# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1938_S141
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Missions in General 141

regulations unless they are permitted to slight or even disregard
all other obligations. The regulations as we now have them lead
the mission-congregations on to center their entire attention on
the liquidation of the Church Extension loans, giving little or no
thought to contributing toward the salary of their pastor and to
the work of the Church at large. We know that the General
Church Extension Board in times past in some instances adjusted
the repayment scale to assist the struggling mission-congregation;
but we believe that the regulations of the Church Extension Board

ought to be so amended that repayments can be made in such

amounts that the mission-congregation will be enabled to do its
proportionate share toward the salary of the pastor, toward the
liquidation of its loans, and toward the work of the Church at
large. Be this suggested for your consideration.

23. Salaries. —The salaries of our missionaries in all mission
departments are more or less in need of improvement. Some
mission boards restored their former salary scales in full or in
part. A number of District Home Mission boards were pleased to
note a larger number of mission-parishes contributing more
liberally toward the salary of their pastors, so that they were
enabled to improve the salaries of their workers. We believe that
District Home Missions as well as the missionaries ought to be
commended for their zeal and also to be encouraged to continue
in their efforts to induce the mission-parishes to increase their
contributions toward the support of the work in their midst. Only
in this way shall we be enabled to gain added funds for mission
expansion.

24. Comparison of Salaries. — That the missionaries of one
mission department suffer more, comparatively speaking, than the
missionaries of another department cannot be said. Local condi-
tions vary. Therefore not all the missionaries and their families
can enjoy the same comforts and the same advantages. At home
and abroad some of them must be content with extremely primitive
living conditions. For the sake of the great cause they must often
forego some of the things deemed absolutely indispensable at
home. Though not all the missionaries and their wives received
“the special grace” to be able to adjust themselves into what-
ever conditions and situations they have been placed, we can say
that all are ever ready to sacrifice all if Christ can but be preached
to the salvation of those about them.

25. Comparisons of salaries offered by the mission departments
operating at home and in foreign lands are made quite frequently.
Let us be careful not to pass unfair judgment on this or that
mission board. Not being conversant with the standards of living,