# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1962_S118 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) PARISH EDUCATION 117 Resolved, That every circuit in the Synod be en- couraged to study the possibility of founding and sup- porting a continuing Bible institute; and be it further Resolved, That every congregation in the circuit be urged to direct every effort to making the Bible insti- tute an effective agency of Christian adult education. Action: This resolution was adopted. Family-Life Education in the Local Church RESOLUTION 4-17 Report 401, VII, B, pp. 197,198, Reports and Memorials Wuereas, Family-life education has become an in- creasing concern and responsibility of the local con- gregation; and Wuereas, Family-life education has usually not been assigned either to a person or a committee in the local congregation; therefore be it Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to ap- point qualified persons to a family-life committee to serve under the directives of the Board of Christian Education, which will give guidance to this committee with the new congregational manual “Ministry to Fam- ilies.” Action: This resolution was adopted. Marriage Education and Counseling RESOLUTION 4-18 Report 401, Vil, C, p. 198, Reports and Memorials Wuereas, The 1960 survey on divorces within Mis- souri Synod homes reveals a sharp increase in the divorce rate from 1951 to 1960; and Wuereas, There is evidence of a general decline of moral values in marriage and family life; therefore be it Resolved, That we encourage our seminaries and col- leges to serve pastors and church workers by arranging workshops, seminars, and courses in this field; and be it further Resolved, That the Family Life Committee be di- rected to call together for consultation leaders of related groups and agencies (Wheat Ridge Foundation, Depart- ment of Social Welfare, Walther League, the Commis- sion on College and University Work, and represent- atives from our terminal schools) in order — 1) to explore our church’s needs and its resources regarding marriage education and family counseling; 2) to propose to the next convention of the Synod a long-range overall approach and an adequate program of action; and be it finally Resolved, That pastors be encouraged to utilize op- portunties to become better equipped for marriage and family counseling by taking courses or participating in workshops and conferences dealing with this area of the ministry. Action: This resolution was adopted. Board of Parish Education and Coordinating Council RESOLUTION 4-19 Report 401, VIII, A, pp. 199, 200, Reports and Memorials Wuereas, The Coordinating Council has contributed much to the simplification, unification, and intensifica- tion of the work of congregations through its cooperative planning and issuance of “Parish Activities” with an- nual and monthly themes and through the development of educational materials for the annual programs; there- fore be it Resolved, That the Coordinating Council be con- tinued for the purpose of unifying the programs of the local parish under an annual theme and monthly em- phases; and be it further Resolved, That this educational coordination be ini- tiated by the Board of Parish Education as part of its assignment to coordinate and integrate educational ac- tivities (Handbook 7.25 d and 7.35); and finally be it Resolved, That the Board of Parish Education in- volve the Executive Director and leaders of other de- partments of the Synod in setting up the program for the annual meeting of the Coordinating Council and the annual issue of “Parish Activities” (June issue of Ad- vance). Action: This resolution was adopted. Federal Aid to Church-related Schools RESOLUTION 4-20 Report 401, VU, G, pp. 201—203, Reports and Memorials Wuereas, The opinion of the Board of Parish Edu- cation of March 21, 1961, dealt with specific matters re- lated to the question of federal aid to church-related schools which are submitted to the Synod for examina- tion and reaction; and Wuereas, State or federal aid to any educational in- stitution must be accompanied by controls of some sort and to some degree; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its official position on state aid to non-public schools and emphasize its position also in further discussion of federal aid to church schools; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod go on record as opposed to loans for the construction of church-related elementary and secondary schools; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod approve the inclusion of payments of tuition as contributions on federal and state income tax returns as a means of providing some relief for parents who are paying educational fees, whether at the elementary or the secondary level, in church- related schools; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod go on record as opposing allowance of “tax credits” for the full cost of the school tuition; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod urge all its members to