# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S795
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CONVENTION MINUTES 793

Extension treasuries, the Board for Church Extension to serve
as a clearinghouse for promotional ideas and to set up policies
in administrating Church Extension matters. Congregations were
encouraged to appoint someone to solicit gifts and loans for “God’s
Bank” (TB:47,17). The Church Extension Board was empowered
to appoint, with the approval of the Praesidium, a full-time Execu-
tive Secretary of the Church Extension Board, preferably a layman,
to promote and supervise the work of the Church Extension Board
(TB:48, 18).

Rev. Oswald Waech, secretary of the Evangelism Movement,
presented the stirring story of Evangelism in our Synod, which is
bringing a new vision of witnessing for Christ to our pastors and
lay people. He introduced two men who had taken part in an
evangelistic campaign among 17 congregations in Kansas, ip the
course of which 200 adults were won for confirmation classes.
Offerings representing a surplus over expenses of $869.99 and
$6,346.50 were turned over to President Behnken.

On recommendation of Committee 4 Synod adopted resolutions
that would make Bible reading a concern of Visitors, pastors, and
congregations, resulting in total congregational involvement in Bible
study (1TB:54,7). The Council on Bible Study was encouraged to
develop a united approach to a basic Bible-study program (TB:
114, 18). Congregations were called upon under the guidance

of District Boards of Education to set up adequate salary scales
for teaching staffs (TB:114, 19). Synod ordered that the critical
study of modern Bible versions be continued by a special com-
mittee. Suggested changes in the RSV are to be submitted by
January 1, 1958. A definite evaluation of the RSV is to be reserved
until after 1962. While refraining from adopting any version as its
official one, and declaring that new versions must be viewed with
proper caution, Synod reaffirmed its principle that the original texts
of the Scriptures constitute the authority for doctrine and that
new translations and paraphrases be used as supplementary aids
to Bible study (TB:87, 14).

The Districts were called upon to recognize the problem of
mentally retarded children and to take the initiative in providing
Christian education for them. Congregations also were alerted to
the need of such children in their midst and to provide necessary
help for their parents. The Board for Parish Education is to con-
tinue studying the needs of these children and to produce Bible-
lesson materials suited to their requirements (TB:112, 15).

Committee 3. The theological faculties were instructed to study
ordination procedures as to time and place of ordination and to
report to the College of Presidents (TB:59, 12).