# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S236
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

236

STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION

stressed in the mission of the church, both in self-
sustaining and in subsidized congregations; and that
the Synod through the Districts advance the cause of
the elementary and secondary schools by granting
subsidies to schools where such action is necessary:

c. that congregations seek to engage as teachers
in their schools such men and women as have been
trained in the Synod’s teachers colleges or have the
equivalent qualifications as to both character and
professional training;

d. that congregations extend permanent calls to
teachers eligible for calls, that they pay equitable
salaries to their teachers and give them any financial
aid needed to make further study and professional
growth possible;

e. that congregations provide the physical plant
and equipment needed for a modern and efficient
instructional program: well-planned buildings,
adequate grounds, suitable equipment, and effective
material of instruction; that they use such instruc-
tional materials as will achieve the objective as
stated in Section 7.01, using, as far as possible,
textbooks published by the Synod.

7.07 Sunday Schools

The Sunday school is an important teaching
department and a valuable mission agency of the
church. The Synod therefore urges—

a. that congregations and preaching stations in
the Synod put forth earnest efforts to conduct Sunday
schools which provide Christian instruction at all
age levels;

b. that all Sunday schools use the Synod’s Sunday
school literature;

c. that all pastors and congregations provide for
careful and efficient supervision of their Sunday
schools and adequate Sunday school teacher training
for all their teachers and to that end establish regular
weekly Sunday school teacher meetings and Sunday
school institutes and use every other means at their
disposal to improve the teaching ability of the men
and women appointed to give instruction in the
sacred doctrines of the Christian religion:

d. that District Boards of Education and officers
foster and direct Sunday school leadership training
programs in their respective Districts.

7.08 Weekday Schools

There are several kinds of weekday schools:
Saturday school, with religious instruction in the
morning or afternoon; the midweek school, with
religious instruction after school hours; and released-
time, with religious instruction during the time chil-
dren are released by the public school to the local
church. Each of these types of the weekday school
provides significant opportunities for Christian
education. The Synod therefore urges—

a. that every congregation evaluate periodically
the opportunities it provides for all its children for
more intensive and extensive nurture in the Christian
faith and life;

b. that for children not attending a Lutheran
elementary or secondary school a weekday school be
provided:

c. that all weekday schools use the Synod's week-
day curriculum materials.

7.09 Vacation Bible Schools

The vacation Bible school provides an excellent
opportunity to augment and supplement the Chris-
tain education provided by other agencies and to
serve as an aid to mission outreach. The Synod
therefore urges—

a. that congregations organize vacation Bible
schools from the nursery level through the eighth
grade or above for all of its children and for its
mission outreach;

b. that congregations develop worthwhile vaca-
tion Bible schools by giving their workers adequate
training, by providing effective leadership, and by
publicizing their school in the community and in the
congregation;

c. that all congregations use the Synod’s vacation
Bible school materials.

7.10 Youth and Adult Education

Christian education cannot cease at the childhood
level, because youth and adults require continued
support for their growing life experiences and because
the task of educating the children demands adult
leadership which is growing in Christian knowledge.
The Synod therefore urges—

a. that every congregation provide a comprehen-
sive program of Christian education for youth, voung
adults, and all adults through study programs in all
societies and through classes for each level, utilizing
also class opportunities apart from the Sunday morn-
ing Bible class;

b. that the congregations use the materials and
services made available by the Board of Parish
Education, the Board of Youth Ministry, the Lutheran
Women’s Missionary League, and the Lutheran
Laymen’s League.

c. that the total postconfirmation education of the
congregation be correlated by careful planning,
clearly expressing the objective of a whole life in
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

7.25 Functions

The Board of Parish Education, in cooperation
with the District Boards of Parish Education, shallin
every possible manner assist the congregations of the
Synod in arranging and carrying out a comprehen-
sive and effective program of Christian education, so
that the Gospel of Jesus Christ may become ever more
effective in the life of the individual Christian and of
the congregation.

The Board of Parish Education shall therefore—

a. assist in planning an effective program of
parish education and especially seek to improve and
extend the system of elementary and secondary
schools in all congregations;

b. watch for all movements and tendencies which
might endanger the program of parish education and
marshall all available resources to counteract such
tendencies and movements;

c. plan and direct the production of textbooks and
other printed materials necessary to carry out an
effective program of parish education:

d. assist in coordinating and integrating the
various educational agencies and activities intended
to promote parish education:

e. assist the District Boards of Parish Education
in supervising and directing all formal educational
activities of the congregations of the Synod, such as
the Lutheran elementary and secondary schools, the
Sunday school. summer school, vacation Bible school,
and the part-time weekday religious school,

f. initiate and direct research activities necessary
to promote and improve parish education;

g. advise the Synod, its Districts, and congrega-
tions concerning problems, needs, and possibilities in
the field of parish education;

h. arrange an educational conference of repre-
sentatives of the Boards of Parish Education of the
Synod and the Districts which, as a rule, shall meet
every year;

i. provide a comprehensive program of leadership
training materials to train church school teachers
and church officers and to integrate the program with
other leadership training in Bible institutes and
camps;

j. conduct invitational meetings as needed with
members of the departments of education of our