# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S444
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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.theran Children’s Home and carries out much of the contact wi

444 MISSIONS -

membership. This loss, while extremely small, when co
again with a local situation where a Lutheran State Church
prompts us to place Alsace, France, in the same category a
mark and Finland. ,

2. French-Speaking Field. — Among the French-spe if
people of France we have but one congregation, in Paris, 58
31 communicants. Some gains have been made, but they mig
well have been greater but for the fact that the local p
cannot give his full time to mission work. He conducts also a Lig

for the French Lutheran Hour.

Since July of 1949, a missionary at large, Pastor Jean B rig
has been employed surveying promising fields in Frang¢
Belgium. Preliminary reports on several locations which ,
been surveyed show such promise that France (in the.
speaking areas) should definitely be placed in .the categ
a field for immediate missionary expansion. We shall,
immediately, at least two missionaries, native to France in la 3
and culture, with an adequate theological background and tral 3
in missionary methods. As the field expands, more nati
sionaries will have to be recruited and trained.

Through the efforts of Pastor Bricka there are, at this v
two men available for immediate placement. One is a high
teacher who needs further theological training. The other is: af fal
trained theologian who needs additional training in the doctr!
of our Church, such as a postgraduate course at St. Louis wou :
supply. Both men should be ready to assume a charge by;
middle of 1951.

There is a great need for French religious literature. ©
two missionary pamphlets and tracts in the French language e¢
Catechetical material, the synodical Catechism (Schwan), has;
translated by Pastor F. Kreiss of the Paris congregation and
be reprinted, if necessary. The Augsburg Confession ex
three translations, all different, the Smalcald Articles in,
translation. There are no acceptable dogmatics or theo
monographs. Those which do exist‘ are not thoroughly s Indy
doctrine. There is no Lutheran hymnal. The one in use is a
production of Reformed and Lutheran churches. The “¢
Service” exists in a French translation together with.
collects, and prayers. Le Lutherien, a periodical, is publish
a small edition by our Church. Réforme, a weekly, is publi:
the French Protestant Federation:and is rather Reformed.in §
The translation of Graebner’s Outlines of Theology and, r:
standard textbooks should be considered, as well as__se