LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 332

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10. CHURCH LITERATURE AND COMMUNICATIONS

10-01

Report of Commission on Church Literature

In an effort to fulfill more meaningfully the Commis-
sion’s function of identifying and utilizing every possible
means of communicating the Gospel to the people of God,
the Commission concerned itself with restructuring. The
result of the restructuring is an increased flexibility which
allows the Commission to function more effectively in its
role of advisor to Concordia Publishing House.

The restructuring provides for the ad hoc involvement of
many resource people in input sessions as a replacement for
some standing committees.

The Commission has divided its work into the following
divisions:

Children — Mrs. Barbara Steege

Devotional — Dr. Carl F. Weidmann

Exegetical — Dr. Walter R. Roehrs

Historical — Dr. Wilbert H. Rosin

Homiletical — Dr. Gerhard Aho

Practical Laymen — Rev. Victor Marxhausen

Practical Professional paraprofessional — Dr.

Krieger

Research — Prof. J. H. Gienapp

Systematics — Dr. Robert Preus

Tracts — Rev. Theodore Allwardt Sr.

Youth-Young Adult — Dr. Kenneth Frerking

Two areas listed in the Handbook. Christian Arts and
Audiovisual Materials. are not assigned to a specific sub-
division but are a responsibility of each of the subdivisions
since all areas are intrinsically involved with arts and audio-
visuals.

Members of the

W. Harry

divisional committees in addition to those
listed above are aS follows: Children — Miss Elizabeth Muel-
ler: Devotional — Dr. Norman Temme: Exegetical — Prof.
Kenneth Ballas, Rev. Paul G. Barth. Dr. Walter A. Jennrich.
Dr. H. Armin Moellering. Mr. William J. Kirchhoff; Histori-
cal—-Dr. August Suelfiow: Homiletical — Rev. William J.
Hughes. Rev. Richard G. Kapfer. Dr. Erwin Kolb: Practical
Layman — Mr. John Bernghagen. Mrs. Donald Newmann,
Rev. Norman Heidorn: Practical Professional Paraprofes-
sional — Rev. Eugene Krentz. Dr. Kenneth Heinitz: Re-
search — Dr. Lorman Petersen, Dr. John Klotz: Systematics
— Dr. Eugene Klug, Dr. David Scaer, Rev. Harry Huth, Rev.
Richard Warneck. Dr. Ralph Bohlmann, Tracts — Rev. Fred
H. Weber, Rev. Art Kaul (Advisory): Youth-Young Adult
_.Mr. Roger Kahle.

Dr. Ralph Reinke, president of Concordia Publishing
House. serves as an advisory member. The Reverend Jaro-
slav Vajda, Book Developer: Carol Greene. Children’s Ma-
terial Developer: and Florence Flachsbart. secretary to the
President lend their expertise to the work of the Com-
mission.

In the 2-year period from Jan. 1, 1971 to December 31,
1972. 171 manuscripts were considered by the Commission
for possible publication. Of these. 37 were published.

The comprehensive list of publications appears in the
report of Concordia Publishing House. Among these are
continuing projects such as Concordia Pulpit. now in its
43rd year, and the Arch Book Series which includes 54
titles with a total printing of 13,000.c00. Arch Books took on
a new dimension when records were added to the series.
thus providing Arch Books Aloud. The familiar Portals of
Prayer also took on a new dimension with cassettes.

New series were also initiated. Some already on the
market are the Contemporary Theology Series and the
Crossroads Series. Through a survey conducted by the
Practical Laymen Subcommittee problem areas dealing with
relevant questions were isolated. From this survey a series
was projected which would try to provide answers to these
vexing questions. Another projected series which was ini-
tiated by the Youth-Young Adult division is one dealing
with modern communication including such areas aS propa~
ganda. film, radio. television, and newspapers.

The Tract Mission continues to make its impact on the
world. Over 232 million pieces of literature were distrib-

329

uted around the world from Jan. 1, 1971 to Dec. 31, 1972.
Tracts have been published in 35 languages covering many
phases of Christian life.

In viewing the work of the past biennium the Commission
is overwhelmed. overawed, and eternally thankful that God
has seen fit to allow us to function in a day and age when
extensive media — print, phonotape. phonodiscs. filmstrips,
slides, motion pictures — are readily available to extend the
voice of the church in proclaiming the Good News. We ask

His continued blessing. W. Harry Krieger, Chairman

Barbara Steege, Secretary

10-02

Report of Concordia Publishing House

If one were to choose one word to characterize the opera-
tions of Concordia during the past biennium. that word
would be “change” and an acceleration in the pace of change.

Within weeks following the 1971 Milwaukee convention,
Ralph L. Reinke. 44-year-old educator-businessman, suc-
ceeded to the top post at Concordia, the first top manage-
ment change in 30 years. At approximately the same time,
the leadership and makeup of the Concordia Board of Di-
rectors changed when a new Board Chairman, Dr. Carl
Dauten, took over upon the death of Alfred Leimbach, who
had served in that strategic capacity for 15 years.

Basic Responsibilities

Every new administration brings with it its own manage-
ment style. That's to be expected. The changes that have
taken place and are taking place at Concordia are the result
of both internal and external forces and relate to the Pub-
lishing House's: philosophy of management, organizational
structure. planning. physical and manpower resources. sys-
tems and procedures, employee policies. welfare program,
stewardship of resources, new realities of the marketplace.

Or, to put it another way — all the changes in one way
or another, relate to our basic responsibilities as an enlight-
ened, progressive publisher — to the quality of our service ‘
relationship both to the people of Concordia and to the peo-
ple of God everywhere.

A “Statement of Purpose”

Against the backdrop of the contemporary setting, Con-

cordia reexamined its reason for being and asked what kind
of business it was in. The result? — a renewed awareness
that Concordia is not only a “publisher” printing books,
hymnbooks, and catechisms — but is in the broader business
of “religious communication” and that ultimately touches
every form of knowledge.

As a result of this close look at who we are and why we
have come into existence. a “Statement of Purpose” was
hammered out. then shared. with Concordia’s expanded new
Management Team (numbers 76) at one of its regular
monthly “briefing” meetings.

Today the “Statement” is used as a guide and touchstone
for planning and decision-making at all levels of the or-
ganization. It reads:

Our calling as the publishing arm of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod, is to proclaim by the power of the Spirit ‘‘an-
other life’ by providing effective vehicles for communicating
the Christian faith and making the vehicles ever better and
more abundant.

Our calling means that those who use our communication
vehicles find them to be morc accessible, dependable, versatile,
economical, relevant.

To be faithful to our calling we must continue to refine old
and develop new resources 10 meet the needs of God's people
and use enlightened business practices in maintaining. modern-
izing and fully utilizing the assets entrusted to our care.

To fulfill our calling the men and women of Concordia must
be selected on the basis of God-given talents, well qualified,
deeply dedicated.

The hallmarks of our personnel practices are fair compensa-
tion and just benefits. equal opportunity to reach the fulfillment
of potential. appropriate training and supervision, vital chal-
lenges in our work.

This is how. in broad outline. we see our calling. Our task
requires integrity, dedication and a feeling for product quality