# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1935_S171
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

158 Proceedings of ‘Thirty-Sixth Regular Convention,

Report of Board for Colored Missions.
(Memorial 310.)

Acknowledging the unmerited grace of God, your Board for Col-
ored Missions deems it a privilege to submit the following report
because the missionary work among the colored of our country is
being carried on by the Missouri Synod together with the other mem-
bers of the Synodical Conference.

Though we cannot speak of great expansion during the three
years past, yet God has abundantly blessed the faithful testimony of
our missionaries and granted a healthy increase in numbers. The
South still offers great opportunities for expansion, and appeals are
continually coming to us also from Northern cities. May the Lord
speed the day when we can again answer such appeals favorably!

The colored people probably were affected more severely by pre-
vailing conditions than any other class of people; yet we are happy
to report that in spite of some decrease our colored fellow-Lutherans—
out of their poverty — have contributed liberally to the Lord’s cause.

Reduced Appropriations.

About two years ago our appropriation was cut approximately
$26,000 by the constituent synods. To balance the Missionary Board’s
budget, this reduced appropriation made an average reduction in ex-
penditures of about 25 per cent. imperative. Salaries had already been
reduced before that time, and hence it did not seem fair to load the
entire burden on the few workers. Therefore the Board adopted the
policy of distributing the burden entailed by the decreased appropria-
tion among all the members of the Negro Mission stations. As the
first step in this direction the salaries of all pastors and teachers were
again reduced. The next step was to place the remaining part of the
load on our congregations. This arrangement has worked out favor-
ably up to the present time.

In accordance with recommendations of the Missionary Board the
Synodical Conference (August 10—15, 1932) closed Luther Pre-
paratory School in New Orleans and reduced Alabama Luther College
in Selma to an academy. An appropriation of $25,000 for the erection
of a boys’ dormitory was made unnecessary by this reduction.

For the sake of economy the publication of thé Lutheran Pioneer
and the Missionstaube was discontinued, these having incurred sub-
stantial annual deficits.

The Missionary Lutheran, a self-sustaining, monthly publication
in the interest of our Negro Missions, is edited by the superintendent
of our Alabama Field, Pastor E. A. Westcott. It brings not only in-
teresting news items concerning our work, but also highly instructive
doctrinal articles and articles pertaining to the life of a Christian.
Sample copies are provided for free distribution.