# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S235
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Reports and Action on Various Mission-Fields ' 285

transferred many Lutheran families to distant towns and ofttimes
into territory where we have no Lutheran congregation.

This shifting of our population presents a serious problem and
a series of problems to individual congregations and also to our
Synod.

The decentralization of our larger cities creates hardships for
old and well-established large congregations. Naturally these con-
gregations have a large physical equipment, the upkeep of which
runs into big money. Many day-schools hav: already suffered
greatly because of this situation. Fields in which our congregations
once flourished present a new mission problem because of the fact
that these congregations are laboring under weakened financial
conditions. This naturally subdues the spirit of aggressive mis-
sionary activity. It forbids the launching of a financial program on
a large scale. The membership that moves away from the com-
munity is often lost. If a mission or smaller congregation is organ-
ized in the outlying territory, and if this group again must struggle
through many years, it will not have the necessary and satisfactory
physical equipment to carry on the Lord’s work. Such outlying
conBregations must be subsidized; debts must be met; interest must
be paid on mortgages, all of which handicaps and retards the work.
Such congregations likewise are not in a position because of their
home problems to give Synod the support that it should receive.
In very many instances the fostering of a day-school becomes
- impossible.

Believing that this entire problem should be studied carefully
from every angle, we petition Synod to appoint a fact-finding com-~
mittee, which is to study the problem from every angle and en-
deavor to find a plan and policy which may be adopted by congre-
gations, mission boards, and Synod. This plan should also safe-
guard missions and congregations against undertaking programs
which are entirely beyond their ability to carry through. Only if
there is mutual cooperation on the part of a congregation can we.
obtain a larger vision and a better understanding of the Lord’s work
in our country. ,

THE SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE, ENGLISH DISTRICT
Watrter F, Lizper, Secretary

Report of Committee 2 ;
Your Committee is of the opinion that this matter can best be
studied and solved by each. District and by the congregations in-
volved. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that this matter
be referred to our various Districts for solution.
Action of Synod: This recommendation was adopted.