# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S145
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES

The Pastor Deficit
Table 9 — Estimated Pastor Shortage

Year Shortage Year Shortage
1956 _ 361 1961 ______ 506
1957 381 4962 CSL
1958 416 1963 _-_— 736
1959 448 1964 _. CSB
1960 _ 418 1965 — 781

* No regular St. Louis Seminary class, but adjustments will be made to
provide graduates.

Recommendations

In view of Synod’s need for more pastors we submit the fol-
lowing recommendations, with such comment as is deemed neces-
sary for their proper evaluation:

1. That the convention acknowledge the efforts of Synod’s
officials, pastors, and congregations to conserve manpower by
establishing multiple parish arrangements wherever possible.

In 1954, Synod counted about 500 congregations with fewer than 100
communicants that had their own full-time pastors. A large number
were mission stations of comparatively recent origin that are growing
and developing into self-supporting congregations with an expanding
program of spiritual service. However, among the 500 were also a few
congregations that have reached maturity, if not old age, without achiev-
ing a communicant membership of 100 and with little prospect of doing
so; but their number is not large enough to suggest that their conversion
into multiple parishes will materially relieve the pastor shortage.

Attention is called to Synod’s regulations that require consultation
with District officials in the calling and placement of pastors in order
that the congregations, the Districts, and Synod as a whole derive max-
imum benefit from the placement of pastors and the use of their talents.
Consultation is especially needed when there is a shortage of pastors.

2. That Synod go on record as favoring the maximum use of
its training facilities for the preparation of pastors and teachers.

This recommendation has reference to the general-education en-
rollment at Synod’s preparatory schools, which stood at 500 in 1955.
In view of the shortage of church workers should not Synod begin to
reserve as much space as possible in its limited training facilities for the
preparation of pastors and teachers?

3. That the recruitment of students for the ministry be pro-
moted more aggressively in numbers as well as in quality and
that the Districts, congregations, and organizations within Synod
implement recruitment by expanding student and scholarship aid.

Synod needs to enroll many qualified students who are selected with
care. Student aid and scholarship funds are recognized means for selec-
tive recruitment. In order to qualify for aid, which seven out of ten