LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 66

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66 SYNODICAL REPORTS

the Synod convention elects three board members. 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, an Assistant Director,
an Executive Assistant, an Office Manager, and several other full-
and part-time workers who provide archival, bibliographical, re-
search, editorial, clerical, and maintenance services. We are also
grateful for several faithful volunteers who assist with the tran-
scribing and translating of German handwriting and gothic type-
face, archival processing, research, indexing, filing, and many other
services. Special thanks are due to Paul McCain, Interim Director
of CPH, and Larry Lumpe, Vice-President of CHI, both of whom
served as Interim Director for CHI in the vacancy of the Director’s
position in 2001-02.

VI. Completion of Goals and Assignments

In the last six years the Institute has described its goals to the
Synod as (1) increasing archival space; (2) increasing museum
space; (3) developing a permanent exhibit telling the story of
American Lutheranism; (4) computerizing the catalogues; (5) im-
proving the organization of the collection; (6) providing archival
internships; (7) developing a larger corps of volunteers; and (8)
raising funds and Institute visibility. All these goals remain “works
in progress,” as will be explained.

The first three goals pertaining to space and a permanent mu-
seum exhibit belong together. The Institute has investigated sev-
eral possibilities, including moving the entire operation to the Fort
Wayne seminary or to the International Center in St. Louis. Both of
those options were not feasible. More recent options have devel-
oped with the St. Louis seminary’s acquisition of the Christian
Brothers property and some vacancy at the International Center.
The Synod’s Board of Directors has invited the Institute to “con-
sider utilizing a portion of the International Center for its museum
and possibly other functions” (11-20-03), which the Institute is se-
riously discussing. The seminary has invited the Institute to con-
sider portions of its new facility, which may prove to be useful for
augmenting archival and storage areas. The Institute is extremely
grateful for the spirit of cooperation on the part of the seminary and
synodical officers that makes these options possible. Fruition of
these options will depend on adequate funding.

Progress made toward organizing the Institute’s collection was
stymied when the full-time archivist took a job elsewhere. In spite
of this setback, significant progress is being made in the computer-
ization of museum and library catalogues. Accessioning is
presently up-to-date. The goal of providing archival internships has
not been implemented due to a lack of funding. The goal of in-
creasing volunteers has not been achieved, though appeals have
been made through certain venues in the St. Louis metropolitan
area.

The goals of increasing Institute funding and visibility have
proven to be the most challenging. The Institute is not large enough
or wealthy enough to employ full-time professionals in the devel-
opment and public relations fields. Independent contractors were
employed sporadically from 1973 to 1997, with varying results.
The Institute contracted with a synodical development department
from 1997 to 2002 with significantly negative results. Since the fall
of 2002, the Institute’s director is solely responsible for these areas.
The Institute cannot at this time hire assistance for funding and
public relations because of its constricted budget.

In June 2002 the LCMS Board of Directors gave to the Insti-
tute an assignment, derived from 2001 Synod Overture 2-43, “the
identification and cataloging of synodical convention actions per-
taining to the doctrine and practice of the Synod.” Thanks to ac-
companying funding from the Directors and some great seminar-
ian talent, this assignment has seen a lot of progress. The LCMS
German period (1847-1926) has been the initial focus of this proj-

2004 Convention Workbook

ect. At the time of this report, the organization of all papers and
records is finished, outlines of actions and debates from the Synod
Secretary’s notes are complete through 1905, inventories are com-
plete through 1905, and the full translation into English of doctrinal
resolutions is complete through 1884. The staff believes that all the
work on the German period will be complete by summer 2004. The
remaining work in English will move more quickly and probably
be done by summer 2005. Publication via computer disks, and pos-
sibly other media, will precede the 2007 Synod convention.

VII. Goals and Assignments for the Triennium

Goals for the future will include those that remain incomplete
from the past: increasing archival and museum space, construction
of a permanent exhibit devoted to the Lutherans in America, im-
proving the organization of the archives, completing the computer
catalogues, and raising funds and visibility. The ability of the In-
stitute to accomplish these goals will be determined, to a large part,
by the generosity of its members, donors, the Synod subsidy, and
supporting foundations.

Assignments for the triennium include the completion of the
Synod resolutions project and the initiation of a joint publication
between CHI and Lutheran Quarterly on the recent history of
American Lutheranism (1919-99),

VIII. Recommendations

The Institute’s Board of Governors has submitted an overture
to the 2004 Synod convention under the heading “To Support the
Work of Concordia Historical Institute.” The Institute strongly
urges each congregation of the Synod to consider becoming a Con-
gregational Member of CHI, at current rates of $50 per year. This is
the most cost-effective way to provide historical and archival re-
sources to the church and to help support the Institute’s ongoing
work.
The Institute recommends to the delegates and guests at this
convention that they take the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit
the CHI museum exhibit “Martin Luther—The Reformer” from
Wittenberg. Delegates may attend during the Semfest at the semi-
nary on Sunday evening, while guests may enjoy attending at other
times (July 1-Sept. 25, Mon.—Sat., 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.). Members
of the Synod unable to visit St. Louis in this period may attend the
exhibit at its other locations (see the Web site http://www. the-re-
former.de/).
In the past, the Institute has reminded the church of its anniver-
sary celebrations. For the coming triennium, these are as follows:
2004—Centennial anniversary of the Brazil District of the LCMS,
predecessor to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil.

2005—Centennial anniversary of Concordia University at Portland,
Ore.
— 300th anniversary of the first significant Lutheran mis-
sion to a non-Christian people, begun by Bartholomew
Ziegenbalg and Henry Pliitschau, who were sent by the
Danish king to the Tamil people at Tranquebar, India. This
resulted in today’s “Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church”
(TELC), the oldest Protestant church in India.
— 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s decision to become
a monk.

2006—Centennial anniversaries of the Texas, Atlantic, and South
Dakota Districts of the LCMS.
— Centennial anniversary of Concordia College, Oakland,
Calif., now defunct.

2007—Centennial anniversary of the Northern Illinois District of
the LCMS.
— 400th anniversary of the birth of hymn writer and confes-
sor Paul Gerhardt.
— 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s ordination as a
priest.