# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S400
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

400 ; Miscellaneous. Matters ; ; of

Report of Committee on Church Architecture’ -
(Memorial -1009) LO 8
Rigid restrictions on the use of building materials have rade
church building impossible during the past three years or so. Few
letters have been received. Those who made inquiry were advised’
to obey the laws of our land and undertake’ no building. until th
ban on building materials is removed. Since so very few inquiries
have been received, it would appear that our congregations gen
erally are aware of the restrictions that exist on building during
wartime. ‘
' Doubtless many new materials and methods of construction will -
be the result of wartime technical research. .
While our pre-war churches, in’a: number of cases, seemed to’
show an improvement in outward appearance, yet it is an unfortu
nate fact that thoroughness of construction has been declining "
steadily. The church buildings of our fathers and grandfathers:
may have been lacking in many instances of. gracefulness of line
and form, but many of them were sturdy of construction. The.
tendency nowadays, in all denominations, appears to be the attain-
ment of size and of outward ornament at the expense of solidity
of construction. It-is one of the evils of our day, and it can only
. result in costly upkeep, more frequent need of rebuilding, and
hence a condition of recurring debt. One of our postwar objectives
might well be the building of smaller church buildings, a reliance :
upon excellency of line and proportion rather than‘ upon ornament,
and, above all things, a return to the honesty ‘and solidity of con-
struction of our forefathers. ,

F.R. Weszer, Secretary of Committee

Full-Time Synodical Architect
. (Memorial 1010)

_ .Wuereas, Synod through its General and District Church. Ex-
tension Fund annually invests enormous ‘funds in new church or
school edifices and parsonages; and

‘WuEREas, Under present regulations it has been possible for

loans: to be defaulted through. no apparent fault of the loaning
boards; and

t

Wuereas, Inexperienced mission congregations have not always.
obtained full value for their investment and have not always been
able to procure expert advice in the planning and supervision of |
their building project; therefore be it. > ,

Resolved, That Synod employ a full time synodical architect; .

That the plans and full specifications of any congregation ap-
plying for extension loans shall be drawn up or approved by him: