# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S274
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

274 MISSIONS

lished in the West German Zone of Germany can be sent-irg
circulate in, the Eastern Zone. This has made the implemer
of this recommendation almost impossible. a8

In the past triennium 70 per cent of the budget moneys ;
istered by our Board have been spent in Germany for th
tenance of the theological school of our Lutheran Free Chi
and the promotion of mission work among German refugé
both Eastern and Western Zones in Germany. Besides the m
expended through our Board larger sums were also spent b
grant from the Board of Directors, so that it can be said
Church spent $150,000 to $200,000 in Germany annually
opinion of our Board the amount of money our Synod
Germany in comparison with elsewhere in Europe should
viewed and considered in the light of our other European,
opportunities. :

VI. Denmark

“A, Present Status.

“The Lutheran Free Church of Denmark is about 100 yea
It began with strength, but declined from a peak of 2,000 89
its present number of 128 souls and 91 communicant merg
which are attached to five congregations in widely scattered;
These congregations are being served by two brothers, the
P. and W. Michael. A great deal of their time is spent in tra
to meet a few people here and a few people there. The co
under which they labor are most difficult and dishearteni

“The Lutheran State Church of Denmark acts also as th
ernment department of vital statistics. This means, for in
that people must go to a pastor of the State Church ino
have their children’s names entered upon government reco)
Baptism or to have marriages officially recorded. The :
that people are reluctant to join a church which cannot.
these official functions with governmental recognition. Ex
has shown that people who are willing to come to occasio1
Hour meetings or who are ready to form an educational;
so that their children may be more thoroughly instructed
Word of God are not ready to take the next step and
members of the Free Church.

“B, Recommendations.

“Tt is the considered opinion of the Survey Committ
ported also by brethren of the German Free Church who ha
firsthand information as to church conditions in Denmark,’
cannot answer for continuing to support two men in a fie
throughout decades of conscientious work on the part of
pastors has shown no prospect for growth and in which o
could well take care of the souls that earnestly desire the 7¥
trations of the Free Church. We therefore recommend: :