# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S272
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

272 PARISH EDUCATION

gregations which report 50 ber cent or more of their commu-
nicant members enrolled in Bible classes, In spite of these signs
of progress, the over-all Picture is far from bright, since the total
enrollment of all Bible classes in Synod is still less than-8 per
cent of the communicant membership. The need for an ener-
getic, Synod-wide movement to Promote general interest in Bible
study is apparent and urgent. Equally important are provisions
in each congregation for a sufficient number of Bible classes to
meet the needs and interests of the entire confirmed membership.
In order to create among our members greater Bible-study con-
sciousness, the active support and co-operation of all District
Boards for Parish Education, the various lay organizations in
Synod, the editors of our Periodicals, and the conferences and
circuits is required.

Synod’s Board for Parish Education has during the past tri-
ennium endeavored to bring about a closer co-operation between
all organizations concerned with the Promotion of Bible classes.
In joint conferences with representatives of the Young People’s
Board, the Walther League, and Concordia Publishing House,
it has participated in the discussion of many vital problems relating
to Bible class work. Two of its staff members, together with
representatives of the Young People’s Board and the Walther
League, have served for two years as a special Bible-study com-
mittee. This committee of four has studied the objectives of Bible
classes, the present Bible-class situation, and basic principles that
should govern the production of adequate study and teaching
guides. The research studies and findings of this committee have
been made available in a mimeographed book of 54 pages. The
joint report of this committee and its sponsors appears elsewhere
in the Book of Memorials and Reports to Synod. The work begun
by this committee is continued by a larger Council on Bible Study,
under the auspices of the Board for Parish Education and with
the collaboration of the various organizations that are interested
in group Bible study in the parishes,

In the Concordia Bible Student the Board for Parish Education
has continued to provide quarterly study courses for students and
in the Concordia Bible Teacher special helps and additional mate-
rials for teachers. These materials are being used to some extent
also outside of our own Synod. Of these courses, four have been
revised and issued in book form: Our Bible, Our Church, Our
Creed, and Our Home.

In course of time the Board for Parish Education and Con-
cordia Publishing House plan to make available a large number
of such booklets for Bible study appropriate for all age groups
and progressively graded. The production of Promotional mate-