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Northwest District (LCMS) Commission on Organizations Records

 Collection
Identifier: NWD-11

Scope and Contents

The records of the Commission contain Minutes from 1966 to 1972, essays, questionnaires, and policy statements.

Dates

  • 1957 - 1974
  • Majority of material found within 1961 - 1964

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is available for research by appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

The Northwest District Archives is the owner of the materials in the Commission on Organizations Collection and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Northwest District Archives before any reproduction use. Copyright resides with the creator of the documents or their heirs. The status of copyright is governed by the Copyright Law of the U. S. (Title 17, U.S.C.). In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Historical Note

The 1958 Convention of the Northwest District authorized the Board of Directors to appoint a District Commission on Fraternal Organizations. This Commission was given the responsibility to educate and assist pastors and congregations as they dealt with "secret organizations." By the 1985 Convention the name of the Commission was listed as The Commission on Organizations, so between the previous report in 1974 and the report in 1985 the name had changed, probably because the scope of the Commission's work had broadened to include cults.

The Commission usually (but not always) gave to the Convention reports on its activities.

The minutes of the September 8, 1966, meeting had this notation:

Chairman Untershultz reported that the files of the commission, now in the office of Pastor Rimbach in Yakima, Washington, will be brought to Portland as soon as possible. Inquiry is also to be made as to the existence and whereabouts of a Secretary's book of minutes.



These files, however, have not been located. Nor have any records been located after 1974.

The workload of the Commission apparently eventually declined so that the 1994 Convention received a report that the Commission had not met since the last Convention (1991), although the members were still available for consultation. The Commission made no further reports to later Conventions.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (in 1 folder)

Abstract

The records of the Northwest District Commission on Organizations contain minutes, essays, questionnaires, and policy statements.

Arrangement

The records are arranged in chronological order.

Title
Guide to the Northwest District (LCMS) Commission on Organizations Records An inventory at the Northwest District Archives
Status
Completed
Author
Nolan R. Bremer
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding Aid is written in English.
Sponsor
Encoding of finding aid supported by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission

Repository Details

Part of the Northwest District (Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod) Archives Repository

Contact:
Northwest District Archives
Concordia University
2811 NE Holman St.
Portland Oregon 97211-6099 USA