# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1967_S78
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

78 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Vill
TWO DECADES OF MISSOURI SYNOD GROWTH
FIELD OF ACTIVITY 1946 1956 1966
Number of Districts (N. & S. America} 33 34 37
Number of Circuits (N. America only) 327 418 567
Number of Countries Served 14 24 30
PASTORS (N. America Only)
Total number on clergy roster 4,563 5,343 6,713
Pastors, missionaries, & teachers 3,998 4,685 5,628
Serving Synod, Districts, and others 86 120 187
Entered the ministry (graduates) 83 194 208
Resigned or retired during year 88 91 126
Died during year — active 16 31 30
Died during year — inactive 31 36 50
CONGREGATIONS (N. America Only)
Number of congregations 4,324 5,234 5,979
Average size in baptized members 351 411 471
Average size in communicant members 243 265 311
Number of vacant parishes 182 369 485
MEMBERSHIP (N. America Only)
Baptized members 1,517,231 2,152,215 2,816,883 -
Increase over previous decade 20.51% 41.85% 30.89% i:
Communicant members 1,050,136 1,384,950 1,860,949 e
Increase over previous decade 26.47% 31.88% 34.37% 4
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SACRED ACTS {N. America Only) i
Children baptized 50,769 83,148 72,756 :
Juniors confirmed 26,034 39,844 59,510 =
Adults confirmed or baptized 19,897 33,864 30,635 g
Total gained from outside 29,634 59,780 63,277 &
Marriages solemnized 30,382 23,964 29,820 ,
Total number of burials 14,894 26,181 27,359

Members of the Synod inducted as staff members of the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. (Dr. C. Thomas Spitz at left)