Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Sheet 523
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Sheet 523

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

490 OTHER REPORTS

ernment, and hold membership in the American Asso-
ciation for Mentally Deficient and the National Associa-
tion for Retarded Children.

Board of Directors

The board of directors consists of 24 members elected
by the association of 4,000 members by mail ballot.
Terms of office are 3 years, eight members being elected
annually. There are six clergymen, two teachers, and
16 laymen including five businessmen, two attorneys,
two accountants, one public official, one corporation
executive, one educator in hospital administration, one
banker, and one social worker.

A sprinkler system was installed in several build-
ings which were classified as of non-fire-resistive con-
struction. The heating system was converted from coal-
to gas-fired boilers with a standby arrangement using
oil for emergency use.

An architect was engaged to develop a master plan.
This plan involves the construction of five new dormi-
tories to replace present multistoried buildings 50 years
old and considered hazardous.

We request the prayers of all members and appre-
ciate the assistance given by various departments of the
church in helping us to provide a most necessary and
appreciated service to the multiple handicapped that
is recognized in professional circles as of high standard.
We have 480 on our waiting list as of this writing.

CLARENCE F. Gotiscu, Executive Director
(11-B)

Report of the Lutheran Laymen’s League

The 52d annual convention of the Lutheran Laymen’'s
League takes place in Miami, Florida, July 26—30, 1969,
shortly after the close of the Denver synodical conven-
tion. In keeping with the league's emphasis on mass-
communications ministries, the Miami convention theme
reads: “That They May Hear.”

As reformulated and restated on the occasion of the
league’s golden-anniversary convention in Milwaukee
in 1967, the objectives of the organization read as fol-
lows:

1. An informed and enabled laity which exercises God's

reconciling ministry of witness in the world (Matt. 28:
18-20; 2 Cor. 5: 18-20) ;

2. An informed and enabled laity which responds crea-
tively and responsibly to the changing opportunities for
a life of service to God and man (1 Peter 2);

3. An equipped laity which participates responsibly in the
organizational life of the church;

4. Members in whose lives these objectives are realized
and demonstrated;

5. Affiliated groups and administrative units whose exis-
tence, function, and relationship to the League are de-
termined by these objectives.

The lJeague’s membership currently stands at ap-
proximately 155,000 individual members and 2,000 affili-
ated clubs.

To its individual members the league at various times
during the year addresses personalized aids and study
guidelines to assist in developing a fuller and more
dedicated life of service to Christ and His church. These

are in keeping with the league’s original purposes: “To
encourage one another to participate actively in the
work of the local congregation” and “to help increase
in the membership a deeper consciousness of Christian
stewardship life.”

The league’s Extension Services program, directed
to the local congregation, emphasizes a schedule of
activities which will (1) help develop the personal life
of each member and (2) be geared toward meaningful
service in the congregation and community. Bible
classes, discussion groups. men’s clubs, couples’ clubs,
dinner meeting clubs are but a few of the wide variety
of forms currently being used. To them the league pro-
vides a wealth of worship aids, discussion materials, and
service-project ideas for implementation as a part of
the congregational program.

The league’s official publication, The Lutheran Lay-
man, has served our Synod for many years. The Lay-
man provides spiritual stimulation, Christian educa-
tional features, a wealth of up-to-date news, and
information about interesting events within the Synod,
as Well as throughout Christendom.

Since the league’s beginning. leadership training has
constituted an important part of its program. Programs
and projects depend in a measure on careful planning
and organizational structure. During the past biennium
the league launched a series of “Management Training
Workshops” designed to train Lutheran lay leadership
on the congregational and community level.

The league's national and international projects lie
in the realm of mass-media missions, utilizing the mod-
ern media of mass communication, the printed page,
radio, and television, for the proclamation of Christ's
saving Gospel.

1. Eight years ago the league introduced its mass-
communications service utilizing the printed page by
introducing the program of “Preaching Through the
Press.” Carefully prepared advertisements are sched-
uled in various newspapers throughout the United States
and Canada. Each advertisement contains a coupon
offering the reader a booklet and supplying further
information.

2. In the field of radio, The Lutheran Hour, the
worldwide mission sponsored by the league, is currently
in its 36th broadcasting season. Its present scope is de-
scribed in a separate report in this CONVENTION WorK-
BOOK.

3. As authorized by Resolution 11-01 of the 1967
New York City synodical convention, the league has
entered upon cosponsorship, with the Synod. of our
church's television ministry. For the programs of the
16th broadcasting season (1967—68) the league has con-
tributed the sum of $286.000; for the programs of the
17th broadcasting season (1968—69), it has contributed
the sum of $250.000: and for the programs of the 18th
broadcasting season (1969—70). it has made budgetary
provision in the amount of $334,000. Pursuant to the
provision of Resolution 11-01, the Board of Governors
of the league has been privileged to name four members