# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S126
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES 123

First Forecast of Synod’s Growth and of Its Need
for Ministerial Graduates, 1950 to 1980

_ While the net outcome of the following growth studies may
seem startling, the fact is that the census figures which are basic

set his study have already been shown to be too conservative.
. t release of the United States Bureau of the Census makes
the statement that a total population of 150,000,000 had already

CHART NO 1
SHOWING MEMBERSHIP FORECAST BASED ON US. POP.

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been achieved by the United States on November 1, i949. -This is
far earlier than the time anticipated (about 1955) by the official
releases and estimates which have been used as.a. basis: for the
following growth study of the Missouri Synod. Lo

It should be borne in mind also that this forecast has reference
only to parish ministers in the United States and Canada and that
it does not attempt to recognize additional needs which will exist
in the various special services (faculties, foreign missions, full-
time executives, etc.) which are performed in our Synod. .

No attempt is made, in this study, to specify the exact number
of ministers needed in a given year; instead, the « estimates are for
average annual needs by decades.

It is assumed that more accurate estimates could not be