On Thursday, June 14, 2018, Rev. Michael Newman was elected at the 61st Texas District Convention as the next president of the Texas District effective September 1, 2018.
Newman is currently serving as Texas District Mission & Ministry Facilitator, Area C. He has been in this role since 2008. Prior to working for the district he was at Concordia San Antonio as associate pastor for four years. Newman has been a member of the synod for 31 years and was ordained in 1987.
“By God’s grace and under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, to STRENGTHEN congregations, schools, church workers, church members and agencies in their Gospel mission and service; to SERVE the members of the district by representing them faithfully on a Synodical level; to STEWARD district resources well as we partner in ministry and in the development of new mission efforts; and to SHARE the love and Good News of Jesus through faithful communication and Christ-centered conduct in the fulfillment of the duties of district president,” said Newman about his goals if elected president.
Over the next few month President Ken Hennings will be working closely with Rev. Newman to ensure a smooth transition.
Below is a detailed bio for Rev. Newman as printed in the Texas District Convention Workbook:
Former Pastorates/Ministry Roles: Concordia, San
Antonio, Assoc. Pastor, 2004-2008; Prince of Peace,
Palatine, IL, Sr. Pastor, 1989-2004; Our Redeemer,
Owatonna, MN, Asst. Pastor, 1987-1989;
Years as Member of Synod: 31
Year of Ordination: 1987
Previous District or Synod Offices: Texas District
Liaison to the Board of Mission Administration; Texas
District Mission Budget oversight and planning;
Chairman, LCMS Frontera Ministry; Chairman, Administrative
Cabinet, Center for United States Missions;
Member of North American Mission Endeavor (NAME);
Member of the LCMS Church Planting Roundtable;
LCMS Representative for the International Lutheran
Roundtable on Refugees and Immigration; District
Convention floor committee member and floor
committee staff advisor; PALS facilitator; Concordia
Commentary Advisory Committee; District Strategic
Planning Committee; District Committee on Ministerial
Health; District Youth Committee; Circuit
Program Committee.
Educational Background: Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, MO, 1983-1987, MDIV; Concordia University,
Ann Arbor, MI, 1979-1983, BA.
Community, Government, or Inter-Church Involvement:
Governance Committee Chair and Board
Member, Upbring, 2013-present; Board Member,
ACTS Network, 2011-present; Palatine Public School
District Advisory Committee, 1990-2004; President
and Board Member, Society for the Preservation of
Human Dignity, Palatine, 1990-1997; Chairman of the
Religious Association of Palatine, 1991-1997.
Other Experience/Qualifications: Keynote presenter
for Lutheran Hour Ministries, Lutheran Society for
Missiology, Association of Lutheran Mission Agencies,
Lead a Child Ministry, and other ministry entities;
Writer and host for Lutheran Hour Ministries videos
and study materials; Author for Concordia Publishing
House; Certified Church Planter Coach; Consecrated
Stewards Facilitator; Trained Facilitator, Peacemaker
Ministries; Trained Facilitator, Peace in the Parish.
Goals: By God’s grace and under the leadership
of the Holy Spirit, to STRENGTHEN congregations,
schools, church workers, church members and agencies
in their Gospel mission and service; to SERVE
the members of the district by representing them
faithfully on a Synodical level; to STEWARD district
resources well as we partner in ministry and in the
development of new mission efforts; and to SHARE
the love and Good News of Jesus through faithful
communication and Christ-centered conduct in the
fulfillment of the duties of district president.