# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S275
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISSIONS 275

é{. That only one pastor be retained in Denmark and that the
gations in Denmark rally to the full financial support of this
or and his work.”

mMENT: The implementation of this first recommendation
baen begun. The Board has succeeded in its efforts to obtain
“for the Rev. Paul Michael. He is being called into the German
of our Ontario District.

«2, That the two pastors in Denmark be called into more prom-
‘Gelds of work in Germany and that the Christians of Den-
affiliated with our churches and preaching places be asked
nntent themselves with occasional services by pastors from
y, the expenses for which services the people themselves
e able to pay.”

Comment: It has not been possible thus far to carry out com-
y this recommendation of the Survey Committee because of
culty in finding a call for the persons who are to be re-
f their duties in Denmark.

- That we request our Free Church brethren in Germany to
emselves responsible for this care;

5 If, however, Pastors P. and W. Michael feel in conscience
sto remain with their parishes in Denmark, we would cer-
ish them the blessing of God, but meanwhile we would
d it necessary to make their livelihood dependent upon such
butions as the Christians of their congregations would be
to provide or upon such sources of income as they could
endently devise.”

OMMENT: Pastor Walter Michael has as yet not determined
ier he will remain in Denmark or accept a call to another
eld. The Board has granted him time until the end of
nt fiscal year in order to make such arrangements and
to provide for the continuing service of the congregations
nark through the ministry of Pastor Oskar Hjort.

y be well to point out to Synod that while the numerical
man: Of the Lutheran Free Church in Denmark is relatively
there are indications in two of the four parishes of an in-
“percentual gain in membership. Thus for instance, the
ition in Haderslev in the past five years increased 14%
n baptized membership and 9% annually in communicant
ip, while the congregation in Copenhagen increased an
f£11% annually in baptized membership and 10% annually
unicant membership. These are by no means the slowest-
ngregations subsidized by our Board.

Present Status and Problems.

* Synod has been interested in, and identified with, the
Free Church in Finland for about half a century. The
‘began with seven pastors and 500 lay members who