Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1958, Page 52

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52 Proceedings of the Forty-fifth Convention

This 1957 statistical report is being made in the humble
spirit of realizing our shortcomings and failures. The Triune God
alone be praised for all increases and evidences of growth and
progress. The biennium report will follow as made by the pastors
of the field. In this way delegates will be more able to obtain
direct knowledge of individual congregations and mission stations
in needs, failures, progress and blessings.

Official Acts

Ordained and Installed: Candidate Quintin F. Thompson as
pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Bessemer, Ala., Judica Sunday,
April 7, 1957.

Candidate Coleman Montgomery as pastor of St. James, St. An-
drew, Mt. Olive, and Our Redeemer churches of the Buena Vista,
Vredenburgh, Tinela, and Longmile circuit, Second Sunday after
Trinity, June 30, 1957.

Candidate Simon Bodley as pastor of Antioch Lutheran Church,
Ashville, Ala, and as missionary to Gadsden, Ala., Fifth Sunday
after Trinity, July 21, 1957.

Candidate Joseph W. Ellwanger as missionary at large in the
Alabama Field, Sixth Sunday after Trinity, July 13, 1958.

Installed: Rev. John M. Brown as pastor of Holy Cross Lu-
theran Church, Camden, Ala., 24th Sunday after Trinity, Novem-
ber 11, 1956.

Rev. Moses J. Clark as pastor of St. Paul, Christ, and Geth-
semane churches of the Oak Hill, Rosebud, and Hamburg circuit,
Laetare Sunday, March 31, 1957.

Dedications: Messiah Lutheran Church, Bashi, Ala., Sunday,
November 17, 1957. Rev. S. L. Gailes, pastor.

Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Mobile (Maysville), Ala., Rogate
Sunday, May 11, 1958. Rev. A. Dominick, pastor.

Transfers: Rev. Otto Kretzmann to Western District, April 30,
1957.

Anniversary: Christ Lutheran Church, Rosebud, Ala., April 8,
1956 — 40th anniversary.

Reports by Pastors

Mission expansion has been directed into the following areas:
Birmingham, Bessemer, Gadsden, Montgomery, and Tuskegee.

At Bessemer a site for a church and school has been purchased
at the intersection of 12th and 24th streets. This is a choice loca-
tion in a new housing project area, where most of the residents
are home owners. Plans have been made to start building the new
church and school as soon as our new field missionary is installed.
The loss of Rev. Quintin Thompson, pastor, gave us a severe set-
back. Rev. Walter Lamp, Hill Point, Wis., former vicar in this
field was called to be the pastor, but he was moved to decline.
Bessemer is a part of the fast growing metropolitan area of Birming-
ham, whose population totals 601,000. Iron ore in the surround-
ing “mountains” gives promise of a thriving industry in this area
for continued prosperity. With a start of 21 communicants as
a nucleus, Zion, Bessemer, should be a fast-growing congregation.