# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1911_S307
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 93 —

Should the Synod wish to preserve the greater latitude that has existed
until now, so that some congregations join together in a smaller number
and others in a larger number to form an electoral district, the
provision might read: "From seven to twelve congregations each," etc.

Most respectfully submitted to the Reverend Synod,
St. Louis, Mo., February 25, 1911. L. Fürbringer.

Concerning the General Presidency.

To the Reverend General Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States,
assembled as the 13th Delegate Synod at St. Louis, Mo., in May 1911.

Under God's extraordinarily rich blessing our Synod has grown so large
that it now numbers 2,736 congregations in its 21 districts, with
529,287 communicant members and 123,637 voting members; maintains 10
institutions of higher learning belonging to the General Synod and 4
controlled by individual districts; carries on seven different missions
with their sub-divisions; owns one of the largest publishing houses in
the country; distributes thousands of Christian publications; and
unfolds a churchly activity that extends through every state of the
Union and into distant foreign lands, branches out into the most varied
ramifications, continually extends its sphere of influence beyond the
barriers of language, and stands before our eyes as a wonder wrought by
the Lord through weak human hands. Since this great, far-reaching
churchly activity has as its purpose and goal the building of God's
kingdom, the honor of the Most High, and the eternal salvation of
immortal souls, it plainly follows that the churchly service that
consists in directing the Synod's affairs, and that we have assigned to
the General Presidency, belongs among the most important offices in the
Church of God on earth.

The high responsibility that the greatness, glory, and manifold nature
of the blessing poured out upon our Synod has laid upon us makes it our
unavoidable duty to shape and arrange this office of the General
Presidency in such a way that its holders can truly fulfill their
difficult tasks, properly discharge their service in its full extent,
and thus provide the Synod with the benefit that is rightly expected
from their work.

The Synod has long since become convinced that the duties of the
General Presidency far exceed the time and strength of a single man; it
has therefore elected a Presidial College, consisting of the General
*Präses* [president] and four vice-presidents, and entrusted this
college with the exercise of the presidential functions. Experience has
shown, however, that even under this arrangement, as it now