Planning the Model

In September of 1984 the LCMS congregations of Alaska met in a Circuit Forum. At the forum were lay and pastoral delegates from each LCMS congregation in the state. The forum established a committee called the Circuit Mission Committee. The name was later changed to the Alaska Mission for Christ. There was to be one representative, either lay or pastoral, from each congregation on the committee.

Knowing we would eventually have employees and property, the committee became incorporated within the State of Alaska as a non-profit organization. We developed Articles of Incorporation and filed them with the State of Alaska. This was accomplished on February 13, 1992. In addition, the Mission Committee of the Northwest District agreed to relinquish all mission work in the state of Alaska to us with the exception of a subsidy to Faith Lutheran Church in Homer, the only Alaska congregation on district subsidy. At the present time all mission work for the LCMS in Alaska is done through the administration of the Alaska Mission for Christ. Wherever possible we encourage congregations to expand into their immediate areas, as Homer has done with worship services across the bay in Seldovia, as Fairbanks has done with ministry in Healy and Delta Junction, and as Palmer is doing now with plans for a satellite congregation in the west Wasilla area.

Because the distances are so great we meet as a committee by telephone conference call every month except September when, at the Circuit Forum, we meet face-to-face. This conference call approach has worked well and is the only practical means of conducting business with members so widely scattered.