LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 19

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MISSIONS 19

have no Lutheran church. The Wyoming District has initiated
a radio ministry to the Spanish-speaking people in the Big Horn
Basin, broadcasting from two centers. Though Lutheran Chris-
tians at five places initiated preaching stations on their own in
1974, the Southern District laments that financial shortages
have made it impossible to begin a new ministry in 6 years.

The Northwest District is looking toward Alaska, which
is growing five times as fast as New York: the input of the Alaska
pipelines on growth, industry, and shifting population provide
a real challenge for the District. The southern fringe of Minne-
sota North also is growing by leaps and bounds. Prospects for
starting new congregations are very high, and growth should
be rapid.

A renewed interest in and enthusiasm for evangelism is
resulting in special outreach to a variety of people and situations.
The Districts, in partnership with the Board for Missions, are
serving in many areas, and without endeavoring to give any
priority, we list a few: apartment house ministry, night min-
istry, casino ministry, recreational and leisure ministry, worker-
priest ministry, ministry to declining urban congregations, insti-
tutional chaplaincies, Veterans Administration hospitals, mili-
tary bases, services to the mentally disturbed, to migrant work-
ers, to the aging, to drug addicts, to those in need of counseling
in various life experiences, to the unmarrieds, to parents without
partners, to early retirees, to town-house dwellers, to year-
round weekend travelers, to two-home families. Thus many
different approaches are being made in the whole area of
evangelism.

Deaf

Especially since the New Orleans convention the Districts
have assumed responsibility for service to the deaf. As of Jan.
1, 1975, all but one of the Districts in which this work is carried
on have cooperated in this. Already an expansion of deaf min-
istries to cities of 2,500 to 3,000 is noted. In certain areas a new
emphasis is being put on having the deaf reach their own fellow
handicapped to bring them the Gospel. The outreach to younger
people who are deaf is a special challenge.

In 1971 the International Lutheran Deaf Association (ILDA)
was constituted. Its primary emphasis is on the development
of lay leadership, deaf evangelism, and worldwide missions
among the deaf. The convention to be held in July 1975 will
concentrate on adoption of a revised constitution, the develop-
ment of seven regional branches in North America, and the
adoption of several mission projects. A competition in the
production of religious chancel drama for deaf worship will
highlight the gathering.

Blind

Three services are rendered to the blind. One is through
the Library for the Blind at Concordia Publishing House. 4,076
Braille books, 5,931 talking books, and 658 cassette tapes were
distributed in 1974. The second service is that of preparing
current materials such as Sunday school lessons, an abridged
Lutheran Witness, and other reading materials. The third ser-
vice centers in the preparation and distribution of several
periodicals for the visually handicapped. Besides brailled
materials, there is much printed in large type. Special credit
must be given the many women in the church who have dedi-
cated themselves to this work. The librarian, Mrs. Margaret
Hoffmann, plans to retire in 1975. In charge of the production
of current materials is Mrs. Mabel Warnke of Des Plaines, Ill.,
a volunteer worker.

Campus Ministries

The Synod continues to emphasize a strong Word and
sacrament ministry on the campus. This ministry is administered
through individual Districts, who set aside more than $2,000,000
for this effort in 1974. In recent years attention has increasingly
been given to the total campus, students, faculty, administra-
tion, and staff.

Studies are being made to help local congregations reach
into the community and commuter colleges arising in their
area. It is also noted that not only the young but people of all
ages are attending colleges.

The Board for Missions purchases some services from the
Lutheran Council in the U.S.A, particularly orientation con-
ferences for pastors newly entering campus work, annual
campus pastors’ conferences, and various printed materials
directed to the campus pastor and those he serves.

The board also participates in the Lutheran Campus Min-
istry Study Task Force set up by the Lutheran Council.

An up-dated positional and directional statement for campus
ministry is being developed.

The Districts are taking an ever larger part and initiative
in planning and carrying forward work in their own areas- The
North American mission staff has a role as counselor, facili-
tator, enabler, sensitizer, consultant to District executives
and boards. It rejoices whenever it sees a District taking posi-
tive action. It was good to note that one District, though it had
committed itself to open five new missions, also helped a self-
supporting congregation to hire a black deaconess. a subsidized
congregation to hire a Spanish-speaking deaconess: a school
to hire a black teacher: a Spanish-speaking congregation to
employ a Spanish-speaking layman, who is also a certified lay
minister in our Synod.

Though much is moving forward, it must also be stated
that the theological divisiveness in the Synod has distracted
from the ongoing mission work. Pastors and congregations too
often become inwardly directed because of these difficulties
and fail to keep conscious of and directed toward those “on the
outside.” People divided cannot plan and work together with
any degree of joy and success.

Staff

With many changes in its office, the board lost its administra-
tive staff of four, its North America staff of three, three of the
five members of its world staff, its medical mission staff of two.

Mission Staff Resignations and Changes

Dr. William H. Kohn, Executive Secretary since 1967, re-
signed April 10, 1974.

James W. Mayer, Secretary for South Asia since 1966,
appointment not renewed in January 1974. Withdrew from
service April 19, 1974. To Partners in Mission.

W. F. Bulle, M.D., Secretary for Medical Missions, on staff
since 1966, resigned April 19, 1974. Accepted position with
Lutheran Medical Mission Association, through which he con-
tinues to serve the Board for Missions on a purchase-of-service
basis.

Marion Kretzschmar, administrative assistant for designated
gifts, on staff since 1969, resigned April 19, 1974. To Partners
in Mission.

Walter H. Meyer, Secretary for North America (congre-
gation and community), on staff since 1968, resigned April 19,
1974. To Evangelical Lutherans in Mission.

William F. Reinking, Secretary for Africa and Middle East
since 1966, resigned, termination date May 15, 1974.

Paul H. Strege, Secretary for East Asia since 1966, resigned,
termination date May 15, 1974. To Partners in Mission.

Dorris Lamb, administrative assistant, medical missions,
on staff since 1970, resigned to continue work with W. F. Bulle,
M.D., under the auspices of the Lutheran Medical Mission
Association. Termination date July 15, 1974.

James C. Cross, A. Cc. S. W., Secretary for North America
(church and community), on staff since 1967, accepted a call
to serve as director of Lutheran Inter-Parish Ministries of
Omaha, Nebr. Termination date July 31, 1974.

Phyllis Kersten, administrative assistant for mission interpre-
tation, on staff since 1966, resigned to accept a position as com-
munications director of the Wheat Ridge Foundation. Termina-
tion date Aug. 15, 1974.

William T. Seeber, assistant to the executive secretary since
1970, accepted the position of director of corporation and founda-
tion relations at Valparaiso University. Termination date Sept.
30, 1974. ;

Reuben J. Schmidt, D. D., associate executive secretary for
North America — Special Ministries, on staff since 1966, resigned,
termination date Oct. 30, 1974.

A word of appreciation is certainly in place to these 12
individuals for the number of years during which they served
as a part of the national mission staff for our church.

The board commends the staff members who remained and
put forth very special efforts for the church.

Dr. Herman H. Koppelmann, a veteran mission executive,
served as acting Executive Secretary until Rev. Alvin L. Barry
assumed the position of Executive Secretary March 1, 1975.

Dr. Koppelmann, who began his ministry in 1932, has indi-