# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1959_S328
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

STATEMENT

328

gates who are not appointed to floor committees to enter into more
discussion in regard to proposed resolutions;

3. That the meetings suggested in the two previous para-
graphs be organized and supervised by a lay member of the Board
of the Synod; and

4. That every lay delegate regard himself for the next three
years as a delegate from this convention to the congregations which
he represents.

Action: These suggestions were adopted.

Church Schools and Public Schools *

Both the state and the church are concerned about the
education of children and youth. The state requires that chil-
dren and youth be educated for civic, social, and vocational
responsibilities. The Christian church has the responsibility of
teaching children and youth to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

The effort of the state in public education is a community
effort and therefore the responsibility of every citizen. The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod recognizes the responsibility
that every citizen has to support and uphold the public schools.
The Synod continues to encourage its members to interest them-
selves in the welfare of the public schools through personal
participation on school boards and committees and financial sup-
port of the schools.

The church provides Christian education through various
agencies —some part-time schools, others full-time schools. The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod encourages its congregations
to establish Lutheran elementary schools and high schools. In the
school year 1958—59 there were 1,268 Lutheran elementary schools,
with an enrollment of 138,338, and 16 community Lutheran high
schools, with an enrollment of 7,748. These schools are founded
because of deep religious convictions as to the desirability of
combining religious education with the teaching of the regular
school subjects.

The Synod emphasizes that the development of Lutheran
elementary schools and high schools is not to be misinterpreted
as a criticism of the public school, disinterest in the public school,
or unwillingness to support the public school. Lutheran schools
are not in competition with the public schools; they are estab-
lished to provide a specifically Christian education, which the
public school cannot supply.

* A Statement adopted by The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
at the 44th Regular Convention, San Francisco, Calif., June 17-26, 1959.