# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S298
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

298 PARISH EDUCATION

preparation of materials to meet the needs of six groups:
Nursery, Beginners, Primary, Junior, Intermediate, and Senior.
The editor has the additional responsibility of directing the
preparation of materials for the post-confirmation age. It is
humanly impossible for one man to do justice to so many age
levels, each of which calls for specialized knowledge of child
psychology, of materials and methods, The Sunday School Office
is also responsible for the preparation of materials for released-
time classes. This field calls for intensive study, but the study

. cannot be made unless the editor sacrifices time that should be
devoted to Sunday school literature.

2. The Board for Parish Education receives frequent requests for
improved materials and for a greater variety of materials than
we have been able to furnish: Our Sunday schools have grown
to such an extent that the enrollment in this agency exceeds by
far that of any other educational agency of our Church. There-
fore, more attention should be given to the Sunday school than
ever before. Even granting that an editor is versatile and knows
his field, yet his abilities are limited. In order to provide mate-
rials that are up to date and sufficiently varied to meet the
demands of the present age, we must have more than one person
engaged in the study and preparation of Sunday school lessons
and other materials for use in the Sunday school.

3, It is unwise and hazardous for a church body as large as ours
to throw the entire responsibility for preparing Sunday school
lessons on one person. If Sunday school lessons are to be kept
up to date and if the work is to go forward, we must train
additional personnel for that work. At least one person should
be employed in the Sunday school work and receive the neces-
Sary training, so that he will be able to assume the responsibility
in case that should become necessary. In view of the large en-
rollment of our Sunday schools, we must look into the future,
and we do so only when we train workers.

5. Bible Class

5.1. That all District Boards of Parish Education be asked to
study the Bible-class situation in their parishes, to urge congrega-
tions to provide separate Bible classes for adolescents, young people,
and adults in sufficient number, and to assist the congregations in
building up, improving, and expanding their Bible classes, and thus
encourage all communicant members to Participate actively in
a well-prepared Bible-study program.

5.2, That all congregations of Synod be encouraged to hold
Sunday morning Bible classes for all post-confirmation age groups
during the regular Sunday school period and to have additional
classes whenever possible,

6. Part-Time Agencies of Religious Instruction

6.1, Inasmuch as the Sunday school falls far short of providing
enough time for the adequate instruction of our children in religion,
we recommend that all congregations be urged to study ways and