# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S397
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISSIONS 397

by appointing or engaging such persons, clergy or laymen, as the
scope of the work may require; and be it further

Resolved, That the District Evangelism Contact Men be given
further instruction and training to facilitate this expanding effort.

Report of the Church Extension Board
. (Report 421)
Record in Church Building

During the past three years more churches and church-related
buildings were erected in the United States than in any similar
period of our history. According to Government statistics, the
churches of the United States spent the following sums: in 1953,
$472,000,000; in 1954, $593,000,000; in 1955, $750,000,000. Conserv-
ative estimates would indicate that the congregations and mission
boards of our Synod spent at least $21,000,000, $28,000,000, and
$35,000,000 in the past three years. The sums may have been much
greater, since our Statistical Office lists an increase of $42,000,000
in the property value of our congregations from 1953 to 1954.

How large an amount of the above costs was met with bor-
rowed money is not known. But that it was a large amount no
one can or will deny. The very fact that the combined resources
of all Districts’ and Synod’s Church Extension Funds, both cap-
ital and borrowed, has risen from $29,473,164 in 1953 to $39,934,837
in 1955 indicates that more and more churches are built with bor-
rowed funds.

Mission Expansion Is Linked with Church Extension Funds

The Houston Convention gave wholehearted approval of the
suggested expansion goal of 120 new mission stations per year.
The opportunities for such an expanded program were not difficult
to find. But it soon became apparent that such a program is pos-
sible only if the necessary funds to provide facilities can be made
available. That meant an expanded Church Extension program.

When the newly elected Church Extension Board met for its
first meeting in August of 1953, the treasury was at very low ebb,
and most of the available funds had already been allocated. Before
making any new commitments, the Board endeavored to outline
a plan whereby additional money might be made available. Several
months were spent in developing the idea of “God’s Bank,” which
was then promoted through the Lutheran Witness and through
a co-operative effort with individual Districts. To date, Synod’s
Church Extension Board has provided 20 Districts with materials
for a systematic solicitation of loans for Church Extension, both
for the District and for Synod. This was not all done at once nor