# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S849
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISSIONS 345

Today—our Journal of Practical Missionary Procedure —
and Pastor H. W. Gockel, editor, need no introduction. This maga-
zine is sent gratis to all pastors in the active ministry. Two of the
monthly issues touching upon the missionary possibilities of our
educational agencies are also sent gratis to the active teachers '
(men and women) of our day schools and to the Sunday school
superintendents. The ‘Board of Home Missions believes that Today
is an important link in the development of missions.

Some criticism has come to us because the teachers, women
teachers, and Sunday school superintendents are not included in
our monthly mailing list. Interested laymen, officers of societies,
have also requested to be placed on our free mailing list. Numerous
requests have also come to us from outside of our circles for
subscriptions to this magazine. One mission board from another
Lutheran body would subscribe for every one of their missionaries.

Considering all that is involved, your Board of Home Missions
believes that the mailing list of Today ought be restricted to the
active clergy of Synod if it is at all to serve its original purpose.

The Board of Home Missions is at a loss to know what to do
‘to satisfy the demands made upon it. And it is not only a question
of dollars and cents to provide this magazine gratis to an increased
number of readers; it is rather a question of policy. We ask
whether we are not defeating the very purpose of the magazine
which is to give the clergy a Journal of Practical Missionary
Procedure. If the magazine is to be for a wider circle of readers,
if it is also to be sent to the teachers, including women teachers
and Sunday school superintendents, and for the laity, this wider
circle of readers must also be given consideration in the editing of
the magazine. Speaking to this wider circle, the magazine cannot
speak so frankly and so freely to the active clergy as it can if
the magazine is restricted to pastors only.

The original purpose of Today, to be a Journal of Practical
Missionary Procedure for the active pastors, ought therefore to be
carried out and active pastors of Synod only be placed on the
free mailing list. Students of our theological seminaries are also
included in this list.

May we suggest that the convention endorse the above policy?

Missionary Education and Teachers. —It is refreshing indeed
to note the widespread interest of our co-workers, the teachers,
in Today, and the missionary education as it is outlined in the
magazine. We firmly believe that information on missionary pro-
cedure ought also be conveyed to the teaching profession. But
we are convinced that this guidance and direction, this education
on missionary procedure, ought be given more definitely in line
with, and more closely related to, parish education than it can