# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S257
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

304 PARISH EDUCATION

gregations that have not as yet instituted the vacation Bible schoo]
to examine its possibilities as a missionary agency and as'a means
of supplementing the religious instruction of existing schools,

7. Bible Study

7.1. That, in reliance upon the blessings of God, our Church
set as its goal for 1953 an increase in Bible class enrollments
amounting to an additional 5 per cent of its communicant members,

7.2. That all Districts set up for themselves goals in terms of
new Bible classes and increased enrollments for the next triennium
with the Synod-wide goal in mind.

7.3. That our congregations be encouraged to provide suf-
ficient Bible study facilities on a weekly basis for their high school
youth, young people, and adults, and that we encourage them to
recognize that the complete Sunday school program includes Bible
classes for youth and adults.

74. That we encourage our congregations to make both per-
sonal and family use of the Bible during the next triennium.

7.5. That the Board for Parish Education continue the Bible
Study Program, supply effective materials for Bible study on all
levels, and provide additional guidance for the training of leaders
in Bible study.

7.6. That we commend our District Boards for new achieve-
ments in Bible study during the past triennium and urge them to
press forward, with consistent, through-the-year efforts, toward
more and better Bible study and Bible reading.

1.1. That the Board for Parish Education continue to study
the problem of a more readable English Bible text through its
Advisory Committee on Versions, and that the Board keep the
Church informed on developments and give it guidance in this
matter. ,

8. Bible Institutes

8.1. That our Synod recognize the importance of training many
more volunteer church workers as basic to the fulfillment of our
mission in the congregation, the local community, the nation, and
the world.

8.2. That we commend those leaders and communities that
have already set up Lutheran Bible institutes or are now making
plans for the establishment of such evening schools.

8.3. That we encourage our larger centers to set up Bible
institutes for the purpose of preparing lay leaders to serve as
Bible class teachers in our congregations and to develop their abil-
ities for other phases of our Church’s work.

8.4. That the direction of these Lutheran Bible institutes and

+= RENNER

PARISH EDUCATION 805

the guidance for their development be made the responsibility. of
District Boards for Parish Education, in consultation with Synod’s
Board for Parish Education.

9, Special Assignments to the Board for Parish Education
91. State Aid. ,

The Board for Parish Education recommends that Synod re-
affirm the position on State Aid taken at the 1944 and 1947 con-
ventions. This emphasizes:

a. That the social service programs of the State should in
equity be available to all children of school age, irrespective
of their school association. The Church can accept this pro-
gram as it is offered and may even be within its rights in
demanding it.

b. That the granting of tax moneys by the State to subsidize
church schools is de facto support of the teaching program
of church schools, hence also support of religious instruction.
We are opposed to the granting of State or Federal funds for
the support of church schools,

9.2. Religious Education in State-Supported Schools
Synod resolved in 1947 that the Board for Parish Education
be directed to continue its studies and report its findings: at the
next convention. This has been done in the current re
rt -
sented herewith. oe pom Pre
The issues involved in this problem are complicated and can-
not be decided by the mere routine application of an abstract
principle. The Board recommends that congregations and con-
ferences study the opinions presented in our report and counsel

with the Board for Parish Education in the further study of the
problems.

10. The Program of the Board for Parish Education
10.1. Enlarging the Staff

The Board for Parish Education has been assigned the func-
tion of providing comprehensive educational leadership in the
field of parish education. This embraces all agencies of Christian
education. ‘

It is clear that the effective carryi out of ibiliti
assigned to the Board for Parish Education mequizes a ete
staff. The Board can function as a policy-making group as can
any Board, but it cannot actually do the work involved in produc-
ing materials of instruction and maintaining contact with the Dis-
tricts and congregations of Synod. The Board can ‘supervise ‘the
work of staff members, but it cannot substitute for staff members

Though our staff now numbers eight men, the Board for Parish