# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S292 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 292 PARISH SERVICES This support for the Witness takes practical form when District staffs and congregation members work for blanket subscription throughout the District and in the congregation. Blanket subscription to the Witness would bring it into every one of the 800,000 homes in the Synod. It is interesting and encouraging to note the fine support of the Districts and congregations in subscribing to the Witness. Nine Districts and the Armed Forces Commission (which mails the Witness to 7.000 members in the military) range from 90 to 100 percent blanket subscriptions: Nebraska, Northwest, Iowa East, and the Armed Forces Commission, 100 percent; Missouri, Texas, and South Dakota, 99 percent; Mid-South, 96 percent; Wyoming 94 percent: Southern I]linois, 90 percent. Six Districts are in the 72—88 percent bracket: Minnesota North, 88 percent; Montana, 84 percent; Kansas, 81 percent; Iowa West, 76 percent; SELC, 73 percent; and Oklahoma, 72 percent. Two more Districts have more than the d9 percent synodical average: North Dakota, 68 percent; Southeastern, 60 percent. Five Districts are above 40 percent: Florida-Georgia, 53 percent; Colorado, 51 percent; Central Illinois, 49 percent; Southern California, 46 percent; Ohio, 45 percent. Four Districts are in the 30-percent range: North Wisconsin, 39 percent; Ontario, 39 percent; Minnesota South, 35 percent; Michigan, 33 percent. Seven Districts range from 20 to 29 percent: Northern Illinois, 29 percent; Indiana, 29 percent; Southern, 28 percent; California-Nevada-Hawaii, 25 percent; New England, 20 percent; New Jersey, 20 percent; South Wisconsin 20 percent. Two Districts are in the teens: Eastern, 17 percent; English, 16 percent; and one, Atlantic, has a7-percent blanket subscrip- tion to the Witness. We hope delegates to the convention will return home to their congregations and encourage blanket subscriptions to the Witness as a sharing of faith and ministry in Jesus Christ. The Editorial Commission and the staff believe the blanket- subscription price of the Witness—about $2.50—makes it a most reasonable means of linking the members and congrega- tions of the Synod. To inquire about blanket subscriptions, congregation leaders should contact their District office. Reporter subscriptions are provided free by the Synod to congregation leaders whose names are submitted by the pastor. Individual subscriptions are available at $9 per year from Concordia Publishing House. Members of the Editorial Commission for Official Period- icals are: Rev. Henry C. Lubben, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Taylorville, Ill. (chairman); William Haeseler III, a businessman from North Tonawanda, N.Y. (vice-chairman); Marlys S. Taege, director of development, Bethesda Lutheran Home, Watertown, Wis. (secretary); Dr. Herbert Berner, retired pastor, Milwaukee, Wis.; Signe Carlson, mother and housewife, Austin, Minn.; Rev. Paul J. Foust, administrative assistant for stewardship and evangelism, Michigan District, Ann Arbor; Dr. August T. Mennicke, president, Minnesota North District, Brainerd; Dr. Rudolph Norden, retired pastor and editor at Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis; Rev. Hans R. Tornow, executive for program—stewardship and public relations, Northern Illinois District, Hillside. Dr. Ralph Reinke, president, Concordia Publishing House, Dr. George Wollenburg, synodical Fifth Vice-President, and Victor Bryant, chairman, synodical Division of Communica- tions, are advisory members. Rev. Leland R. Stevens was installed as executive editor on Dec. 7, 1979. He earned a masters degree in religious journalism at Syracuse University in 1967 and served 20 years in the Air Force chaplaincy and six years in the parish ministry. Roland Lovstad joined the staff in July 1979 as an assistant editor with responsibility for the Reporter. He is a 1967 graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and worked for 12 years in newswriting and public relations at the University of Minnesota, Duluth campus. Appointed features editor of the Witness in February 1980, Robin Mueller has been on the staff since 1976, beginning as production coordinator. She is a 1975 graduate of Valparaiso University, where she majored in English literature and journalism. She has a masters degree in media studies from Webster College, St. Louis. Karen Kueck became production coordinator in March 1980 after six years experience with newspapers and business publications. She is a 1971 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Ruth Lindemeyer is assistant to the executive editor and has the longest experience on the staff—13 years. The Editorial Commission and staff want to recognize the services of Dr. George W. Wittmer, pastor emeritus, who served as interim executive editor from February through November 1979; also, members of the commission, William Wagner, chairman, and Rev. Eugene L. Krentz, who finished their terms during the biennium. We acknowledge Lutheran Brotherhood for continuing to fund Witness subscriptions during the biennium for retired pastors, teachers, and surviving spouses. We also want to express our appreciation to the members of Concordia Publish- ing House for their editorial, graphic, and production support of Synod’s official periodicals. We thank God for his blessings and we continually pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in witnessing to Jesus Christ our Lord through the pages of the Witness and Reporter. Leland Stevens, Executive Editor 7-07 Report of Commission on Church Literature In its ongoing study and review of the publication needs of God’s people, the Commission on Church Literature is mindful of the increasingly diverse audiences for and purposes of publications for members of the LCMS. The “coming of age” of the postwar generation, the growing incidence of single-parent families, dramatic increases in longevity, the changing character of the workplace (and home) as more women enter the labor force, a growing recognition of the scarcity of resources, and the consequent diminishing of expectations are just a few of the numerous changes affecting personal and institutional life and placing new demands and stresses on the ministry of our church. It is in this context of social change and restructuring that the commission advises Concordia Publishing House on speci- fic publishing needs and attempts to shape publication proposals of a timely nature. However, the commission is also mindful that it is the unique purpose of such publications to present the timeless message of God in Jesus Christ, a message of judgment, hope, and salvation. To assure that each publica- tion presents this message in a timely and vivid manner, the commission carefully reviews each publication proposal offered; suggests authors of merit and insight; and reads outlines, specimen writings, and manuscripts prior to recom- mending publication. During the past biennium the commission reviewed scores of publishing proposals, monitored numerous works in pro- gress, recommended over 20 works for publication, and suggested and assigned authors for such ongoing publications as Portals of Prayer, Taegliche Andachten, tracts, and the Concordia Pulpit. Meeting regularly, the commission jointly reviews the recommendations from the following interest areas and their commissioners: Children’s Materials, Mrs. Barbara Steege; Devotional Materials, Dr. Milton Nauss; Exegetical Materials, Rev. Dean Wenthe; Historical Materials, Dr. Robert Kolb; Homiletical Materials, Rev. Richard Kapfer; Lay/General Materials, Dr. Ihno Janssen; Professional/Paraprofessional Materials, Rev. William Griffin; Research Materials, Dr. Martin Scharlemann; Systematic Materials, Rev. Paul Paster- nak; Tracts, Rev. Arthur Kaul; and Youth-Young Adult Materials, Dr. Paul Maier. Assisting the above are the following: Devotional, Dr. Rudolph Norden; Exegetical, Dr. James Voelz and Dr. Horace Hummel; Homiletical, Dr. Erwin Kolb and Rev. Leland Teuscher; Lay/General, Mrs. Ruth Duerr and Rev. Martin Taddey; Professional/paraprofessional, Dr. John Golisch, Prof. Steven Hein, and Dr. Frazier Odom; Research, Rev. Larry Myers, Rev. James Nickel, and Prof. William Weinrich; Syste matic, Dr. Samuel Nafzger; Tracts, Rev. James Brubaker, Mrs.