# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S684
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

100 MISSIONS:
[402] ,
Report of the General Church Extension Board

The activity of the Church Extension Board as a lene
agency has suffered a decline during the course of the 1
triennium. .

In 1941 the Board considered 63 applications for loans, r
questing a total of $312,298 and granted 31.of them, lending a tot f
of $145,500. In 1942 only 27 applications were received, requestin
a total of $177,550, and of these 17 were granted, making the amouh
lent out $104,550. In 1943 nine applications reached the office
the Board, requesting a total of $82,000, and five of these wer
granted, with a total of $45,000. The explanation of this grad’
diminution of the number and amount of loans is known to all=
building restrictions ordered by our Government have affected’ ow
congregations, building material cannot be obtained, prioritie
have been refused, and building operations, except those vital
the prosecution of the war, are at a standstill. It is our hope ANC
prayer that all restrictions may soon be lifted again, so that th
many congregations in need of churches and schools may mak
use of the capital of Synod’s Fund. Meanwhile, repayments fron
loans already made have been received in gratifying measure/#
Many churches have used the present opportunities for collecting
money for debts and have paid off their loans or have made sub;
stantial reduction of their debt. A number of accounts concerni n
which we had grave doubts of their eventual worth became active
and payments were received. All this has brought the :
balance of the Fund to the unprecedented height of over one h
million dollars. This large sum of money is held by the Treasuré
of Synod and will be available to the Church Extension Board whe
building operations are resumed. Applications are being receivee
and are kept on file, to be acted upon at a later date. It will
the policy of the Board, as it has been in the past, to lend this?
money for buildings which are permitted under Synod’s rules, ‘ té
investigate every application carefully before any investment i
made, to safeguard Synod’s capital in every way, and to secure
repayments promptly. Your Board will strive to provide adequat
facilities for worship wherever they are needed and will at the
same time guard against an overspending of money and the
accumulation of burdensome indebtedness. The Church Extension
Board has always been ready to adjust the terms of a loan in su
a way as to make it possible for a congregation to reduce its debt
but it has been loath to forgive any part of a debt. However, ix
exceptional cases, and for easily recognizable reasons, the Boart
does consider a lowering of the amount of a debt. One such c

is herewith presented to Synod for action, that of the Manitoba