# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S1083
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

tunity slips away.

The harvest truly ;
y 4s great, but the lab
the number of men graduating for the ministry is hig ew. True,
i 'y €ncour.

ACTION

With regard to this r
° eport Committee 2 :
recommendations, which were adopted: submitted

Resolution 1

the following

Resolution 2
Ww THE AMALGAMATION OF PARISHES
ne HEREAS, Approximately 285 vacancies in our ish
‘Ported as of January 1, 1952; and — namenes were
HEREAS, ;
It has been shown that 54 (possibly 70) parishes now

Wi
vacant could acceptably be served fr parish
willing to accept such Services; and nother Mt all were

advantageous.

MISSIONS 875

, The shift in our population should cause us to re-

he proper distribution of manpower and a wise stewardship

able funds in the interest of greater efficiency; there-

it .

solved, That we commend the growing number of congre-
5 which in recent years selflessly considered the over-all
‘of the kingdom of God by sharing the service of one
ar with another congregation; and be it further

resolved, That in the interest of efficiency in the kingdom of
“we encourage our several Districts and individual congre-
P tions to foltow this fine example by combining parishes wherever

Resolution 3
; DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIGENOUS CHURCH
" ‘Waerzas, It is the policy of all mission boards operating in
foreign lands to encourage the development of an indigenous
church in our several mission fields, and to train a national
ministry; and

Wuereas, It is likewise the policy of these boards to initiate
mission work in the more populous areas, from which the mis-
sionaries can then extend their activities also into the surrounding
territories; therefore be it

Resolved, That we heartily commend our mission boards for -

their vision jn carrying out such practical policies.

Resolution 4
ESTABLISHING MISSION COUNCILS

Wuereas, The ideal of an indigenous church in any country
calls for the attainment of self-government, self-propagation, and
self-support; and

Wuereas, Boards have found that missions can be encouraged
to attain these goals through the creation of cquncils or committees
composed of national pastors and laymen as well as missionaries;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we express.our gratification over the creation
of such councils in the various countries where.God permits us
to carry on missionary endeavors; and be it further

Resolved, That these councils be encouraged by the boards to
assume an ever-increasing degree of responsibility and adminis-
trative function, also in the further developmesit and expansion of
the work in their respective countries.