Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 359
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 359

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

PARISH EDUCATION AND SERVICES 359

E. Recommendation of the Board of Parish
Education
Recommendation 6. To Assess the Teaching Task of the
Church

In its report to the New York convention in 1967 the
Board of Parish Education recommended the appoint-
ment of a commission to study the “Teaching Task of
the Church.” (CW, pp. 253— 254)

The convention assigned the “tasks and functions —
outlined in the recommendation” to the Board of Parish
Education. (Res. 7-07)

The Board of Parish Education implemented the res-
olution through a subcommittee representing the various
divisions of the Synod engaged in the teaching task.
The members of the Committee for the Teaching Tasks
of the Church, appointed by the respective division
heads, were:

Rev. Eugene Gunther, Division of Social Action and
Welfare

Dr. Richard Jungkuntz, Division of Theology and Church
Relations

Rev. Kenneth Lindsay, Division of Communications and
Public Relations

Rev. O. H. Reinboth, Division of Missions

Dr. M. L. Kretzmann, Division of Missions

Mr. Ralph Reinke, Division of Church Literature

Rev. Delbert Schulz, Division of Parish Education and
Services

Mr. Delphin Schulz, Division of Higher Education

Rev. Marcus Zill, Division of Special Ministries

The committee met four times during the past year
to determine the best way to deal with the problem of
(1) identifying the teaching tasks, (2) identifying the
resources available in the various divisions, and (3)
coordinating the teaching activities of the various boards
and commissions.

In the early meetings the members of the committee
explored the scope of the problem and concluded that it
could not be done by a committee or by any staff person
on fringe time. Further exploration revealed that pre-
vious efforts to identify objectives had not been com-
pleted and also that efforts were being made by the
Board of Directors of the Synod to regroup the boards
and commissions according to function, which could also
result in modified objectives.

At this point the committee was convinced that a
professional researcher would be needed to do the task
properly and that a subcommittee was not in a position
to pursue the problem on that basis.

The committee therefore encouraged the Board of
Parish Education to present the following recommenda-
tions to the Denver convention:

The Board of Parish Education therefore requests:

1) Research on the Teaching Task of the Church.

a) That the Board of Parish Education be authorized
to undertake a comprehensive research project on The
Teaching Task of the Church; what it ought to be teach-
ing; what is being taught by and through the official

boards, committees, and commissions of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod; and that it report the implica-
tions of these findings for the various divisions, boards,
commissions, schools, high schools, and colleges engaged
in the educational activities of the Synod.

b) That a Research Task Force be organized to direct
the study through a professional researcher.

c) That funds be sought from foundations that are
interested in education generally and may have partic-
ular interest ina comprehensive project related to church
education. (It was felt that a national church body with
1,500 elementary schools, 30 high schools, and 20 profes-
sional colleges as well as boards and commissions in-
terested in special education could attract foundation
money.)

2) Coordinating the Work of the Divisions and the Teach-
ing Task of the Church

a) That the Board of Directors be commended for
the steps being taken which move toward better func-
tional grouping of the various boards, commissions, and
committees of the Synod and be encouraged not only to
group functionally but also to assess the relationships
between the divisions and provide the necessary struc-
ture and personnel for coordinating the activities of all
the divisions.

b) That the Board of Directors through the Council
of Administrators provide the framework by which
divisions are required to develop and submit long-range
plans. Reporting and working such plans within and
between the divisions will make it possible for the teach-
ing tasks and all other functions of the church to be carried
on in unity and cooperation for the sake of the local
congregation.

c) That the Board of Directors provide personnel to
the Council of Administrators for coordinating all synod-
ical programs and field services for its Districts and
parishes.

II. CONCLUSION

The Board of Parish Education again calls upon the
Synod to thank God for His rich blessings on our congre-
gations, Districts, and Synod in the field of parish educa-
tion during the past biennium. There is evidence from
many congregations of a live interest in expanding and
improving programs of Christian education. There is
evidence from our District presidents, District boards
of parish education, and District executives that there
is strong interest in helping congregations carry out the
spirit of the New York convention resolution on Parish
Renewal Through Education.

The Board of Parish Education expresses its appre-
ciation to all who in one way or another helped in its
activities during the past biennium. Special thanks are
extended to the President of the Synod, the Board of
Directors of the Synod and its executives, the members
of the Council of Administrators, the management of
Concordia Publishing House, the executives of synodical
boards who conferred and worked with us on common