# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S831
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Publication Matters 831

2. That Concordia Publishing House be asked to return to the
unctuation used in the Concordia Bible;
3. That an index for the Catechism be prepared;
4, That the numbering of the Scripture-passages be omitted;
a That the brief obsolete form for private confession be
omitted from the Enchiridion.
Respectfully submitted,

Ricnarp Ne1tzEL, Chairman, Catechism Committee

Revision of Catechism
(Memorial 711)

The Faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., having
‘ delegated the task of studying the proposed synodical catechism
‘to a special committee, herewith presents a report of its findings:

L General

: In our estimation the book as it is now before us will not
meet the needs of our Church. It is too difficult for an initial
catechism, and it is deficient as a terminal catechism. Sound
religious pedagogy makes it necessary to offer our pupils in the
various educational agencies the Enchiridion of Martin Luther
on at least three levels. We should have a primary catechism
for beginners and the first years of the elementary schoolchild.
‘We should have an intermediate catechism, which will confine
"itself largely to a word explanation of Luther’s text. And we
should have a catechism intended chiefly for children’s catechumen
classes, containing at least as much material as the Schwan edition,
ut in a simplified form.
Il. Specific
“The present projected catechism is also deficient in a number
‘of instances. The following are some of the chief which have
invited criticism. The entire text is planned largely to give
nformation only, not to promote thinking and produce the proper
“yesponse in emotions and actions. The ideals of a Christian life,
f present active church-membership, of the Christian virtues, of
the relation to the human society and to government, are singularly
“lacking throughout the book. The First Article, as explained by
juther, supplies directly the occasion for a discussion of Christian
ervice. Yet not one word of explanation is given on this theme
49). Similarly (p.66) the Third Article treats of sanctification,
ut practically nothing is said about sanctification in the narrower
gense found in the Christian life. The only reference concerning
ie chief task of the Christian are found on p. 77 and p. 92. Where