Collection › LCMS Convention Proceedings (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1926 · 33rd Convention, Holy Cross Church › Page 129
LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1926, Page 129

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

Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1926. 129

Directors. In order to save four metropolitan centers from disaster,
_ perhaps from death, four appropriations of $15,000 each were made.
These were the highest allowances made to an individual con-

“: gregation. °

* It seems that foresight dictates an ever-growing increase of our
building activities. In our rapidly growing cities, especially, too, in
our university cities, for instance, Ann Arbor, Palo Alto, Lincoln,
Missoula, Columbia, — all applicants for aid, —the lack of suitable
. chapels means lost opportunities. Should we not provide particularly
for such as later in life will hold influential positions in the social
and political world? If they .are indoctrinated early in life, they
will later become valuable servants in the Church.

Again, there seems to be a growing immigration to the far West;
at any rate, one of the far Western Districts has applied for loans
totaling $260,000 to build chapels in fields teeming with new settle-
ments. Thé same growth seems to be noticeable in the Western
Canadian provinces. In brief, the situation throughout the country
caused by a lack of*chapels is nothing short of critical. Though

136 petitions were satisfied in the past three years, by far the larger
number. had to be refused; or more drastically stated, upward of
50,000 people affiliated with our Synod are without a church home
of their own. The lack of chapels will be more poignantly felt as
large and ever larger classes of faithful workmen will be graduated
from our seminaries. The inability to supply suitable buildings
(churches and schools) will spell a curtailment of mission opportu-
nities, at times, perhaps, a total abandonment of promising fields.
Equally acute is the lack of parsonages in our mission-fields.

In view of the above,’ favorable action should be taken on the
’ overture (found elsewhere) prepared upon the resolution of the repre-
sentatives of the mission boards. The successful growth, furtherance,
‘and extension of our mission-work, this foremost work, which guar-
antees our Synod the right of existencé, requires this, yes, makes it
imperative. The regret of your Board is that not more than
$3,500,000 -is being applied for, ,

' In order to have treasuries commensurate with the needs, the
General Church Extension Board recommends the raising of a fund
of $5,000,000, to be evenly divided between the local boards and the
General Church Extension Board.

Furthermore, in order to arrange an educational campaign, sim-
ilar to the one so successfully completed for Synod’s building pro-
gram, the Board recommends that the resolution of the past con-
* vention (1923), namely, the calling of an executive secretary, be

' complied with at an early date. The Board recommends that the

4 salary of such an official be $3,000 annually, inclusive of rent.