LCMS. Commission on Architecture

The Committee on Church Architecture was established at the Synod convention in 1923. The English District had created such a committee in 1922, and it had received such a good response that the Synod decided to expand the services to include all districts. The committee was composed of five members: an architectural engineer, an architect, a builder and two clergymen.

A precursor to the committee may have been the Committee on Church Matters in 1849. In 1854 it was divided into four subcommittees: Interior Church Architecture, Exterior Church Architecture, Church Furnishings and Church Music. After 1860 a single committee, the “Building Committee,” appeared but did not continue.

The function of the Committee on Architecture was to advise congregations that intended to build or remodel church buildings, especially those who would receive financial assistance from the Synod for the building. The committee also gave advice on organs, church furnishings and ecclesiastical art. This advice was given primarily through correspondence between the committee members and the congregations.

In 1941 the membership of the committee was increased to seven due to the great demand for architectural advice from congregations. Formal semiannual organizational meetings started in 1953. Before that time the members seemed to have communicated with one another through correspondence and informal meetings.

In 1965 the Synod enlarged the committee to eleven members to include at least seven architects, at least two pastors and at least one teacher. It also changed its name to the Commission on Architecture. The composition of the eleven members changed in 1979 to consist of nine architects, one pastor or teacher and one artist engaged in or teaching in an art profession.

By 1982 the Commission had become a standing committee under the Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri Synod (incorporated in 1978). The LCEF now handles all requests for architectural advice as part of its duties.

For more information concerning the Commission on Church Architecture please see the following sources:

• Proceedings of the Synodical Conventions (1923-1981)
• Synodical Handbook
(editions 1923-1981)