# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S179 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION 179 Auditor: Mr. E. R. Streufert (1-year extension) Director of Staff Services: Mr. Wm. Barge (4-year term) In harmony with the Bylaws the board also approved the candidates for the position of Director of Public Rela- tions and, as members of the Foundation, for the position of Executive Director of the Foundation. 4-05 Report of Department of Research and Statistics The Department of Research and Statistics herewith pre- sents its convention report to the membership of the Synod. In accordance with the provisions of the synodical Handbook this is primarily a report on the activities of this department. This report presents a brief survey of the research and sta- tistical projects completed during the past biennium, proj- ects currently in progress, and projects planned for the future. The Department of Research and Statistics continues to serve the church by providing research services and infor- mative studies to the various agencies of the church as well as to the church at large. The underlying purpose of the information and recommendations presented in these ser- vices and studies is to enhance the validity and viability of program development, long-range planning, and decision- making in the church. In most cases these research services and studies were prepared in partial fulfillment of the ob- jectives of the department as specified in the synodical Handbook. Many additional studies were conducted at the request of the convention of the Synod and of various boards, commissions, and committees of the Synod. Research and Statistical Studies Completed The research and statistical studies completed by the department during the past biennium include several that are the continued responsibility of the department and a number of additional projects that were made in response to synodical resolutions and to specific requests received from individual boards, commissions. and committees of the Synod. Among the major projects completed by the department within the past biennium are the following: 1. Census of the Sensory Impaired — This study entailed a complete survey among all Lutheran congregations in North America to collect basic information on deaf Lu- therans scattered throughout the U.S. and Canada. The final reports resulting from this survey provide a summary tabulation of deaf persons, deaf teachers. and various ser- vices available for the deaf in every county and every metropolitan area in the U.S. and in Canada. 2. Parish and District Profiles— This project includes a series of analyses utilizing the 1970 U.S. Census data to provide statistical profiles of areas served by individual parishes and by the synodical Districts. These computerized profiles provide many statistical data items covering various social, economic, and demographic characteristics of the population in parish areas, communities, counties, states. and Districts. 3. Site Acquisition Study of the Dallas and Fort Worth Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas — This study was prepared for the Synod’s Church Extension department and entailed an exhaustive analysis of the Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan areas. The purpose of the study was to identify locations for the possible acquisition of sites for the future development of churches. In addition to this specific objec- tive on which a number of recommendations were reported in the study, the data included in the study were also made available to the Texas District for their use in mission strategy and planning in these metropolitan areas. 4. Study on Stewardship in the LCMS — This study was a major work on stewardship patterns in the Synod and was prepared for Synod's Stewardship Board. This research was based upon data compiled through a national survey. and included a large number of data items for each person in- cluded in the sample. The basic thrust of the study was to determine what factors might relate to various stewardship concerns including individual contributions, individual stew- ardship of time, congregational allocations to the District and Synod, etc. 5. 1971 Lutheran Church Directory for the U.S.—This special project involved the preparation of a complete Direc- tory of all Lutheran churches located in the United States. The Directory includes information on the location, ZIP code, denominational affiliation, etc., of every Lutheran church in the U.S. 6. The 1971 and 1972 Statistical Yearbook 7. The 1972 and 1973 Lutheran Annual In addition to these major projects and studies the de- partment also provided synodical agencies with a number of less extensive research reports and statistical studies. These included the following: 1. The compilation of data and preparation of tables and charts for the report of the President of Synod to the 1972 District conventions. 2. A series of past trends and future projections in syn- odical membership and contribution growth patterns. 3. The gathering and tabulation of elementary school statistics for Synod's Board of Parish Education for the 1971—1972 and 1972—1973 academic years. 4, An analysis of the trend in contributions and the flow of contributions from individuals to the congregation, con- gregation to the District. and District to the Synod. 5. An analysis of membership growth trends in the major Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the U.S. with a comparative breakdown of statistics from 1961 to 1971 for all metropolitan areas with 10,000 or more Missouri Synod Lutherans. 6. An analysis of past trends and a projection of the “supply and demand” of pastors and teachers for the preach- ing and teaching ministry in the LCMS. Finally, the department also completed a number of smaller reports and studies during the past biennium that included such items as an analysis of membership distribu- tion in the U.S.; updating of records on pastors and male teachers in the Synod according to their status and District membership: an analysis of delegate representation at syn- odical conventions: and a number of other special reports prepared in response to specific requests received from various synodical units and committees. Feasibility of a New District in the Southwest One of the larger and more significant projects under- taken during the past biennium was a feasibility study of a new District which had been proposed for the Southwest. This study was made in response to Denver Resolution 5-27 and Milwaukee Resolution 4-07, both of which requested a study by the Department of Research and Statistics on the feasibility of forming a new District in the Southwest. This study has been completed and a complete report has been transmitted to the convention floor committee to which this matter has been assigned at the Synod’s con- vention in New Orleans. In view of the length of that par- ticular report no effort will be made to present the study here. However, since Milwaukee Resolution 4-08 requested that a report be made to the Synod, it is appropriate that we here indicate that the report has been completed and that the findings contained in this report suggest that this proposed district is not feasible. While several of the factors calling for a new district in the Southwest are of consider- able merit, it is our judgment that the formation of this district is not feasible at the present time. The findings which lead to this conclusion are identified in the report; but. essentially our opinion is that the limitation of human and financial resources in this proposed district would pre- vent it from providing adequate services to the constituency of this proposed district. Research and Statistical Projects Currently in Progress Two major projects which have been started, but have been temporarily discontinued, are the proposed realign- ment of the Montana- Wyoming Districts (Denver Resolution 5-28) and a program of research in Christian education (Denver Resolution 7-04).