# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S237 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) wd “Sat sotans fo E e 266 PARISH EDUCATION II. PARISH EDUCATION [201] Report of the Board for Parish Education God places the obligation for Christian training upon both the home and the church. To the parents, God says Eph. 6:4: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” To the church, Gog says in the great commission of our Savior, Matt. 28:19-20: “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you,” The first of these commands (Eph.6:4) is the basis for the emphasis that our Lutheran Church has placed upon the divine obligation and prerogative of Christian parents to teach their children. The second of these commands (Matt. 28:19-20) is an educational imperative to the Church. There is a growing consciousness of the fact that the Scope of the parish-education program is from infancy to adulthood, While God does not designate for us the agencies of Christian education that a congregation is to set up, He does give us definite criteria by which we can be guided in setting up a program of education and by which we can measure the adequacy of exist- ing programs. 1. Christian education is a lifelong process. This is clear from 2 Pet. 3:18: “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Cp. Col. 1:10. This increase and growth is commanded without any reference to an age or time limit. 2. God has set high standards for Christian education. This is clear from the words of Deut.6:6-7: “And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children.” To meet God’s high standards, there must be careful and prayerful planning for an effective program of Christian education. That our congregations are concerned about measuring up to the criteria which God has set for Christian education is evident from the reports given by our District Boards for Parish Education as well as from the activity of our pastors, teachers, and lay people in expanding and improving their educational program. While there is much room for improvement in every phase of the educa- tional program of the Church, it is evident that something is stirring in Synod in support of effective Christian education. PARISH EDUCATION 267 The Board’s Work The Board for Parish Education has endeavored to discharge the responsibilities entrusted to it by Synod and to carry out the specific resolutions of the 1947 Convention. The functions of the synodical Board for Parish Education are as follows: 1, Assist in planning an éffective program of parish education, and especially improve and extend the system of parochial schools in all congregations. 2. Watch for all movements and tendencies which might en- danger the program of parish education, and marshal all available resources to counteract such tendencies and movements. 3. Plan and direct the production of textbooks and other printed materials necessary for the carrying out of an effective program of Christian education. 4. Assist in co-ordinating and integrating the various educa- tional agencies and activities intended to promote parish education. 5. Assist the District Boards in supervising and directing all formal educational activities of the congregations of Synod, such as the Lutheran elementary and secondary schools, the Sunday school, the vacation Bible school, the summer school, and the part- time weekday religious school. 6. Initiate and direct research activities necessary to promote and improve parish education. 7. Advise Synod, its Districts and congregations, with respect _ to problems, needs, and possibilities in the field of parish education. Several changes have occurred in the membership of the Board for Parish Education during the past triennium. The Rev. Paul W. Streufert resigned as a member of the Board in October, 1947, because of the press of other activities. To replace him the President of Synod appointed Rev. KE. A. Krause. Mr. John C. Wegner resigned in October, 1949, because activities in his pro- fession and in his home congregation prevented his participation in the work of the Board. He was replaced by Mr. Fred L. Kuhl- mann. Mr. George Brandt, who accepted a call to the Lutheran High School in Cleveland, was replaced by Mr. E. C. Gutz. The 1947 Convention authorized the Board for Parish Edu- cation to call an Assistant Editor of Sunday school materials. After due deliberation the Board extended a call to the Rev. Allan Hart Jahsmann of Warren, Ohio. Rev. Jahsmann began work on October 1, 1948, and was installed on November 7, 1948. The Board for Parish Education has participated in the Sun- day School by Mail venture, which involves co-operation with the Board for Missions in North and South America, the Lutheran \