# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1900_S34
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

34 Proceedings of the eighteenth convention

it wishes to make its existence secure for the future, humanly speaking, and wishes that in the place where it now exists there remain in the future also a congregation of the true God and Savior Jesus Christ, then it cannot evade the duty of establishing a congregational school and of caring with all its strength for its prospering. Then the son shall step into the footsteps of the father, the grandson into those of the grandfather. If these were faithful congregation members, the goal must remain that those too be educated to it, that they too work in the right way for the congregation.

Let us hear Luther also on this. He writes in the Large Catechism: "If we want to have fine, capable people, for both the secular and the spiritual government, we must truly spare no diligence, trouble or cost on our children, to teach and educate them, that they may serve God and the world, and not only think how we may gather money and goods for them. . . . If one did that, God would also bless us richly and give grace, that one should bring up such people, by whom land and people might be improved; besides, fine, well-bred citizens, chaste and domestic women, who would thereafter bring up devout children and servants. Think for yourself, then, what murderous harm you do where you are negligent in this and let it fail with you, that your child be brought up usefully and blessedly; besides, you bring upon yourself all sin and wrath, and so earn hell by your own children, even if you were otherwise pious and holy." (St. Louis Edition, X, 61.)

But the congregation needs for its continued existence not only hearers but also preachers of the Word. As long as Christ's command holds: "Preach the Gospel to every creature" — and it holds to the end of the days — so long there will never be too many preachers. It is a sad sign when in a church a so-called overproduction of pastors sets in; indeed, the word overproduction is in this connection an evil, nasty, unchristian word, which has already done great harm to the church. Christian preachers are not something that we make, they are rather gifts which God the Lord gives us for our salvation. So it says in Eph. 4:11, 12: "He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." Among the gifts that the exalted Christ gives to men for their salvation, v. 8, the apostle names also the preachers. If now, once, there seem to be too many on hand, namely if not all candidates immediately after their examination have a call in hand, then let us beware of the evil, hateful word "overproduction" and complain rather of a lack of demand. All preachers and teachers that God gives us we need; the fault lies with us, that we do not recognize it and do not claim them. Let us accept thankfully the blessing of God, which he has given with a great number of ministerial and teaching-office