# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S65 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SYNODICAL REPORTS 65 And to one hope she presses With ev’ry grace endued. (LW 289: 1-2) Phillip Campbell, Executive Director R2-05 Concordia Historical Institute Department of Archives and History I. Introduction Picture in your mind these recent snapshots of life at Concordia Historical Institute (CHD): a. The presiding bishop of a Lutheran church in Kenya holding the 1580 Book of Concord in the CHI archives, as if he were cradling a child in his arms. After the photo is taken, he walks away saying quietly, “Imagine! I just held the original Lutheran Confessions in my own hands!” b. Two German pastors of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (S.E.L.K.) in the CHI Reading Room enthusiastically reading and discussing auf Deutsch original, unpublished letters and manuscripts from one of their missionary leaders over a hundred years ago. c. The seminary dining hall filled to overflowing with high- spirited guests at the annual CHI awards banquet. At the center of the hall is a distinguished group of presidents and leaders of the International Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, honoring their venerable archivist-historian as she receives the CHI “Distinguished Service Award.” d. Two grade-school girls, daughters of a Lutheran theology professor from Brazil, dressed up in mid-nineteenth-century clothing and posing in a horse carriage at the Saxon Lutheran Memorial Fall Festival in Perry County, Mo. Their mother says, “Smile for the camera!” while their father grins bemused. All these images and more come to mind when we think of how Concordia Historical Institute helps people connect to their past, their families and their beloved church. In the twenty-first century, as these snapshots depict, the connections are truly global in scope and import! They demonstrate that through many generations Lutherans around the world have been of One Mission—Ablaze/ II. Mission As a ministry of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, CHI has committed itself to: ‘Bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to serve the members of His church by promoting an interest in, appreciation for, and understanding of the history of Lutheranism in America, particularly of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as the story of our Lord’s gracious dealing with His people, by collecting and preserving articles of historical value, stimulating historical re- search, and publishing its results. In addition to these functions, Bylaw 3.205 states that CHI shall “serve as an advisory and correlating agency for historical interests within the Synod” and “provide guidelines for the establishment of an archive-historical unit by each District, seminary, synodical col- lege, university, and other agencies.” CHI may also “serve as the official depository for such other groups as designate the institute as their depository.” III. Collections CHI is unlike any other synodical agency in that one of its chief purposes is to collect things. The holdings of the Institute at last count: ¢ 2.5 million manuscripts, papers, and records ¢ 58,000 books, periodicals, and other publications © 180,000 feet of microfilm e 7,500 museum artifacts e A large collection of photos, audio-visual, and other media ¢ Two historic properties in Perry County, Mo., including the buildings, equipment, and grounds of the Saxon Lutheran Memo- rial in Frohna and the Hill of Peace church in Friedenberg IV. Services CHI is like most other synodical agencies in that one of its chief purposes is to provide services. The ongoing historical and archival services of CHI include the following: e A free public museum located on the campus of Concordia Sem- inary, St. Louis, providing inspiration and education regarding the history of Lutheranism and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod ¢ Archiving of the most significant information about every con- gregation and church worker in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, including all of its entities, schools, and agencies, and their publications e A research department providing public access to, and assistance with, the archives, books, periodicals, and microfilm in the CHI collection, as well as digital imaging of photos, manuscripts, and rare books e An annual national conference on Lutheran church history, the Pieper Lectures now in its ninth year, featuring noted scholars on topics of current interest, with the papers published in monograph form ¢ A biennial national conference of LCMS District archivists and ILWML archivists, the Conference on Archives and History, meeting together since 1945 e The CHI Awards Program now in its 30th year, a banquet and festivities to recognize the most significant work and persons in Lutheran history each year, whose awardees are chosen by a ju- ried committee of experts ¢ A quarterly journal in its 76th continuous year, the Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, providing Lutheran historians with a venue for publishing their research and offering the public a re- source for broadening and deepening their knowledge of the Lutheran churches in America e A quarterly newsletter, Historical Footnotes, which provides cur- rent news about the Institute and Lutheran history, practical ad- Vice in historical and archival topics, opportunities for input and financial support, as well as related resources e A Web site (http://chi.lcms.org) making some of the Institute’s resources available online, as well as a daily e-mail newsletter “Today in History” (see LCMS e-News at http://www.lcms .org/enews) and a managed news list “CHINews” (see the CHI Web site) ¢ A series of essays on archival and historical topics, the CHI Ser- vice Bulletins, including information about establishing and main- taining a congregational archive, available free of charge ¢ Consultation services in the disciplines of archives and records management for congregations, Districts, schools, and agencies, as well as for partner churches and other Lutheran organizations upon request e Assistance with the microfilming of congregational and agency records , ¢ Consultation for research in the history of Lutheranism ¢ Correlating of resources and talent for publications and projects related to Lutheran history ¢ Serving as the final depository for the records of disbanded LCMS congregations ¢ Gleaning of historical information about LCMS congregations and pastors through anniversary mailings, at 100, 125, and 150 years for congregations, and 25 and 50 years for pastors, includ- ing suggestions for anniversary celebrations V. Board and Staff A Board of Governors consisting of nine members establishes policy for the Institute. The Institute membership elects five, and 2004 Convention Workbook