# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S797
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

212

PROPOSED SYNODICAL HANDBOOK

PARISH EDUCATION

501. Christian Training of the Young

God has placed the responsibility for the training of
the young upon the home and the Church. To meet
this responsibility, both institutions must do their full
duty, each in its own sphere and both in co-operation
with each other.

Synod therefore urges: |

a. That every congregation in Synod keep before its
members the gravity of parental responsibility and that
it assist the home in every way possible to meet this
responsibility.

b. That every congregation in Synod be mindful of
its own great responsibility toward the young, that it
provide thorough and systematic instruction in the
Bible, Christian doctrine, and Christian life, and that
to this end it avail itself of such educational agencies
as systematic instruction for confirmation, the Lutheran
elementary school, Sunday school, Bible classes, Satur-
day school, vacation Bible school, weekday instruction’
for elementary and high school pupils, or any other
means which may best fit the existing circumstances.

503. Instruction for Confirmation

In harmony with the best traditions of the Lutheran
Church, every pastor of Synod shall regard the careful
and conscientious instruction of his catechumens pre-
paratory for confirmation as one of the primary duties
of his ministry. This duty must be regarded as par-
ticularly urgent when the catechumen comes without
any religious training or Christian background.

505. The Lutheran Parochial. School

The most effective educational agency available to
the Church for the Christian training of the young is
the full-time parochial school. Synod therefore urges:

a. That congregations of Synod establish Lutheran
elementary schools and Lutheran high schools wher-
ever possible, either alone or in conjunction with
other congregations. ;

b. That parochial schools be stressed in the mission
program of the Church as a vital factor for the up-
building of Christ’s kingdom, both in self-sustaining
and in mission congregations; and that Synod encour-
age the Districts to advance the cause of the parochial
schools by granting subsidies to schools where such
action is necessary.

c. That congregations engage only such men and
women as teachers in their schools as have been
trained in Synod’s teachers’ colleges or have the equiv-
alent qualifications both with respect to character and
professional training.

d. That congregations extend permanent calls to
their teachers unless local circumstances make this
impossible, - that they pay equitable salaries to their
teachers and give them such financial aid as to make
further study: and professional growth possible.

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