Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1983 · 55th Convention › Page 16
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 16

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

16

MISSIONS, EVANGELISM, AND SOCIAL MINISTRY

EXHIBIT I
Adults Gained and Lost

(North American Districts)

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1960 '61 '62 '63 "64 '65 166 '67 '68 "69 '70 "71 172 '73.'74 '75 "76 "77: "7S "74 BO "81

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EXHIBIT II
Gains and Losses in Baptized Membership

(North American Districts)

Year Adults Deaths
Baptized Children Juniors Confirmed or of Confirmed — Decade Gainr
Members Bapuzea Confirmed Baptized Members or Losses
1950 000. eee 1,728,186 62.465 27.743 25,256 16,926
1960 00... eee 2.469,036 85.976 47,176 35,570 15,865 +740,850
1970 06... 2,877,291 68,289 58.490 26,074 18,578 +408.255
1980 200. .eeeeeee 2.719.319 58.733 49,926 30.306 19,467 -157,972
1981 oo eee eee 2,721,883 60,816 39,506 30,838 19,582
EXHIBIT III
Communicant Membership Gains and Losses from Outside
(North American Districts)
Year Adults Non-Luth
Communicant Confirmed Juniors Decade Gains
Members or Baptized Confirmed Reinstated Defected or Losses
1950 2... ee eee 1,165,482 25,256 3,865 15,133 18,729
1960 0... eee eee 1,571,641 35,570 5,604 10,194 29,554 +412,159
1970 2... eee 1.980.925 26,074 4,865 9,511 50,282 +409,284
1980 200 eee 2,042,644 30,306 2,933 9,866 49,387 + 53,3523
1981 0... eee 2,045,708 30,838 2,921 9,817 50,769

sounds high, but it is an improvement! Two vears ago the
figures were 76 and 52 to win one.

Another change is in the makeup of the congregations. The
average size of the congregations of the Synod remained
approximately the same in the last two vears, 449 baptized and
337 communicant members. The proportion of urban and rural,
however changed considerably in the last biennium, from 54
to 63% urban and from 46% to 37% rural (using 2,500 or more
population as the urbanized area). Fifteen congregations of the
Synod have now grown to over 3,000 baptized membership.

2. Great Commission Convocation

When one asks, ‘What is happening in evangelism in the
Synod,” one must include the Great Commission Convo-
cations. Since the first synodical convocation, Nov. 6—9, 1980,

there have been similar convocations or gatherings in congre-_
gations, Circuits, and Districts. Thirty-two of the North Ameri-
can Districts have had or are having yet this vear a Great
Commission Convocation. The attendance at these convo-
cations has been up to 3,300. They have been single-day events
up to a long weekend from Friday evening through Sunday
afternoon. The pattern has generally been the same, a lot of
informal singing, plenary inspirational speakers, practical
“how to” workshops, and exciting worship experiences. Many
of those who attended the synodical convocation were active in _
the District convocations, and also attended them. A survey of
the Districts indicates that over half of the congregations of the
Synod were represented at the District convocations to date,
with the Nebraska District still having their convocation in
August 1983. Over 18,000 attended. At the synodical convo-