# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S270
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

270 MISSIONS

out of the Eastern provinces of Germany, ceded to Polan
Russia, into the West Zone, creates a terrific problem fo
brethren in Western Germany. While their own churches
self-supporting, their need for help in serving the refuge <
been great. Our Synod has assisted them in providing phy.
relief; subsidizing reftigee missions; supplying theological and
Christian literature; maintaining a preparatory theological
at Gross Oesingen and a theological seminary ( Hochschule
Oberursel. The fact that persons born in German comm

where the Lutheran, or Evangelical, Landeskirche prevails,
assumed to be members of that Church because they hav
baptized and confirmed there, even though they have long
ceased to attend the services, has caused the pastors of the;
Church to be hesitant about doing mission work amon

actually unchurched people. The result has been that the gr
of the Free Churches has not been as great as it might have’
under God, if the approach had been more realistic and if *
aggressive missionary methods for the winning of souls had
employed. Today the problem in some instances is a bi

complicated, since pastors and congregations of the Free Chi
in some communities find it necessary to use the facilities ‘of:
established Church to conduct their meetings and services.
viously this would not be permitted if they made an effort to?
people for the Free Church who are nominally members of
established Church.

“According to a census taken by the United States
Government, 97 per cent of the people of Germany are no n
church members, of whom, however, only 1% per cent w
counted as members under conditions prevailing in our co
Twenty-six per cent are actually opposed to Christianity
their nominal church membership. “

“C, Recommendations.

“The Commission submits the following recommendation
reference to our work in West Germany:

“4 That assistance be provided through loans whi i
enable congregations whose houses of worship were des!
and other congregations of the. Free Churches, to secure’
of worship, with the understanding that these loans be repaity
a reasonable period of time. The places where such b
would be needed, as well as the amounts and terms of the
are to be established through consultation with the office
respective synod and of the respective congregations of th
munities which would come into question.” ;