# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S165
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Yourig People’s Work 163

In many of our efforts we were joined by the Walther League.
In some of them the League contributed the major share of enter-
prise and direction. For instance, the special short courses in. youth
leadership at our seminaries and normal schools were conducted
by members of the League staff. It was a source of gratification
to us to hear the reports of Mr. Weiherman and Pastor Coates on
their youth seminars. We wish to acknowledge the ready coopera-
tion of the heads of our institutions, who willingly arranged them
at our suggestion. Regularly, the League and the statistical office
of Synod have assisted us in carrying through the annual roll-call.
Thus far the roll-call has resulted in little more than a set of
tabulated figures which signify that defections among our young
people are not alarming. Yet we believe that the roll-call should
be followed by an aggressive and systematic and continuous
follow-up, so that the defections may be still further reduced.
This should be a continuation of the Unite the Youth Endeavor,
launched by the League several years ago.

Occasional reports from various Districts seem to indicate that
there are far too many young people who are more or less inert
ingredients in the body of the Church. These conclusions are based
on the figures which show a considerable number of young people
who are not members of organized societies. Since such tabulations
are misleading as to the conclusion, the Board is planning a survey
to determine to what extent young people are serving the Church
or are otherwise engaged in church activities outside the regular
society organization. The Walther League has volunteered to
assist us in this project, and we cherish the hope that all of our
pastors will respond promptly when the questionnaire is sent to
them. So long as our statistical office is not equipped to conduct
surveys on the plan of the sampling system, we must have complete
coverage reports to‘arrive at valid totals and significant conclusions.

Among other surveys made by the Board was an investigation
of independent societies and their mode of operation. Only isolated
instances and minor local groups were found, and some of these
were patterned after the League or used its printed materials.
We know of one case where an attempt was made to publish
organization plans and programs for independent societies, but
the venture was soon abandoned. Before similar ambitious under-
takings are launched elsewhere, the leaders are advised to ascertain
to what extent they are unnecessarily duplicating the services
of the Walther League and to what degree they hope to surpass
the high quality of the League’s program. It may be said that
the League annually distributes free to its members. and at slight
cost to others many thousands of study and discussion leaflets in