LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 179

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION 179

Auditor: Mr. E. R. Streufert (1-year extension)
Director of Staff Services: Mr. Wm. Barge (4-year term)

In harmony with the Bylaws the board also approved
the candidates for the position of Director of Public Rela-
tions and, as members of the Foundation, for the position of
Executive Director of the Foundation.

4-05

Report of Department of Research
and Statistics

The Department of Research and Statistics herewith pre-
sents its convention report to the membership of the Synod.
In accordance with the provisions of the synodical Handbook
this is primarily a report on the activities of this department.
This report presents a brief survey of the research and sta-
tistical projects completed during the past biennium, proj-
ects currently in progress, and projects planned for the
future.

The Department of Research and Statistics continues to
serve the church by providing research services and infor-
mative studies to the various agencies of the church as well
as to the church at large. The underlying purpose of the
information and recommendations presented in these ser-
vices and studies is to enhance the validity and viability of
program development, long-range planning, and decision-
making in the church. In most cases these research services
and studies were prepared in partial fulfillment of the ob-
jectives of the department as specified in the synodical
Handbook. Many additional studies were conducted at the
request of the convention of the Synod and of various
boards, commissions, and committees of the Synod.

Research and Statistical Studies Completed

The research and statistical studies completed by the
department during the past biennium include several that
are the continued responsibility of the department and a
number of additional projects that were made in response
to synodical resolutions and to specific requests received
from individual boards, commissions. and committees of the
Synod.

Among the major projects completed by the department
within the past biennium are the following:

1. Census of the Sensory Impaired — This study entailed
a complete survey among all Lutheran congregations in
North America to collect basic information on deaf Lu-
therans scattered throughout the U.S. and Canada. The
final reports resulting from this survey provide a summary
tabulation of deaf persons, deaf teachers. and various ser-
vices available for the deaf in every county and every
metropolitan area in the U.S. and in Canada.

2. Parish and District Profiles— This project includes
a series of analyses utilizing the 1970 U.S. Census data to
provide statistical profiles of areas served by individual
parishes and by the synodical Districts. These computerized
profiles provide many statistical data items covering various
social, economic, and demographic characteristics of the
population in parish areas, communities, counties, states. and
Districts.

3. Site Acquisition Study of the Dallas and Fort Worth
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas — This study was
prepared for the Synod’s Church Extension department and
entailed an exhaustive analysis of the Dallas and Fort Worth
metropolitan areas. The purpose of the study was to identify
locations for the possible acquisition of sites for the future
development of churches. In addition to this specific objec-
tive on which a number of recommendations were reported
in the study, the data included in the study were also made
available to the Texas District for their use in mission
strategy and planning in these metropolitan areas.

4. Study on Stewardship in the LCMS — This study was
a major work on stewardship patterns in the Synod and was
prepared for Synod's Stewardship Board. This research was
based upon data compiled through a national survey. and
included a large number of data items for each person in-
cluded in the sample. The basic thrust of the study was to
determine what factors might relate to various stewardship

concerns including individual contributions, individual stew-
ardship of time, congregational allocations to the District
and Synod, etc.

5. 1971 Lutheran Church Directory for the U.S.—This
special project involved the preparation of a complete Direc-
tory of all Lutheran churches located in the United States.
The Directory includes information on the location, ZIP
code, denominational affiliation, etc., of every Lutheran
church in the U.S.

6. The 1971 and 1972 Statistical Yearbook
7. The 1972 and 1973 Lutheran Annual

In addition to these major projects and studies the de-
partment also provided synodical agencies with a number of
less extensive research reports and statistical studies. These
included the following:

1. The compilation of data and preparation of tables and
charts for the report of the President of Synod to the 1972
District conventions.

2. A series of past trends and future projections in syn-
odical membership and contribution growth patterns.

3. The gathering and tabulation of elementary school
statistics for Synod's Board of Parish Education for the
1971—1972 and 1972—1973 academic years.

4, An analysis of the trend in contributions and the flow
of contributions from individuals to the congregation, con-
gregation to the District. and District to the Synod.

5. An analysis of membership growth trends in the major
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the U.S. with
a comparative breakdown of statistics from 1961 to 1971 for
all metropolitan areas with 10,000 or more Missouri Synod
Lutherans.

6. An analysis of past trends and a projection of the
“supply and demand” of pastors and teachers for the preach-
ing and teaching ministry in the LCMS.

Finally, the department also completed a number of
smaller reports and studies during the past biennium that
included such items as an analysis of membership distribu-
tion in the U.S.; updating of records on pastors and male
teachers in the Synod according to their status and District
membership: an analysis of delegate representation at syn-
odical conventions: and a number of other special reports
prepared in response to specific requests received from
various synodical units and committees.

Feasibility of a New District in the Southwest

One of the larger and more significant projects under-
taken during the past biennium was a feasibility study of
a new District which had been proposed for the Southwest.
This study was made in response to Denver Resolution 5-27
and Milwaukee Resolution 4-07, both of which requested
a study by the Department of Research and Statistics on the
feasibility of forming a new District in the Southwest.

This study has been completed and a complete report
has been transmitted to the convention floor committee to
which this matter has been assigned at the Synod’s con-
vention in New Orleans. In view of the length of that par-
ticular report no effort will be made to present the study
here. However, since Milwaukee Resolution 4-08 requested
that a report be made to the Synod, it is appropriate that
we here indicate that the report has been completed and
that the findings contained in this report suggest that this
proposed district is not feasible. While several of the factors
calling for a new district in the Southwest are of consider-
able merit, it is our judgment that the formation of this
district is not feasible at the present time. The findings
which lead to this conclusion are identified in the report;
but. essentially our opinion is that the limitation of human
and financial resources in this proposed district would pre-
vent it from providing adequate services to the constituency
of this proposed district.

Research and Statistical Projects Currently in Progress

Two major projects which have been started, but have
been temporarily discontinued, are the proposed realign-
ment of the Montana- Wyoming Districts (Denver Resolution
5-28) and a program of research in Christian education
(Denver Resolution 7-04).