# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S158
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

158 Missions

Whereas it is of extreme importance to’ adjust our. missionary
methods and existing mission policies to meet the changed ‘con- |
ditions of the' present era, be it suggested that this entire matter be
given over to a committee for careful study and analysis, *

As we concentrate on the training of a native ministry and the
building of a native Church, no matter in which community this
may be, let us from the very beginning include the thought of
building an indigenous, self-governing Church. In building an
indigenous Church, the. growing mission will be permitted to do
such things as their Christian knowledge enables them to do in
order to promote the cause in their midst and to solve problems
as, from time to time they may arise. We will then not feel con-
strained to do all the thinking for them, and we need not help
solve all their problems, As the missions grow in Christian knowl-
edge and understanding, a greater measure of authority with cor-
responding responsibilitiés can be placed on them.

‘Resident Advisers, — As the work grows and a number of
missionaries and mission Stations in any given area increases, the
creation of the office of resident advisers in territories where our
churches in foreign lands have not as yet organized into synodical
bodies, ought to receive serious consideration, Already in 1932,
in 1935, in 1938, and again in 1941 this matter was discussed at
length. The report of Executive Secretary O.H, Schmidt, who
has visited the foreign ntission fields in China and in India, will no -
doubt also touch upon this important matter. -

And as we are planning for new fields in foreign lands, one of
the staff of instructors Sent ought to be designated the resident
adviser. The resident adviser is to be the intermediary between
the Mission Board, the missions, the missionary, the theological:
school. As the number of missions incréases, he is to be the
supervisor of all mission activities, of all mission properties. He is
to be the spiritual adviser of the missionaries and instructors, the
Visitor, with all the duties usually placed upon a Visitor,

’ As soon as it is feasible, the resident adviser might consider
surrounding himself with a missionary ‘council and draw in the ©
native missionaries and native lay Christians. -

. Be it suggested that pertinent resolutions. cover above sug-
gestions, SS mo, .

‘Christian day:schools Shall be opened, wherever ‘possible, not
only ‘as a’ missionary measure, but also because the day ‘schools _
are the-best-known “feeder” for the theological school. mo