# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S167
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Young People’s Work 165

the cause of young people and to assist them in their organization
work. Occasional but not too routinized parent evenings are
recommended, because they serve as an incentive to young people
and show them that their elders are interested in the society.
Conferences of parents and leaders are also of value for better
direction and progressive improvement. The proceedings and
other activities of the society should be regularly reported in the
voters’ meetings. The calendar of church services should, if
possible, provide for a special Youth Sunday, preferably on the
Sunday nearest May 23. Reunion services should be carefully
planned and conducted annually; however, with regard to the roll-
call report to the statistical office we are, on the recommendation
of Statistician Michael, suggesting that the roll-call project be
undertaken only once in a triennium, in the year preceding the
triennial convention. Youth Sundays, reunion services, roll-calls,
and other evidences of congregational interest will help to prevent
to some extent the recurring lags and declines that retard the
growth and weaken the vitality of the young people’s society..
Especially our pastors and teachers should be alert to apply cor-
rective measures when symptoms of blight are noted. No society
can operate indefinitely on momentum; it must be continuously
stimulated by able leadership and the unfailing interest and support
of the congregation.

The national-defense program offers a challenge and an
opportunity which particularly concerns young people. Several
thousand Lutheran young men are already in Government camps,
and many thousands more will be called to service within a short
time. For the spiritual well-being of these youths our Synod has
provided for a special Army and Navy Commission and a staff of
chaplains. The executive secretary of the Commission, the Rev. Ed-
mund Weber, has been consulted with reference to the assistance
which the young people can give in serving our Lutheran boys in
the defense program. He has warmly recommended that all young
people follow the ten suggestions offered by the Walther League
(Bulletin CS, “Serving the Men in the Camps”). They read as
follows:

“1. Offer to assist your pastor and congregation in making and
maintaining a complete and accurate list of the names and addresses
of all those in your congregation who are called up for the training
and of the camps to which they have been assigned.

“2. Offer to assist your pastor in arranging a farewell service
for the men in your congregation who are leaving for camp. |.

“3. Write a friendly, encouraging letter to each man in behalf
of the entire society from time to time. Also urge the members
to write individually.