# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S148
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

146 Elementary Education

being, of every other possible agency of instruction in order to
make up for the lack of the school as far as possible. Yes, such
agencies as Saturday-schools, summer-schools, and week-day
religious instruction are often necessary even where a congrega-
tion has a parochial school, not only for children prevented by
distance and other circumstances from attending the school but
also as an effective missionary agency. Statistics show that often
a high percentage of children do not attend the school where it
does exist.

5. But the establishment and maintenance of agencies of
education is only one thing. Still more important is the kind
of education and training which these agencies’ provide. In fact,
since the maintenance of Christian schools and of high standards of
education otherwise is contingent upon our spiritual status in
general, we see the need of urging that we maintain the highest
possible standard of teaching and applying the Word of God in
all its forms, including preaching and writing. Education is not
a side-line of the Church’s work, but its one and only commission.
Missions, care of souls, and all other endeavors of the Church come
under this one head: “Teach, preach!”

6. A vigorous campaign for the expansion of the school system
requires more adequate financial assistance on the part of Synod.
There seems to be a trend which underestimates the value of the
school as an effective missionary agency. Subsidies are granted
for the opening of new preaching-missions, but such subsidies are
frequently not available for the establishment of schools. Your
Board does not believe that such a policy can be defended merely
on the ground that a program of mission-work by starting schools
is too expensive. We therefore recommend that the President of
Synod be authorized to appoint a committee of representative men
to study this question and to formulate and recommend to Synod
a definite policy.

7. In 1938 Synod authorized a School Fund from which Districts
and congregations were to receive emergency subsidies for schools,
and adopted rules and regulations governing this fund. But until
now the Fiscal Conference has not made the necessary appropria-
tions for this fund, and the resolution of Synod has therefore
remained inoperative. Your Board sees the need for putting this
resolution into execution.

8. We also request that the resolution of Synud in 1938 con-
cerning educational research be carried out.

9. Your Board urges that more attention be given to the prepa-
ration of Sunday-school teachers, that pastors prepare their
teachers regularly and thoroughly for their task, and that a special
effort be made to introduce the teacher-training program on a
Synod-wide scale.