# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S137
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES 137

In the nine-year period from 1946 to 1954, Synod’s baptized
membership in the world increased by 588,158 (27%) and its com-
municant membership by 316,262 (23%).

At the end of 1954, there were 927 more localities and five
more countries than at the beginning of 1946 where the Gospel is
proclaimed by Synod at regular stated intervals.

About 700 more pastors (15%) were participating in Synod’s
world work in 1954, and 1,651 more teachers (40%) were instructing
29,818 more children (25%) in Synod’s elementary schools through-
out the world.

These are rich blessings by which the Lord encourages Synod
to go forward. The greater portion of these blessings fell to Synod
in North America, as the following table shows:

Table 1—Synod’s Growth in North America, 1946—1954

nt of
1946 Totals «1954 Totals ty Wambers Sento

Baptized Members __ 1,468,476 2,000,257 531,761 26%

Communicants 1,028,493 1,307,432 278,939 21%
Congregations ____. 4,286 5,031 763 15%
Parish Pastors ___ 3,418 3,926 508 14%
Teachers —— 2,372 3,975 1,603 413%

In 1946, Synod’s two pastor-training seminaries furnished 96
candidates; this year, they are graduating twice as many, 192.
In 1946, Synod provided 119 teachers; this year, Synod provided
nearly four times as many, 450. Nevertheless Synod has need for
more pastors and teachers.

The growing pastor and teacher shortage caused the Board of
Directors to appoint a Manpower Study Committee and to assign
to it the task of estimating Synod’s manpower needs for the next
decade.

The projection of Synod’s manpower needs was confined to
North America in order to obtain a picture of Synod’s major need.
All estimates are based on the assumption that Synod will continue
to receive the blessings of God in the same proportion in which
they were bestowed since World War II. The committee holds
that a yardstick of expected pastor-teacher need and pastor-teacher
supply along current rates of increase is indispensable to Synod as
a basis for responsible decision.

Synod’s Pastor Need
Introduction
Synod’s Statistical Yearbook employs definite terms to desig-

nate various groupings of pastors. The word “clergy” includes

pastors on Synod’s roster. In 1954, Synod’s clergy in North Amer-
ica numbered 5,089 pastors. st