# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S139
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES 139

each year a number of stations are discontinued, consolidated, or
converted into multiple parishes. In the past decade, the shrinkage
amounted to about 20 per cent.

Synod’s Home Mission Board seeks approval for plans to open
1,350 stations in the 1956—1965 period. But at this point we esti-
mate a pastor need of 995 on the rate of increase; i.e., on the
assumption that Synod’s work will continue to advance as it has
been advancing in the recent past.

Assistant Pastors

The blessing of the Lord manifests itself not only in the grow-
ing number of congregations but also in the membership growth
of the individual congregations. In 1946, congregations with more
than 500 communicants numbered 502; in 1954, they numbered 647;
in 1965, they are expected to number 910. Many additional con-
gregations will require the services of two, or perhaps three,
pastors,

In the past eight years, the count of congregations with two
pastors ran as follows: -

Table 3— Congregations with Two Pastors

Number of
Congregations

104
pene 117
_ 107
nena nee eee 101

100
— 106
a a... 111
1955 (November) 0 tg

Although the pastor shortage tends to keep down the number
of assistant pastors, the demand for their services is strong. A net
increase of 50 congregations in the next ten years requiring the
services of two pastors appears to be a reasonable estimate.

However, the possibility of a greater pastor need in this area
cannot be dismissed because size of congregation is not the only
factor in the demand for two pastors. The rate at which a con-
gregation grows and its mission potential may also dictate the need
for a second pastor.

Pastors in Special Fields

The pastor need in special fields is estimated at 100 in the
next ten years. Again, this is net gain. Table Four lists the
categories in special fields and the net gain in pastors each field
obtained since 1948, when tables on special fields began to appear
in the Statistical Yearbook.