Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 221
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 221

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

SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION 221

(4-31)

To Set Mass Communications Priorities

Wuereas, The significance of effective public rela-
tions and mass communications for the church’s witness
to the world has rapidly increased with advancing com-
munications technology, rising population, and social
urbanization; and

Wuereas, The acceleration of such changes in the
future demands the church’s constant attention and
evaluation of its public relations and mass communica-
tions thrust; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reevaluate the priority of
its public relations and mass communications ministry
in relation to its total mission endeavor: and be it
further

Resolved, That each District of the Synod pursue a
similar reevaluation in this regard.
BoarpD FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS
Rev. Victor C. Rickman, Chairman
Mr. Ricwarp HANNEMAN, Secretary
Rev. KENNETH M. Linpsay, Director

(4-32)
To Give Representation to Minorities

Wuereas, The concept of the communion of saints
implies the participation of all of the church’s member-
ship in its life and work: and

Wuereas, Christian stewardship, integrity, and
brotherly love require that all talents within the
church’s membership be used; and

Wuereas, The witness of the church in society is
strengthened by representative involvement at respon-
sible levels of all of its members; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod instruct its officials to give
special attention to representation of minority groups
within its membership at policy-making and adminis-
trative levels of the Synod, its Districts, and congrega-
tions. BoarbD FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS
Rev. Victor C. RIcKMAN, Chairman
Mr. RicHarD HANNEMAN, Secretary

Rev. KENNETH M. Linpsay, Director
(4-33)

Report of Special Committee for Review
of the Synod’s Editorial and Periodical
Policies

In carrying out its assignment to give further study
to Section C, “Proposed Revision of Handbook,” of its
report to the 1967 synodical convention, the Special
Committee for Review of the Synod’s Editorial and
Periodical Policies found it imperative to resolve a
basic issue in order to “appraise the administrative poli-
cies of Concordia Publishing House as they relate to the
Lutheran Witness-Lutheraner Editorial Board,” as the
committee’s 1965 convention directive specified.

The committee weighed considerations of history and
tradition against more recent developments in the com-
plex magazine-newspaper publication program for which
the Editorial Commission for Official Periodicals is re-
sponsible. Of special concern to the committee were
numerous areas in which the editorial commission had
inescapable responsibility but lacked corresponding au-
thority. In general the committee found the lines of
authority between CPH and the editorial commission
blurred and in tension, handicapping an efficient and
effective operation.

It was noted by the committee that Concordia Pub-
lishing House “as a separate corporate entity” publishes
books (When You’re a Widow) and periodicals (This
Day) which are not publications of the Synod; that the
Synod publishes materials (Advance magazine, synodi-
cal Handbook, official reports) which are not publica-
tions of Concordia Publishing House; that CPH acts as
publishing agent for various nonsynodical agencies; and
that several synodical agencies publish materials inde-
pendently of CPH.

Careful study of Handbook provisions, official re-
ports to synodical conventions, and convention resolu-
tions, as well as practical considerations, led to the con-
clusion that the Synod’s official periodicals are “owned,
published, and managed” by the Synod and “responsible
to it through the Editorial Commission for Official Peri-
odicals,” as affirmed in Section A, “Official Periodicals,”
of this committee’s adopted report to the 1967 synodical
convention.

The committee’s conclusion is consistent with the
definition of “publisher” in Webster’s Third New Inter-
national Dictionary (unabridged): “specif.: the owner
and operator of a newspaper or periodical (editorials
tend to reflect the views of the publisher).” It has
therefore adopted the literal sense of the 1967 Conven-
tion Workbook, Report 11-06, paragraph 3, wording —
that the Synod itself is the publisher of “these official
periodicals.”

The committee believes that responsibility for edi-
torial content cannot be divorced from responsibility for
other matters related to the publishing of such periodi-
cals. Some of these matters are directly related, and
others are indirectly related to editorial content. To
clarify such responsibilities and establish a clear, single
line of authority appropriate to the efficient exercise of
such overall responsibility — not to minimize the in-
valuable contributions of Concordia Publishing House
to the official publication program of the Synod for
many years — the committee recommends adoption of
the following revision of Section C, “Proposed Revision
of Handbook,” to the 1969 synodical convention.

ART. XI. PUBLICATIONS

C. LUTHERAN WITNESS, LUTHERAN WITNESS
REPORTER, and DER LUTHERANER

11.81 Official Periodicals

The official periodicals of The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod shall be the Lutheran Witness, the Lutheran
Witness Reporter, and Der Lutheraner. All official notices