# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S449
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 449

film, are done by us. A conservative estimate shows that 16,000
reels of film, covering 4,200 different subjects, were sent out in
1946 by our Service Department.

cn! Previews of Films

-. There are many films on different subjects to be previewed by
-us.each year. Since our own stock is for the time being rather
limited, we have to offer the public films produced by other con~
cerns. Since most of these productions are under the auspices
of non-sectarian commercial houses, the films have to be carefully
reviewed both for content and doctrinal teachings. Quite fre-
quently the contents are objectionable and the doctrinal teachings
not in conformity with ‘our Lutheran standards. Such objectionable
places either have to be eliminated or reworked before we feel
free to offer the film to our clientele.

. Depending upon the nature of the film, we call upon various
synodical departments to assist in these previews. Our Sunday
School Office, Board of Education, Mission Education Department,
have all been very co-operative in this respect.

Each year we preview some 225 films. They are supplied
principally by large houses, such as Post Pictures, Inc., United
States Government Films, Baptista Films, Society for Visual Edu-
cation, and Cathedral Films,

Publicity

No department of visual education can promote its material
without extensive publicity. In order to make known the wide
variety offered by our Department we issued in the last year
over 13 different pieces of literature. Through a catalog of selected
films and slides we publicize all our previewed productions.
In Concordia Clippings we enumerate all the latest findings of
interest in the film world. Through mimeographed bulletins we
keep both clergy and laity informed of our work. From the
various companies which offer their wares to us we receive copious
literature that is disseminated in our circles. The “Power of
God” film receives probably the most extensive publicity since
it is one of our major productions.

Workshops

The idea of workshops in various sections of our country was
conceived last year. Since then we have facilitated the sale of
equipment and stimulated great interest through this agency.
The purpose of such a department is to set up in a congregation
our equipment, acquaint the pastor and his people with the
mechanics of the machines, and give a complete course on the
functional possibilities of audio-visual education.

Proceedings, 1947 29