# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S876
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

876 MISSIONS

themselves with one accord opposed the establishment of a double
standard in salaries.

But why not lift the Salaries of all missionaries to the North
American standard and way of living? To do this would make
the eventual building of a self-supporting Church in South America

in South America have not learned the art of Christian giving; but
in view of the exceedingly low earning power their contributions,
I believe, compare quite favorably with many of our Christians in
the United States, particularly if we consider the prevailing high
incomes.

But we dare not permit our missionaries and their families
to suffer, nor do we wish to have our missionaries “go to seed
or sink to the lowest levels.” “But how can they survive and live
in decency with the salaries as low as $50 to $60 per month?” you
will say. Not knowing South American conditions and economic

in U.S, currency’per annum) plus children’s allowances, plus rent
and cost of travel, was fixed and adopted by the District conven-~
tion of Brazil, by the missionaries themselves, nearly all of them
receiving subsidy. We know that these Mission Boards perform
the task placed upon them conscientiously, in the fear of God, and
will not permit any of the missionaries to suffer. If an emergency
arose and if they were advised of it, the South American Mission
Boards were ever ready to give assistance. The parishes of the
missionaries were of course also. advised to do their share to
alleviate the need of their shepherds. It is unbelievable that in
times of inflation, of increased cost, the incomes, particularly in
urban centers, were not also increased. We also know that the

bonuses as long as the funds were placed at the disposal of the
South American Board of Missions. In these abnormal days of
high cost of living, of inflation, which more or less has swept over
the entire world, our synodical Mission Departments as well as the
District Home Mission Boards give due consideration to these

eva musa evers waren fone aes ;
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