Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 294
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 294

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

294 PARISH SERVICES AND YOUTH

2. Post-Publication Survey on the Use of Mission: Life

In the 2d quarter 57% of Parishes were using Mission: Life,
and 75% of these were more than satisfied with the material,
6% were less than satisfied.

Of the nonusers about 45% had heard or read negative re-
views and were waiting for future developments. Others were
not using it because of cost (28%) or because the closely graded
materials did not fit into their multi-graded schools (20°).
Nearly 30% of those not using Mission:Life were not using
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod materials at all. Most of them
were using non-Lutheran materials.

The most frequent and possibly most significant comment
was added by respondents who said in effect, “We have had
some problems. It took me a while to get used to the new ap-
proach, but neither I nor my class would want to go back to the
old materials.”

To questions regarding class interest, learner involvement,
etc, there was a strong affirmative from 70 to 85%.

Mission: Life is new and different, requires new approaches
and a change in attitude but is effective in generating interest
and involving learners in the process. A number of Sunday
schools have reported improved attendance.

3. Interaction

subscribers. 80% of these read more than one half of the material
in the magazine. About 56% of the readers spend more than one
hour reading each issue. About 27% of the respondents, though
Lutheran, were not members of The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod. 12% were non-Lutherans. Unfortunately, nearly
two thirds of the parishes in the Synod fail to provide their
teachers with this tool.

4. A Study of Generations

This study is introduced earlier in the report. What did it say
to us? Several implications have come out of the data analysis.
(1) Although 60% of the Lutherans tend to live under the Gospel,
40% live under the Law. (2) Those living under the Gospel tend
to understand the Bible better than those under the Law. (3) In
a spin-off study on schools it was found that “more” Christian
schooling tends to show up significantly positive (also on the
Law-Gospel scale). This suggests a continued need for better
Christian education, including more Bible study. (4) The study
also strongly suggests a continued need for emphasis on the

humanity of Christ especially to keep a good balance in the

Cause two thirds of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
people included in the sample had attended Lutheran schools.
Their responses were compared with the others on the 78
scales developed in the study. Findings indicate a consistent
positive difference reaching statistical significance at the 6-year
mark and beyond. There is one exception. There can be a nega-
tive difference at less than 3 years if the attendance occurred
during the junior high school years. The data do not provide
a reason, but suggest the possible need for additiona] research.

5. Joint Projects
The Board of Parish Education together with its counter-
parts in the American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran
Church in America produced special materials for adult mem-
bership, confirmation, and early Communion.
These three boards have jointly supported the development
of materials by black Lutherans for black Lutheran churches.

C. Projects in Process

1. Continuing Field Evaluation

Hundreds of Pastors, teachers, leaders, educators, house-
wives, and others have been involved during the Past 3 years
writing and evaluating the Mission: Life manuscripts before they
are produced.

2. Pilot project on the use of an educational administrator
in multiparish settings:

a. Model 1 is being piloted at South Bend, Ind. A coordi-
nator is serving five parishes in the areas of education
and youth.

b. Model 2 is in Phoenix, Ariz. The coordinator is serving
as principal of a multiparish school (three parishes)
located on two Sites, and in addition is coordinating
the other educational and youth programs with three
additional parishes.

These projects were made possible through a grant from the
Aid Association for Lutherans, Appleton, Wis.

3. Objectives, content, and methods being used in the Mis-
sion:Life program are being identified for computerized evalu-
ation when the program is completed.

D. Prospective Research

1. A study to evaluate present youth materials and to deter-
mine needs and how they can be met.

2. Research on the Possible development of an adult maga-
zine.

3. A proposal to evaluate effective teacher training tech-
niques and programs.

E. Urgent Needs

Some urgent needs are: a study center, model urban centers.
an experimental center for resource development, pilot studies
in educational ministries, and others.

F. Hopes!

1. Immediate Tasks
a. Complete two more years of pilot study of educational
coordinator.
b. A follow-up on the Generation Spin-Off Study.
c. Complete the lesson evaluation of Mission: Life, a total
Processing of 500,000 bits of data.
d. Develop a comprehensive post-publication evaluation
of the use of Mission:Life.
e. Attempt a qualitative evaluation of the effect of the
Mission: Life program.
2. A Study Center
If the 125th Anniversary Thankoffering is successful we
would hope to develop a Christian Education Study Center
which would provide:
a. an actual congregational setting
b. experimental Program possibilities in
— methods
— materials
— organization
—administration
— outreach
—community relations
c. a seminar facility for advanced study, courses, and
institutes
d. the possibility of a graduate school in Christian educa-
tion
3. A comprehensive study of the nature of Christian educa-
tion. This would be at the parish level to ascertain the needs
of the parishes in the area of education.
4. Model Urban Education Centers
There is some reason to believe that Lutheran education
can make a real contribution to urban education. Model centers
ould provide hard data as well as experimental Possi-
bilities would make a contribution to both church and State.
5. There are still flickers of hope that we may receive further
research funds to collect data on the teaching/learning process
under the Gospel.

IX. THE BOARD OF PARISH EDUCATION AND ITS
STAFF ARE COMMITTED TO BEING A CHRISTIAN
EDUCATION COMMUNITY

criticism. They appreciate a word or letter of commendation.
All members are involved in education at the Parish level.