To the Board of Trustees of the N.L.C.A.
In re: Rent of Chapel to Wartburg Congregation
On January 7, 1933, we received from Dr. T. F Gullixson, the following resolution:
"The Board of Education also approved the decision of the Board of Trustees
to request the Wartburg Congregation to pay $30.00 a month for the use of the
Chapel, this being looked upon as a charge for heat, light, etc."
(signed ): J.C.K.Preus
On January 8 the officers of Wartburg Congregation met. After considering the matter very carefully it was
RESOLVED: that a committee consisting of Dr. Bockman and Dr. Weswig be appointed to confer with the Board of Trustees of the N. L. C. A. about this matter. On January 9 I had a conference with Rev. H. O. Shurson. He explained that the Seminary Committee had no authority to act in this matter and suggested that it be presented in writing to the next meeting of the Board of Trustees. On January 11 the committee met with Dr. T.F. Gullixson, President of Luther Theological Seminary. He agreed that the matter should remain status quo until it had been taken up by the Board of Trustees for final settlement. We therefore beg to present the following statement of the case. We naturally understand that you have adopted this resolution because you are keenly anxious about the financial crisis in our Church. Nevertheless we do not consider it to be either right or beneficial to bring this matter before our congregation without careful consideration. To break a tradition of more than thirty (30) years and establish a new relation between our congregation and The Norwegian Lutheran Church of America is a serious matter. We believe that the new plan will not accomplish your aim. On the contrary we are convinced that it will impose serious difficulties in the way of realizing your aim. Therefore we beg leave to present the following facts for your consideration. HISTORICAL Wartburg Congregation was organized November 28, 1902. The occasion was the removal of the Seminary from Minneapolis to its present location in St. Anthony Park North, St. Paul, Minnesota. The professors felt that they were too far away from any congregation in Minneapolis. To begin with the congregation was really only that is termed a "house congregation" in the New Testament. St. Anthony Park was at that time only sparsely built up. No one knew what would be the religious preference of the people who would in the future make their homes here. The matter was laid before the next annual meeting of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church and the congregation was given free use of the Chapel. Since that time no other action has been taken by the Church convention in this matter, except to give one of the professors the right to be acting pastor. When the congregation was organized it was voted that one of the professors should act as pastor and the other professors, who were members of the congregation, should assist him in preaching. This arrangement has been maintained until the present time. The acting pastor receives no compensation whatever for his work. A few years ago it was voted to give him the Christmas offering as an appreciation for the work he was doing. Until two years ago the professors received no pay for preaching. At that time it was voted to pay $5.00 for each Sunday and Church Holiday. From the beginning it was clearly understood that the professor serving as acting pastor of the congregation should be under no obligation to do pastoral work. It is impossible for a professor at the Seminary to give time for that purpose. This has an important bearing on this new proposition from the Board of Trustees. The congregation has not been able to change this condition in calling pastors. The following professors have been pastors of Wartburg Congregation:
1. Dr. M. O. Bockman
2. Dr. J. N. Kildahl
3. Dr. C. M. Weswig
As St. Anthony Park grew in population it was soon discovered that it
would not be a Lutheran center. Nevertheless some Lutherans did move
out here. They joined the congregation. In the course of time a Ladies
Aid, a Sunday School, and a Luther League were organized.
It became apparent, however, that the congregation would never be large.
Thoro canvasses of the community on several occasions showed this trend.
The Home Mission Committee of the Southern Minnesota District at the
request of the congregation investigated the field on two occasions. It
was realized that it would cost $2,000 a year to keep a pastor out here.
The prospects were that the congregation never would become self-
supporting. Therefore the Home Mission Committee decided not to assist
the congregation in obtaining a full-time pastor.
During a few years the Southern Minnesota Home Mission Committee did
appropriate small sums for work at the School of Agriculture, University
of Minnesota. The pastor in charge administered these funds and used
students at the Seminary to do the work. During recent years the
complexion of the students at the School of Agriculture has changed.
There are no longer many from our rural churches. Therefore, at the
suggestion of the pastor, the Southern Minnesota Home Mission Committee
ceased this contribution several years ago.
The connection between Wartburg Congregation and the Seminary has never
been ideal, and never will be. Members of the congregation have felt
that they are intruding. There will always be minor difficulties when
two separate organizations use the same rooms. There are always some
who do not know how to behave in a Theological Seminary.
Members of the congregation have therefore often thot of the problem of
a church building. But the congregation is so small that even in the
best times they could raise only a small fraction of the amount required
for an adequate church building. The Church extension Fund could give
no aid. The President of the Southern Minnesota District has been fully
conversant with this situation. He has endorsed the project of the
congregation to build a Parish House. This was begun two years ago.
The funds are being raised by weekly gifts. Necessarily the growth of
the building fund has been slow but it now amounts to $2000.00.
During the whole history the congregation has been loyal to the general
Church body in regard to its financial affairs. It has never passed by
on the other side of the road when there was any appeal for money. In
fact until the last three years the congregation gave practically all
the money which it raised to the general work of the Church and various
charities. Under the budget system the congregation has frequently paid
200%. It has always met the full budget. From the appended
treasurer's report for 1932 it will be seen that the congregation used
only $959.47 for local work, while it gave $1,025.77 for the budget of
the N.L.C.A.
Until last year it was impossible to find out by what rule the
congregation was apportioned. The sum was so large in proportion to its
active membership. Last year, however, the information was given by the
apportionment committee of the Twin City Circuit that they thot we could
give the amount apportioned. This, of course, is not a valid or just
reason. But nevertheless the congregation has responded. We have not
failed even under such treatment. Last year (1932) we were apportioned
$742.50. We gave $1,025.77. When the Church had campaigns to pay debt,
we not only subscribed once, but twice. We regret we have to mention
such carnal things as money. We do not boast of what we have done. We
are simply compelled to state the facts of the case.
We always employ theological students as organist and superintendent of
religious education. We pay them rather liberally for their work. In
this way we believe that we are helping the church at large to obtain
well educated ministers.
The human resources of the congregation are about 30 families, (7
professors' families) 3 widows, and 1 widower. None of these people are
rich in this world's goods. Some have retired from active work and must
live very economically. Generally speaking they give regularly,
liberally and joyfully the Church's work. We also carry on our
membership list a number of foreign missionaries, who are absent from
our country most of the time.
AS TO THE PROPOSITION ITSELF.
I. The resolution of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Education
apparently ends a relationship which has lasted nearly 32 years. The
essence of this relationship has been:
1. The N.L.C. gave the use of the Chapel and Sunday School room
for the use of Wartburg Congregation as a missionary contribution.
2. The professors of Luther Theological Seminary belonging to
Wartburg Congregation give their time in preaching, etc., without any
compensation, as missionary work.
3. The result has been that the general Church body has been saved
approximately $2000 a year in Home Mission expenses.
4. Also a considerable sum has been given each year to the budget
of the N. L. C. A.
The new resolution of the Board of Trustees, therefore, is not merely a
change in financial relationship. It is a change in principle. If the
Church is to receive rent for the use of the Seminary Chapel, then the
professor in charge of the congregation must also receive a salary.
This follows from the agreement with the church. The Church gives free
use of the Chapel; the professor gives his time and energy. One part of
the agreement cannot be changed without changing the other part. As a
matter of fact a professor cannot continue as acting pastor. The Board
of Home Missions of the Southern Minnesota District will have to call a
pastor and subsidize the congregation with about $2,000.00.
II. Generally speaking even if a new arrangement be entered into the
rent asked is too high. The congregation uses the Chapel Sunday
morning. It has no evening services except during Lent. The Luther
League meets six months in the year only. During August there are no
services. Therefore we believe the rent asked is exorbitant.
III. The reason for the rent is further defined as being for "heat".
The Seminary Building is heated seven days in the week whether or not
Wartburg Congregation uses the chapel on Sunday.
IV. The rental is further described as being for "light". The Seminary
is so large that the charge per kilowatt is the minimum charge. On that
basis the amount of electricity used per month by Wartburg Congregation
and its auxiliary societies can hardly be more than $1.00.
V. The rental is further described as being for "etc." We do not know
exactly what is included in this abbreviation. It may cover a multitude
of charges. We believe, however, that it is intended to include janitor
service.
Now janitor service is something that the congregation has often
considered at its meetings. We realize that especially the meetings of
its auxiliary societies cause additional work for the janitor. However,
these societies have been so well trained during these years that they
do not make very much work for the janitor. The fact that we are guests
and not tenants has made it possible to impress upon the people that
they must sweep and clean the Sunday School room and kitchenette after
using it. The congregation has in times past voted to pay $100.00 to
the janitor for his work. He has consistently refused to accept this
remuneration. One year we hired a student to help him but that did not
seem to work. We believe, however, that the congregation is willing to
pay a reasonable amount for janitor service.
VI. The congregation has always paid one-half of the upkeep of the
Chapel and Sunday School room. As a matter of record, it was the
congregation that paid to have the Sunday School room fitted up for use.
One-half of the upkeep seems to be more reasonable in view of the fact
that Luther Theological Seminary uses the Chapel six days in the week.
VII. If Wartburg Congregation is to become a paying tenant of the
Chapel and Sunday School room, it is liable to make trouble in the
future. Tenants have certain rights which must be stipulated. The
congregation might ask a great deal more than the Church is willing to
allow. As a guest the congregation has not rights except those of
Christian hospitality.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion we would respectfully suggest that good-will is always an
important factor in obtaining money for the Church. Wartburg
Congregation as a group is not a well knit body. Lack of pastoral work
is the cause for this situation. It is not to be expected that all have
the same interest, knowledge and loyalty for the general work of the
Church. It is also certain that the amount raised in 1932 is the
maximum amount which the congregation can raise. It is probable that in
1933 the congregation will not be able to raise as much money as in
1932. The professors' salaries have been reduced and they will probably
not be able to give as much as they have been doing.
The financial plan of the congregation permits the people to give to
each of the activities of the Church directly. This makes it difficult
to subtract $360.00 from the offerings for house rent. No doubt it can
be done, by making proper announcements. Then the offerings would
automatically decrease substantially. The loss in good-will can not be
estimated. And may we repeat, good-will is one of the Church's
greatest assets.
Looking at it from any point of view it seems that the Church will
receive less if $360.00 is diverted for rent, than it will if the old
arrangement is maintained. Certainly if the Southern Minnesota Home
Mission Committee is to take care of the field out here the Church will
lose by about $2,000 under this new arrangement.
We therefore respectfully ask the Board of Trustees of the N.L.C.A.
either:
1. To rescind its action and let the old arrangement between the Church
and the Wartburg Congregation stand.
2. Or appoint a committee to confer with the undersigned committee
appointed by the officers of the Wartburg Congregation. There are
necessarily many things which would come out in a conference which
cannot be put in this statement.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________
M. O. Bockman
____________________
Carl M. Weswig.
COMMITTEE
St. Paul, Minnesota,
January 30, 1933.
WARTBURG CONGREGATION
Treasurer's Report
Receipts for 1932
Balance Jan, 1, 1932 for current expenses $158.78
Offerings for current expenses (envelopes) 618.75
Offerings for current expenses (loose) 286.64
Miscellaneous 31.77
Total $1095.94
Disbursements
Pastors in charge or services $265.00
Organist and Choir director 237.50
Superintendent or Religious instruction 212.50
Education and Home Missions Budget 110.69
Miscellaneous 234.47
Total $1060.16
The Norwegian Lutheran Church of America
Receipts for 1932
Balance Jan. 1, 1932 for charities $96.97
Balance Jan. 1, 1932 for home missions 27.31
Foreign Missions offering 141.38
Home Missions offering 136.11
Education offering 80.17
Special offering for Manchurian Refugees 12.25
Pensions offering 51.31
Charities offering 25.19
Total $570.69
Disbursements
Foreign Missions $141.38
Home Missions 194.47
Education 159.81
Charities 93.55
Pensions 51.31
Rescue of refugees in Manchuria 12.25
$652.77
Sunday School
Balance Jan, 1, 1932 $40.79
Receipts 1932 159.75
Disbursements 1932 166.03
Balance Jan, 1, 1933 28.61
Building Fund
Balance Jan. 1, 1932 $1251.15
Receipts 1932:
Envelopes $325.67
Ladies Aid 240.00
L. D. R. 25.00
Luther League 50.00
Boy's Club 5.00
Interest 33.84
Total $679.51 679.51
Total $1930.66
Balances Jan. 1, 1933
For Current expenses $33.78
For N.L.C.A. Budget 28.61
For Building Fund 1930.66
Julius Romness,
Treas.
Total Contributions to Budget of the N.L.C.A
Education $227.76
Home Missions 205.47
Foreign Missions 291.38
Charities 118.80
Pensions 63.31
Sundries 119.05
Total $1025.77