# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S1034
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PARISH EDUCATION ‘ 277

ple Study Advance gives directions for a Bible rally,
‘ent meeting, a permanent recruitment program, enough
5 to serve all age levels above confirmation, the enroll-
gll adults and children confirmed for further indoctrination,
‘raining of teachers and parents for greater Bible use in
13 church through the use of the five new Bible sound~
tips. ‘The Advance was introduced with a Reformation day
Sr. a- on the open Bible in 1952. For mass Reformation meet-
Se egeant was written, orders of service suggested, and a tract
: prepared. A congregational manual, Take the Sword of the Spirit,
ried procedures, and a booklet on Enlisting People in the Bible
dZgs\was prepared to help Bible classes set up a continual enlist-
: ment program. Twelve tracts were assembled to help the churches
“Each District of Synod has a Bible Study Advance Committee
or-has given the task to its Board of Education. Every circuit has
been asked to set up Bible teams of laymen to help introduce the
“Advance. About 1,000 laymen are being used in this manner. The
Walther League and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League are
giving notable assistance on the District level. The Lutheran Lay-
‘men’s League is helping both on the District and national levels.
Every congregation needs to give attention to better courses of
study, better teaching, and better administration of its youth and
adult Bible classes if it is to gain and hold its people. In the coming
triennium Synod needs to give special attention to (1) curricula
for all Bible class teachers, (2) helping Bible classes set up good
administration, (3) helping congregations provide better facilities
for Bible classes, (4) set up more Bible classes. We have approx-
imately 6,000 Bible classes. With a minimum of three classes for
a church, we should have 10,000 more classes. ; ;
The worship service with the sermon is still the most vital
means we have for keeping people with Christ and is indeed an
effective means of Christian education. Bible study in the group
is one of the best means for helping people grow spiritually, for
developing a Bible-reading congregation, and for training a laity
equipped for spiritual work in God’s kingdom. ae
Council on Bible Study. — In 1946 a representative Council on
Bible Study of 40 members was set up to aid the Board in develop-
ing its Bible study program. Its work was done by five subcom-
mittees. An annual meeting to review progress and make recom-
mendations to the Board was held. We want to thank the many
persons who worked on this Council. As of January, 1953, a smaller
Council was named to take its place. This Council continues to
concern itself with the whole Bible study program. Its members
are Rex L. Becker, H. Roland Bieser, L. J. Dierker, the Rev. H. A.