# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1962_S116 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) PARISH EDUCATION 115 our pastors, our congregations, and especially our Sun- day schools be encouraged to make available resources and tools such as libraries, audio-visual aids, subscrip- tions to Interaction, and similar materials for the spir- itual and professional growth of their workers. Action: This resolution was adopted. Time for Christian Education RESOLUTION 4-09 Report 401, II, E, pp. 190, 191, Reports and Memorials Wuereas, The many excellent programs for Christian education which are available will be of limited value unless more time is employed for teaching; and Wuereas, Most of our congregations do not maintain Christian elementary schools, which offer the best solu- tion to the problem of providing adequate time for the Christian education of children; therefore be it Resolved, That congregations be urged to make pro- vision for more hours of Christian education by increas- ing the length of the Sunday school period, by keeping the Sunday school active throughout the year, by pro- viding such additional opportunities as will best minis- ter to the spiritual needs of the members, young and old, and by negotiating with public school administra- tors to prevent undue preemption of the pupils’ time for extracurricular activities at the expense of time for Christian education. Action: This resolution was adopted. Establishing More Vacation Bible Schools RESOLUTION 4-10 Report 401, IV, A, pp. 191, 192, Reports and Memorials Wuerzas, It can be reported that under the blessing of God the vacation Bible school continues to show an increase in the number of children enrolled, of schools conducted, and in the number of nonmember children in attendance at these vacation Bible schools; and Wuereas, The vacation Bible school is an effective agency to augment and supplement the Christian edu- cation of children; and Whereas, A large number of congregations are even now not using the agency of the vacation Bible school; therefore be it Resolved, That small, newly established congrega- tions and preaching stations be urged to provide this agency if possible; and be it further Resolved, That congregations which operate only a Sunday school give serious consideration to providing the vacation Bible school as an additional means of Christian education for their children; and be it finally Resolved, That also congregations which operate both a Christian day school and Sunday school be urged to recognize and employ the vacation Bible school as an additional agency of Christian education available to them. Action: This resolution was adopted. Plan of Action for Expanding Vacation Bible School Work RESOLUTION 4-11 Report 401, IV, A, p. 192, Reports and Memorials Wuereas, It is the concern of every District Board of Parish Education in our Synod that congregations pro- vide for a maximum amount of Christian education for their own children and for nonmember children in their neighborhoods; and WuereEas, It seems best that District leaders set their own goals and devise their own plans of action; there- fore be it Resolved, That the Board of Parish Education of every District, under the leadership of the Executive Secretary and in cooperation with circuit or area rep- resentatives or other qualified persons, be asked to in- vestigate the possibility of establishing vacation Bible schools in congregations that presently do not have one and, where feasible, urge such congregations to estab- lish and conduct a vacation Bible school in addition to the other agencies of Christian education they may have; and be it finally Resolved, That a Synodwide effort be made to Yaise the percentage of congregations operating vacation Bible schools from the present 62 percent level to a 75 percent level and that the Board of Parish Education in each District be asked to establish a realistic yet challenging goal to be reached in the next triennium relative to the number of vacation Bible schools in the District and to the number of pupils enrolled, both member and non- member children; and be it finally Resolved, To devise a plan of action for reaching this established goal. Action: This resolution was adopted. Teacher Training Through Vacation Bible School Workshops RESOLUTION 4-12 Report 401, IV, A, p.192, Reports and Memorials Wuereas, The quality of teaching in the various agencies of Christian education maintained by congre- gations is one of the important concerns of District boards of parish education; and Wuereas, Congregations look to these boards for leadership and assistance in raising the quality of teach- ing in their schools; and Wuereas, Many of those who teach in the vacation Bible school have not had the benefit of academic train- ing and in some instances, lack even a limited amount of experience and realize and are aware of their inade- quacies; therefore be it Resolved, That the District boards be asked to pro- vide, under the direction of circuit education represent- atives or other designated persons, annual workshops on a circuitwide or areawide basis for the improvement