Collection › LCMS Convention Proceedings (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1935 · 36th Convention, Cleveland › Page 120
LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1935, Page 120

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

120 Proceedings of Thirty-Sixth Regular Convention,

the progress made in the repayment of the Church Extension loan:
and then compare the progress made in supporting the work in thei1
own midst and in supporting the work of the:Church at large, we fee
constrained to believe that under existing rules and regulations of
the General Church Extension Fund, we inadvertently in a high
degree are training our Christians in the wrong direction. We all
agree, I am sure, that we ought to strive first to train the flock so that
it will realize its obligation of supporting the ministry in its midst
and will also fulfil it. We ask, How is this possible if the mission-
station is indebted to the General Church Extension Fund? The
present rules and regulations, which demand an annual 10-per-cent.
repayment and an administration fee of 1 per cent. make it well-
nigh impossible for the struggling mission to do much over and above
meeting its Church Extension obligation. Under existing rules little
or nothing can be done for many years toward the support of the
pastor and little or nothing toward the support of missions elsewhere
and the general work of the Church. Debt and paying off the debt
is ever the main issue.

38. We believe that our regulations concerning repayment of
loans ought to be modified, so that the struggling mission-congrega-
tions can joyfully do their proportionate share toward the up-keep of
the ministry in their own midst and their proportionate share toward
Synod’s work as well as their share toward the liquidation of ‘their
indebtedness. The Board might be given a certain leeway to grant
such terms toward the repayment of the loans as to make the above-
mentioned possible.

389. Because of stringent laws restricting immigration the out-
look for the future of the Foreign-tongue Missions is not by any
means encouraging. :

40. For obvious reasons we suggest that Synod encourage our
foreign-tongue Christians to assimilate with our near-by congrega-
tions as soon as feasible. It is, however, understood that ample pro-
visions are to be made to serve such foreign-tongue brethren as are
unable to understand the language of our country.

F. 0. Srreurert, Secretary of Missions.

A Synod-Wide Home Mission Policy.
(Memorial 303.)

It is desirable that our Synod should have a Synod-wide Home
Mission policy, a unified program for conducting the entire work in
the United States and Canada, so that the entire area of Synod shall
receive the attention which God demands that we give it with the
talents He has placed at our disposal. Twenty-eight Districts are
functioning more or less independently and have expended about five
million dollars in the last six years without coordination of effort.