# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S129
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

‘Elementary Education . 129°.

: 3. We would draw ‘particular attention to the excellent work
done by the Committee on Sunday School Teacher Training and
-ecommend that the Committee be directed to prepare more courses
-of-study and that congregations be urged to make use of this ma~
terial and adopt a systematic plan of teacher training.

‘The report of the Board for Parish Education continues:

Bible Classes ©

‘It is to be deplored that the movement for more Bible classes —
is smaking little progress. Losses in young peoples’ and adult
Bible classes have been at least partially accounted for, but war-
“€ime conditions will hardly account for a decrease of 7,000. in the
“enrollment of our postconfirmation Bible classes. Have we per-
haps yielded to the spirit of indifference which is. so common .
today, and are we therefore making only a halfhearted effort to:
’ gontinue the religious instruction of our adolescents after they have
been confirmed? With due credit to the sermon as an instructional
factor of first importance, if we are to have a well-indoctrinated,
‘ laity, confirmation instruction must be followed by regular, sys-
tematic Bible study under the guidance of well-prepared and com-
petent leaders. The Board of Christian Education appeals for this
_reason to all congregations of Synod to study prayerfully the de-
plorable condition that exists with respect to Bible classes and then
work for the organization and maintenance of Bible classes. Ado-
lescents have been mentioned in particular because they are ur-
’ gently in need of continued instruction; but we should have many
more young people’s and adult classes as’ well.

_ ACTION

Concerning Bible classes, Committee 4 brought in the following
recommendations, which were adopted: \

1, Wuerzas, In our modernistic and materialistic age the post-
confirmation life of our young people demands safe Christian’
". guidance’ and direction; -
"2. Wuereas, The Bible class is an excellent means of provid-
ing such guidance for the confirmed youth in our congregations;
- we therefore recommend

1. That greater emphasis be’ placed on the establishment and
preservation of Bible classes in all our congregations; mo

_ 2, That practical and: appealing Bible class literature be fur-
nished by our Board for Parish Education.

3. That not only persons of high school age, but the adults of
the congregations be urged to join the Bible class.

The report ‘of the Board for Parish Education continues:

9