplain Leslie Haynes)
• Lutherans for Life (Pastor Scott Liecht)
• Malawi Orphan Care Project (Ken Ekegren)
• NALC Disaster Response (Mary Bates)
• Sharing Shepherds (Pastor Marty Ramey)
• SMI Haiti (Pastor Heidi Punt)
• Sola Publishing (Pastor Steven King)
• Spiritual Orphans Network (David and Angela Briedenbach)
• Water Mission (Marie Reny)

Thank you to Brandon Slice and Mark Slice for serving as St. Jacob’s delegates to this year’s convocation.

Faithfully,

Pastor David Nuottila