# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S406 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 406 CHURCH LITERATURE AND PUBLICATIONS; PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS logical developments, especially those that will speed production, maintain quality, and reduce costs. Such efforts enable CPH to give the Synod, its departments and agencies, the best possible service. to place at the Synod’s disposal modern machines, top creative talents, and complete manufacturing facilities. Two representatives from CPH’s Printing Services Department service the needs of the Synod on a day-to- day basis, seeing individual jobs through from layout to final printing and mailing. Most important, when the Synod’s work enters CPH, dedicated hands take hold who see the mission of the Synod and the ministry of CPH as one. The People of CPH Of CPH’s 700 plus employees, 50 have served CPH for upwards of 25 years, 48 for 20 to 25 years, and 79 between 15 and 20 years. While loyalty and longevity have long characterized the Concordia employee’s worklife, CPH is looking to its future manpower needs. Recognizing that the success of the house and its ability to meet the needs of the Synod are directly related to the talents of its people, increased attention has been devoted to the recognition and development of talents from within and the attract- ing of outside talents to fill specialized positions. Formally structured supervisory training courses have been given to 65 employees. Through the use of audiovisual materials and discussion, members of the CPH management team have been introduced to the latest studies of the behavioral scientists. Increased contacts with college placement offices and with campus pastors have stimulated a number of prom- ising young people to align their futures with Concordia. In the nonsupervisory area, 22 employees were awarded certificates of craftsmanship in 1968 by Printing Industries of America. At the present time 692 employees are enrolled in the Concordia Welfare Plan, including retired personnel. The plan provides coverage for more than 1,500 em- ployees and dependents. Manuscripts Reflect Changing Needs The Commission on Church Literature and members of its 11 subcommittees work closely with Concordia staff people to discover the needs of the church in a changing world and to develop books, visual media ma- terials, and tracts. Commission members examine hundreds of manu- scripts and proposals each year for possible recommen- dation to CPH. A list of publications for the biennium is appended to this report. Concordia has established itself in the international community of theological publishers through various contacts. Most significant is the annual exhibition at the International Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany. These relationships with overseas publishers have resulted in growing requests for translation rights to Concordia books, Conversely, this knowledge of the publishing scene in Europe has enabled Concordia to obtain translation and publication rights for significant titles and to ar- range for copublication with several United Kingdom publishers. The new system for the doctrinal review of manu- scripts adopted by the Synod at the New York conven- tion has been put into operation. Reviewers have been appointed by the President of the Synod, Dr. Oliver R. Harms, and are carrying out their assignments. In gen- eral the program is working well. Best Seller — And Door Opener The popular Concordia Arch Books rank among Concordia’s all-time best sellers. They have and are opening doors in many areas heretofore closed to Lu- theran materials. To date more than 5% million copies have been published and distributed in the English lan- guage. The 36 titles now in print have been enthusias- tically received by thousands of Protestant and Roman Catholic households. Arch Books have been or are being translated into Welsh, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Que- chua (for South America), Swedish, Danish, and French. Thousands have been produced in England through Concordia Publishing House Ltd. Negotiations are un- der way to translate and publish a selection of the Arch Books in most European languages. Index Project Moving Forward The indexing of all of the Synod’s periodicals is now moving forward, especially since another indexer has been added to the CPH editorial staff. The 1968 issues of the following periodicals are in- dexed in the pilot index according to subject and author: Advance, Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, Con- cordia Theological Monthly, Issues in Christian Educa- tion, Lutheran Education, Lutheran Witness, Der Lu- theraner, and The Springfielder. The first issue of the index will be available prior to the Denver convention. Further issues will provide a key to issues of synodical periodicals published after 1968 and to issues published from the earliest years of the Synod until 1968. The index will be of significant service to members of the Synod by providing a key to the vast storehouse of synodical literature. Outreach Through Tracts In the Concordia Tract Mission our church has a wonderful resource for reaching into all parts of the world with the Word that saves, nurtures, and edifies. With only a modest annual operating budget, sup- plemented by voluntary contributions, Concordia Tract Mission continues to be God’s mighty spiritual instru- ment working its miracles of print throughout the world. The scope of Concordia Tract Mission’s publishing and distribution activity can be seen from the following: Millions of tracts have been distributed in addition to used Sunday school literature, Portals of Prayer, Bibles, and Testaments. Available are 380 English tract titles in 50 different categories. Also foreign-language tracts in 30-some languages.