# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1962_S177 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 176 UNPRINTED MEMORIALS seven organized districts and approximateely 203,000 members. Also included in this membership are women in Mexico, Germany, Central and South America. Al- though membership is generally on a unit or society basis, “any woman who is a communicant mmber of her local congregation and participates by promoting the objects of the League” is considered a member of the unit. The league collects no dues. Pursuant to the 1950 synodical resolution for more intensive lay training, the league developed what has become to be known as its Christian Growth program. Institutes, workshops, and program-planning sessions are held on a regional, district, and local basis, with strong emphasis being placed on the importance of Christ-centered activities at all levels. Based on the conviction that the business of the church is spiritual and that mission work begins with the individual’s own commitment to Christ, the Christian Growth program has consistently stressed Bible study, a deeper prayer life, and personal witnessing. A unique opportunity is afforded the league for per- sonal and direct contact with missionaries and other workers in the foreign fields through the LWML Hos- pice Committee, which, as the name implies, extends hospitality to missionary families at various “ports of call” as they travel to and from their stations. “Taxi service,” sight-seeing tours, baby-sitting, and like ac- commodations are provided as opportunity affords. Contact through correspondence is also maintained by leaguers who live far from the centers of travel, etc. The Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly is the official pub- lication of the league, serving as the “cement which binds the organization together.” It carries current news from the mission fields and includes a topic study and other program helps. Each issue contains newsy items relating to districts. Conventions of the international Lutheran Women’s Missionary League are held biennially. The districts meet annually or once every two years. Zones within the districts hold one or two rallies each year. A pioneering effort was begun by the LWML in 1955 when the executive board voted to conduct a survey of women’s work within the church. Exhaustive study by the committee appointed to this task, together with pastors named as advisers, resulted in the publication of a “Survey Report, Women’s Work in The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.” It is felt that earnest con- sideration of the survey report will bring about “con- tinued effort to expand the missionary outreach of the women on each level — local, district, and international” and that, true to their motto, members of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League will continue to “SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS.” The above is a resume of the historic significance of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League as an auxiliary of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. It is intended for the floor committee of the convention of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, at Cleve- land, Ohio, June 20—30, 1962, as information in the preparation of a resolution in recognition of the league’s mission activities. Tue LUTHERAN WOMEN’s Missionary LEAGUE Mrs. Harotp E. Branpt, First Vice-President Mrs. Watrer N. Hopps, President [222] To Merge Divisions of World Missions and North American Missions, etc. Wuereas, It has been apparent that the various mis- sion boards of the Synod frequently have many con- cerns which are common to all boards; and Wuereas, Our church could make a much better im- pact on the world with a united and coordinated mission approach at home and abroad through a single division of missions; therefore be it Resolved, a. That the Cleveland convention authorize the merging of the divisions of World Missions and North American Missions into one “Division of Missions,” the chairman of which is to be appointed in the stipulated manner; b. That the Division of Missions include all boards classified as missions and also the new Board of Institu- tional Chaplaincy as recommended by the Survey Com- mission and if adopted by the Cleveland convention; c. That during the next triennium an annual meeting of all mission boards be conducted; d. That the functions of the individual boards con- stituting the Divisions of Missions and their interrela- tionship be reviewed during the next triennium and that appropriate recommendations be made to the 1965 con- vention and that meanwhile coordination be effected through the divisional structure and through the offices of the Executive Director. Tye Boarp ror Missions In NorTH AND SoutH AMERICA C. Tuomas Sprrz, Chairman Wuu1am H. Hitimer, Executive Secretary COMMITTEE 3 [311-A] To Set Forth Teaching of Scripture on Duty of Christian when Confronted with Doctrinal Statements That Are Scriptural Resolution 9 of Floor Committee 3 of the San Francisco Convention of the Synod I. When Facing a Scriptural Statement It Is Our Duty to Acknowledge that the Statement Is Scriptural Resolution 9 of Floor Committee 3 of the San Fran- cisco convention of Synod (1959) states: That Synod further clarify its position by reaffirming that every doctrinal statement of a confessional nature adopted by Synod as a true exposition of the Holy Scrip- tures is to be regarded as public doctrine (publica doc- trina) in Synod.