LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 39

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

SYNODICAL REPORTS 39

* locating information from those records when needed for current
operations;

* helping develop schedules for proper retention and destruction of
records,

IV. Historical Collections

The Institute serves the Synod’s purposes and helps it fulfill its
mission as God’s faithful people sent to “Tell the Good News about
Jesus” by continuing to gather and preserve a vast collection of re-
sources that tell the story of what God has done through His people
to bring the Good News of the Gospel to the world. Our holdings
include
¢ more than 7,500 cubic feet of records in the archives, including

documents and papers from the confessional Lutheran emigra-
tions of the 1830s and 1840s down to the recent minutes of syn-
odical boards and commissions;

* records of congregations, educational institutions, auxiliary orga-
nizations, and other groups, making us the largest depository of
information on the ministry and life of Lutheranism in America;

¢ papers of significant leaders of the church such as C. F. W.
Walther, Francis Pieper, John W. Behnken, Theodore Graebner,
Walter A. Maier, and J. A. O. Preus II;

¢ ahistorical library of over 58,000 books, pamphlets, and periodi-
cals published by or about Lutherans in America and Europe, in-
cluding histories and publications of the ELCA and its predeces-
sors, the Wisconsin Synod and other Lutheran church bodies;

«over 180,000 feet of microfilm of manuscripts, periodicals, dis-
sertations, and congregational records, a collection developed
through the support of the International Lutheran Laymen’s
League for more than 40 years;

* a museum collection of artifacts and documents that focus on the
history of God’s amazing goodness and care toward His people
dwelling in a land and culture that is growing further and further
away from its Creator and Savior;

* museum exhibits that present treasured historical objects related
to the Synod and its leaders;

¢ historic sites at Frohna, Perry County, MO (the Saxon Lutheran
Memorial, a log cabin complex that recalls the faith and dedica-
tion of some of the Synod’s founders), and Friedenberg, MO (the
“Hill of Peace,” the property of Peace Lutheran Church, a dis-
banded congregation, which provides a reminder of the rural
church that served as a solid base for the Synod’s life in earlier
times).

We have continued to provide reference and research services
using the resources of the Institute’s collections to fulfill as effi-
ciently as possible inquiries and requests in accordance with the
policies of CHI. Our collection provides answers to hundreds of
questions received each year from all over the world.

We publish the results of historical research in the Concordia
Historical Institute Quarterly. This popularly written journal is now
in its 71st year, making it the oldest such Lutheran publication in
America and an outstanding resource for Lutheran historical infor-
mation. Members of the Institute also receive Historical Footnotes,
a newsletter with news and notes about the Institute and Lutheran
history and archives in general. The papers presented at our bien-
nial conferences on archives and history are published in volumes
entitled Archives and History.

V. Challenges and Concerns

There are two major challenges that Concordia Historical Insti-
tute faces at this time. The first involves the ever-decreasing space
for additions to the collection, due to continuous receipt of new ma-
terials. Initial work done by a Long Range Planning Committee has
led the Board of Governors to plan for relocation and a new build-
ing. The work of CHI simply cannot continue effectively at its
present location on the Concordia Seminary campus due to the lim-

ited space available. As this report is being prepared, the most
likely spot for CHI’s relocation appears to be that of the Interna-
tional Center campus. CHI is currently addressing the funding is-
sues raised by such a move and hopes that by the time the 2004
synodical convention arrives, our new home will have been com-
pleted.

The second challenge deals with the incomplete organization,
description, finding aids, and cataloguing that are characteristic of
a high percentage of the collection. From its very founding, the
Missouri Synod recognized the need to establish and maintain an
archives. However, the information contained in an archives is only
as valuable as it is accessible, and it is the lack of or difficulty of
accessibility that represents the major challenge confronting Con-
cordia Historical Institute today. This challenge can only be ad-
dressed by increasing professional staff, that is, by increasing the
funds needed for the task of arrangement, description, cataloging,
etc. In connection with this need for increased staffing, it is essen-
tial that the Institute not only increase its visibility in the eyes of
Synod’s congregations in order to give information regarding the
services that we provide, but also encourage increased financial
support. If the Institute is to fulfill its mission of providing support
services for the overall work of the Synod at all levels, we need
greatly increased support from congregations and individuals. This
is an area with which we have especially struggled in the past. Our
ability to provide the services that congregations, individuals, and
synodical officers need in order to perform their various responsi-
bilities is greatly restricted by budget limitations. To address this
need, CHI has enlisted the help of LCMS Ministries in the area of
development and fund raising. We are confident that with their as-
sistance, we will reach our congregations and supporters more ef-
fectively to encourage the gifts and raise the funds necessary to
carry out our mission.

The Institute has a significant role to play in helping all the peo-
ple of the Synod to grow in appreciating the marvelous blessings of
God from the past that will instruct them as they go out to “Tell
the Good News about Jesus” all over the world. We have much to
learn from what God has done for us in the past. Our precious her-
itage needs to be passed on to new generations, who are often over-
whelmed by the contradictory and dangerous messages of a world
alienated from God.

VI. Board and Staff

Policy for the Institute is established by a Board of Governors
consisting of nine members. Five are elected by the Institute mem-
bership and three by the synodical convention. The Secretary of the
Synod also serves on the board.

In addition to the Director, the Institute also employs the ser-
vices of an Associate Director for Archives and Library, an Assis-
tant Director for Reference and Museum, an Executive Secretary,
an Archivist, and an Office Manager, as well as other full-time and
part-time workers who provide professional, clerical and technical
services. We are also grateful for several volunteers who assist in
our work with transcription of German Gothic script, reference and
research, cataloging, indexing, filing, museum, reception, and
many other services.

VII. Goals

The major goal for Concordia Historical Institute during the
next triennium will be to provide for a facility capable of housing
our collections and serving the needs of our church in an effective
manner as we carry out our mission as the Department of Archives
and History of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

In addition, we hope to generate or receive the funds necessary
to provide for the arrangement and description work needed to
make our archival collections easily accessible to the members of

2001 Convention Workbook