LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1962, Sheet 115

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

PARISH EDUCATION 115

our pastors, our congregations, and especially our Sun-
day schools be encouraged to make available resources
and tools such as libraries, audio-visual aids, subscrip-
tions to Interaction, and similar materials for the spir-
itual and professional growth of their workers.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

Time for Christian Education
RESOLUTION 4-09
Report 401, II, E, pp. 190, 191, Reports and Memorials

Wuereas, The many excellent programs for Christian
education which are available will be of limited value
unless more time is employed for teaching; and

Wuereas, Most of our congregations do not maintain
Christian elementary schools, which offer the best solu-
tion to the problem of providing adequate time for the
Christian education of children; therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations be urged to make pro-
vision for more hours of Christian education by increas-
ing the length of the Sunday school period, by keeping
the Sunday school active throughout the year, by pro-
viding such additional opportunities as will best minis-
ter to the spiritual needs of the members, young and
old, and by negotiating with public school administra-
tors to prevent undue preemption of the pupils’ time
for extracurricular activities at the expense of time for
Christian education.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

Establishing More Vacation Bible Schools

RESOLUTION 4-10
Report 401, IV, A, pp. 191, 192, Reports and Memorials

Wuerzas, It can be reported that under the blessing
of God the vacation Bible school continues to show an
increase in the number of children enrolled, of schools
conducted, and in the number of nonmember children
in attendance at these vacation Bible schools; and

Wuereas, The vacation Bible school is an effective
agency to augment and supplement the Christian edu-
cation of children; and

Whereas, A large number of congregations are even
now not using the agency of the vacation Bible school;
therefore be it

Resolved, That small, newly established congrega-
tions and preaching stations be urged to provide this
agency if possible; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations which operate only a
Sunday school give serious consideration to providing
the vacation Bible school as an additional means of
Christian education for their children; and be it finally

Resolved, That also congregations which operate both
a Christian day school and Sunday school be urged to
recognize and employ the vacation Bible school as an
additional agency of Christian education available to
them.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

Plan of Action for Expanding Vacation
Bible School Work
RESOLUTION 4-11
Report 401, IV, A, p. 192, Reports and Memorials

Wuereas, It is the concern of every District Board of
Parish Education in our Synod that congregations pro-
vide for a maximum amount of Christian education for
their own children and for nonmember children in their
neighborhoods; and

WuereEas, It seems best that District leaders set their
own goals and devise their own plans of action; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Parish Education of
every District, under the leadership of the Executive
Secretary and in cooperation with circuit or area rep-
resentatives or other qualified persons, be asked to in-
vestigate the possibility of establishing vacation Bible
schools in congregations that presently do not have one
and, where feasible, urge such congregations to estab-
lish and conduct a vacation Bible school in addition to
the other agencies of Christian education they may
have; and be it finally

Resolved, That a Synodwide effort be made to Yaise
the percentage of congregations operating vacation Bible
schools from the present 62 percent level to a 75 percent
level and that the Board of Parish Education in each
District be asked to establish a realistic yet challenging
goal to be reached in the next triennium relative to the
number of vacation Bible schools in the District and to
the number of pupils enrolled, both member and non-
member children; and be it finally

Resolved, To devise a plan of action for reaching this
established goal.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

Teacher Training Through Vacation Bible
School Workshops
RESOLUTION 4-12
Report 401, IV, A, p.192, Reports and Memorials

Wuereas, The quality of teaching in the various
agencies of Christian education maintained by congre-
gations is one of the important concerns of District
boards of parish education; and

Wuereas, Congregations look to these boards for
leadership and assistance in raising the quality of teach-
ing in their schools; and

Wuereas, Many of those who teach in the vacation
Bible school have not had the benefit of academic train-
ing and in some instances, lack even a limited amount of
experience and realize and are aware of their inade-
quacies; therefore be it

Resolved, That the District boards be asked to pro-
vide, under the direction of circuit education represent-
atives or other designated persons, annual workshops
on a circuitwide or areawide basis for the improvement