# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1965_S156 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 156 RESOLUTIONS — COMMITTEE 7 use such instructional materials as will achieve the objec- tive as stated in Section 7.01, using, as far as possible, text- books published by the Synod. 7.07 Sunday Schools The Sunday school is an important teaching department and a valuable mission agency of the church. The Synod therefore urges — a. that congregations and preaching stations in the Synod put forth earnest efforts to conduct Sunday schools which provide Christian instruction at all age levels; b. that all Sunday schools use the Synod’s Sunday school literature; c. that all pastors and congregations provide for careful and efficient supervision of their Sunday schools and ade- quate Sunday school teacher training for all their teachers and to that end establish regular weekly Sunday school teacher meetings and Sunday school institutes and use every other means at their disposal to improve the teaching ability of the men and women appointed to give instruction in the sacred doctrines of the. Christian religion; d. that District Boards of Education and officers foster and direct Sunday school leadership training programs in their respective Districts. 7.08 Weekday School There are several kinds of weekday schools: Saturday school, with religious instruction in the morning or after- noon; the midweek school, with religious instruction after school hours; and released-time, with religious instruction during the time children are released by the public school to the local church. Each of these types of the weekday school provides significant opportunities for Christian edu- cation. The Synod therefore urges — a. that every congregation evaluate periodically the op- portunities it provides for all its children for more intensive and extensive nurture in the Christian faith and life; b. that for children not attending a Lutheran elementary or secondary school a weekday school be provided; ce. that all weekday schools use the Synod’s Weekday curriculum materials. 7.09 Vacation Bible School The vacation Bible school provides an excellent oppor- tunity to augment and supplement the Christian education provided by other agencies and to serve as an aid to mission outreach. The Synod therefore urges — a. that congregations organize vacation Bible schools from the nursery level through the eighth grade or above for all of its children and for its mission outreach; b. that congregations develop worthwhile vacation Bible schools by giving their workers adequate training, by pro- viding effective leadership, and by publicizing their school in the community and in the congregation; c. that all congregations use the Synod’s vacation Bible school materials. 7.10 Youth and Adult Education Christian education cannot cease at the childhood level, because youth and adult require continued support for their growing life experiences and because the task of edu- cating the children demands adult leadership which is grow- ing in Christian knowledge. The Synod therefore urges — a. that every congregation provide a comprehensive pro- gram of Christian education for youth, young adults, and all adults through study programs in all societies and through classes for each level, utilizing also class opportunities apart from the Sunday morning Bible class; b. that the congregations use the materials and services made available by the Board of Parish Education, the Board for Young People’s Work, and the Walther League, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, and the Lutheran Laymen’s League; ce. that the total postconfirmation education of the con- gregation be correlated by careful planning, clearly ex- pressing the objective of a whole life in Jesus Christ, our Lord. B. BOARD OF PARISH EDUCATION 7.23 Membership The Board of Parish Education shall consist of three parish pastors, three teachers, and three laymen elected by the Synod, plus a representative from each of the seminaries and each of the teachers colleges appointed by the President of the Synod on recommendation of the Board of Parish Education. 7.25 Functions The Board of Parish Education, in cooperation with the District Boards of Parish Education, shall in every possible manner assist the congregations of the Synod in arranging and carrying out a comprehensive and effective program of Christian education, so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ may become ever more effective in the life of the individual Christian and of the congregation, The Board of Parish Education shall therefore — a. assist in planning an effective program of parish edu- cation and especially seek to improve and extend the system of elementary and secondary schools in all congregations; b. watch for all movements and tendencies which might endanger the program of parish education and marshal all available resources to counteract such tendencies and move- ments; . c. plan and direct the production of textbooks and other printed materials necessary to carry out an effective program of parish education; d. assist in co-ordinating and integrating the various educational agencies and activities intended to promote parish education; e. assist the District Boards of Parish Education in super- vising and directing all formal educational activities of the congregations of the Synod, such as the Lutheran elementary and secondary schools, the Sunday school, summer school, vacation Bible school, and the part-time weekday religious school; f. initiate and direct research activities necessary to pro- mote and improve parish education; g. advise the Synod, its Districts, and congregations con- cerning problems, needs, and possibilities in the field of parish education; h. arrange an educational conference of representatives of the Boards of Parish Education of the Synod and the Districts which, as a rule, shall meet every year; i, provide a comprehensive program of leadership training materials to train church school teachers and church officers and to integrate the program with other leadership training in Bible institutes and camps; j. conduct invitational meetings as needed with members of the departments of education of our colleges and semi- naries to deal with basic problems of Christian education; k. assist our families in the development of Christian family life on all age levels. 1. provide periodical literature such as story papers and devotional literature for children and periodicals for youth and adults. 7.27 Annual Budget The board shall annually submit a budget to the Board of Directors of the Synod for recommendation and for referral to the Work Program Conference. 7.29 Executive Secretary and Staff The Board of Parish Education shall appoint an Executive Secretary and such additional staff members as are needed and authorized. C. DISTRICT BOARD OF PARISH EDUCATION 741 Membership Each synodical District shall elect or in some other way create a committee or board of parish education. 7.43 Functions The District board shall co-operate with the Synod’s Board of Parish Education and shall assist and advise the