Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1958, Page 55

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Lutheran Synodical Conference, 1958 56

The Missionary Board has done everything in its power to cope
with this situation, but year after year vacancies had to be reported
on account of a dearth of Negro pastors. Therefore mission ex-
pansion could not be undertaken. (5) Segregation customs worked
hardships and almost insurmountable obstacles. Only God’s grace
and the power of the Gospel gave the victory.

Notwithstanding these mountains of difficulties and severe
testings, the Synodical Conference has continued to heed the Word
of God in going forward in the South: “Preach the Gospel to every
creature”; “teach all nations” without discrimination; “one bread

and one body . . . all partakers of that one bread”; “steadfast,
unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”; reaping
“in due season . . . if we faint not.” It is the conviction of every

true Christian that the Gospel in its full truth and purity be
preached also to the Negro throughout the South; therefore we go
forth praying that our labors be intensified.

At the time of this writing, overtures from the missionary
board of the American Lutheran Church have been received
expressing the desire of the congregations supported by that body
to join the Alabama Synodical Conference congregations in order
to have “fellowship needed to reach more effectively men and
women in Southern Negro communities.” This transfer would in-
volve one thousand souls, five hundred communicants. Proper
study, negotiations and procedure will be made by the Missionary
Board. Surely we see the hand of the Lord in this move. We pray
for His continued guidance and blessings, and we rejoice for the
confidence which these congregations have manifested in us.

The Regional Committee was organized by the Missionary
Board in order to give our work the benefit of local administration.
This committee is bi-racial, consisting of six members, four pastors
and two laymen: Rev. A. Dominick, Rev. P. R. Hunt, Mr. John
Carstarphen, Rev. Rupert Eggert, Mr. E. Toenes, and Rev. W. H.
Ellwanger. Through the year such important matters as the fol-
lowing were on the agenda: subsidy reduction and stewardship
program; recommendations to Missionary Board on calling field
missionary and pastors; mission and building planning for Faith,
Mobile, for Mt. Calvary, Maysville, for Bessemer, for Ashville, for
Montgomery, for Tuskegee, and for other places; care of Synodical
Conference property; appointment of Christian day school teachers;
disciplinary cases. Rev. Wm. H. Jones of Jacksonville, Fla., was
called to the office of field secretary but declined. The Missionary
Board is searching for the man to call to this position who knows
the nature of the Alabama field and who loves the work. This com-
mittee has been functioning effectively as a liaison between the
Missionary Board and the Alabama mission field.

We wish to express sincere gratitude to the congregations of
the Synodical Conference for their prayers and support given the
Alabama-Upper Florida field; to the Missionary Board for its deep
interest, prompt attention, and patience, and to Doctor Karl Kurth,
executive secretary, for able counseling, for inspiration, encourage-
ment, and planning to launch forth into more intensive mission
action we give thanks. To the Triune God alone be given all praise
and glory for the adding of souls and for growth and strength
in the field. May the Lord’s sustaining hand and blessings abide
upon all mission work of the Synodical Conference.