# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1062
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

864 ; PARISH EDUCATION

Security Act which made it necessary for the Board for Parish
Education to prepare statements concerning the official positi ti
of the Lutheran male teacher in our Church. These statements
were needed by our synodical officials to clarify to the Govern
ment the status of the teacher. Our synodical officials and thé.
Board for Parish Education have gone on record in stating the
following:

1, That Lutheran teachers are officially defined by our Chur
as “ministers of religion,” “ministers of religious education,” “min-
isters. of the Gospel,” and “servants of the Word.”

2. That they are called upon or may be called upon to perfo:
or to help perform sacerdotal and other pastoral functions.

3. That while they are not commonly called, installed, or or-.
dained as pastors, they are formally called, installed, and conse’
crated for life.as “ministers of religion” and devote themselves
primarily to teaching and altogether to the spiritual service of the
Church. .

4. That the main obligation of these men is to conduct. an
teach Lutheran elementary, secondary, and higher schools and tha’
in the local church they commonly instruct also the confirmed
youth and adults and, in generel, assist the pastor in ministering
the congregation. :

5. That, although these men are popularly known as “teache r
they are in reality members of the clergy. ‘

The Church, the State, and Education j

The Board for Parish Education presented to the 1947 conv
tion an “Opinion” entitled “Religious Education in State-Suppo
Schools.” Synod commended the Board for its research in this fi
and directed the Board “to continue its studies and report
findings at the next convention.” Recognizing the importance
the subject and its many ramifications, the Board has appointed,
Committee on Church-State Relations to make some of the studies
so that we shall be able to give our people the necessary guidan

Since the presentation of the “Opinion” three years ago debate
on the teaching of religion in the public schools has grown in .iné
tensity. Two recent Supreme Court decisions (Everson and Me
Collum), in particular the McCollum (released-time instructic
case, have occasioned a great deal of controversy and the writ!
of books and scores of magazine articles.

Apart from these Court decisions, educators no less ‘tht
clergymen have long been alarmed over the spread of the secu a
spirit and the decline of religious influence among the Amerie i
people. Secularism is the point of view that for all practical put