# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S17 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) _______ 7a MISSIONS 17 Regrettably, the Hong Kong mission in the last year experl- enced a split. The board is giving attention to this in the hope that a reconciliation may be effected. The seminary in Hong Kong has a notable program of train- ing men and women for various services in the church. Those who wish to be pastors must be capable of earning a living in a “secular” job, so that the congregations may become self- supporting. The Hong Kong International School, a separate project in this Crown Colony, is serving about 1,200 children and young people from kindergarten through grade 12. The Church of All Nations — Lutheran, which has its worship center in the school, continues to serve people from many nationalities with worship services in English. India The India Evangelical Lutheran Church (organized 1958) is a union of three synods in the South India states of Kerala, Madras, and Mysore and in Bombay. The wide geographic separation of congregations provides scope for evangelism and expansion, and a growth of 2,500 mem- bers is a goal set for 1975. The church's plans include evangelism projects, literature programs, medical and health ministries, social welfare programs, seminary and teacher training, lay training, and other educational programs. In 1974 the missionary staff consisted of 19 missionary units engaged in virtually every phase of work of the church including special outreach in the radio, film, and rally programs of the Christian Arts and Communications Service, the Henry Martin Institute of Islamic Studies, and the Inter-Church Service Agency. Japan The Japan Lutheran Church was organized in 1968, 20 years after the beginning of LCMS mission work in Japan. Its two larger high schools at Hanno and Urawa are well known. A theological training program is centered in Tokyo. A very strong radio mission that includes correspondence courses is financed and operated by the International Lutheran Laymen’s League. The church's goals for 1975 include: implementation of anew clergy assignment system, encouraging congregations too small or weak to qualify singly for assignment of a clergyman to set up dual parish arrangements, merge with their neighbors, or get on a mutual help basis with a stronger neighbor: removal of all remaining missionaries from direct single-parish pastoral duties and establishment of a system of zone or block cooperat- ing missionaries: promotion of mission study teams under the direction of the General Secretary for Missions, particularly with regard to further developing the talents of pastors in leadership and motivation for evangelism: strengthening of theological education, with allocation of personnel and financial resources, quality improvement, and closer cooperation be- tween the churches and the theological training program. Korea The Lutheran Church in Korea was organized in 1971, some 13 years after the first missionaries arrived. Its programs are planned by committees and carried out under policies and directives established by the church in annual general assembly. Special plans for 1975 include: construction of a multiministry center for implementation of special ministries; establishment of a second congregation in Pusan: construction of church facilities for the Yong Dong Po and Pusan congregations: re- evaluation of the theological education program and overall mass media ministries: and developing a financial structure to carry out a master plan aimed at establishing new work. Papua New Guinea The Wabag Lutheran Church, a result of the mission endeav- ors of the LCMS in Papua New Guinea, was organized in 1960 and is active in the Enga, Western Highlands, and Southern Highlands districts. The WLC is very conscious of its autonomy, selfhood, and responsibility. It continually sees its task in the light of people who still have to be won to Jesus Christ whether they reside in Papua New Guinea or other parts of the world. The WLC is engaged in evangelism and missionary outreach, communications, Scripture translation, medicine and health, economic development, agriculture, pastor and teacher training, stewardship education, elementary and secondary education, and youth work. Philippines The Lutheran Church in the Philippines is active on the islands of Luzon, Mindanao, Cebu, and Leyte. It provides about 50% of its own financial support. Leader- ship is being nationalized. During 1974 Dr. A. A. Carino, pioneer LCMS missionary to the Philippines, retired from service. Arriving in July 1946, he was active in almost every area of church work. He served for a time as president of the church and also president of the National Christian Council of the Philippines. He was quite active in developing the agreement relative to Baptism that exists between the Roman Catholic and the Lutheran churches in the Philippines. He continues to live in his native land and advance several programs of spiritual benefit to his people. The LCP has projected its future thus: an evangelistic pro- gram with several congregations under the care of one semi- nary-graduate pastor with lay workers of the congregation en- couraged to greater activity in spreading the Good News to a wider territory: a mass-communications program using radio, television, and the printed page. The print outreach would include continuance of The Philippine Lutheran, reproducing and marketing Christian literature, and making Bible corre- spondence courses available. Other programs include medical and health, social welfare and economic development, education (seminary, parish and elementary schools), and back-country airfield maintenance. This last enables church workers to reach areas that are other- wise well-nigh inaccessible. Sri Lanka Work in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) began in Colombo. In the past decade increasing attention is being given to tea estates in the “‘up-country.” It is planned to begin work in another tea estate in 1975. A 5% membership growth is expected. Taiwan In Taiwan (Formosa) the China Evangelical Lutheran Church has been working for more than 20 years. Beyond direct evangelistic efforts, mission outreach also is being done through the Lutheran Hour Bible Correspondence School, Truth magazine, Lutheran Hour, Concordia Middle School, Lutheran Television, five kindergartens, and five deaf work programs. Consultation In July 1974 the seven Asian churches related to the LCMS came together in Hong Kong to discuss common problems and plans. A second session, attended by the presidents, was held in Tokyo in March 1975. Various phases of interchurch relations occupied most of the discussion time. Europe Denmark In Denmark seven congregations with a total baptized membership of 165 are served by one pastor who travels be- tween 200 and 375 miles every Sunday for services in three or four places. The chief hope for 1975 is the calling and placing of a second pastor in order that services can be held weekly in each church, so that members would be able to invite friends to regular services. England — Evangelical Lutheran Church of England In England the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England has 14 congregations and two missions. A theological training pro- gram is conducted at its seminary at Westfield House, Cam- bridge, which marked a historic event last year with the gradua- tion of the first English theological students. The ELCE is intent to fulfill its master plan, which aims at self-support by 1985 and also sets goals for new congregations and membership increases. This church maintains good communications internally and with the outside world through The British Lutheran. England — Polish Church in Exile Only one part of the Polish Lutheran Church in Exile is subsidized by The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod: 38 con-