LCMS. Radio and Television Committee

LCMS radio work began with the founding of radio station KFUO in Saint Louis in 1924 with broadcast facilities in the Concordia Seminary building in south Saint Louis. In 1926 the synodical Board of Directors approved the erection of a station on the new seminary site in suburban Clayton. Support for the station and the move had come from the Lutheran Laymen’s League (LLL) and the Walther League. Supervision of the station was placed in the hands of the seminary Board of Control.

In 1929 it was reported to the synod that a special Radio Committee, consisting of three LLL members and four members of the seminary Board of Control were administering the station, serving virtually as its board of directors. In 1930 the Radio Committee gave impetus to the inauguration of the Lutheran Hour radio program by the LLL. Support for maintenance of KFUO was solicited from congregations of the Western, Southern Illinois and Central Illinois districts.

In 1935 the synod expanded the scope and function of the Radio Committee to develop a chain of stations to provide for nationwide religious broadcasting and to support and encourage the use of radio throughout the synod as part of the church’s mission outreach. Radio conferences were organized in connection with synodical conventions for pastors engaged in radio broadcasting. Later the committee sponsored a National Lutheran Radio Week to encourage Lutheran broadcasts “in every locality where a radio station is available” (Proceedings, 1938, 333). In 1950 the synod convention changed the name of the committee to “The Radio and Television Committee of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod” (Proceedings, 1950, 550). KFUO had expanded into FM broadcasting in addition to AM, and the radio committee had organized national radio and television conferences to promote the use of these media in sharing the Gospel. The synod resolved to create the position of “Director of Radio and Television” (ibid., 835). However, funds for the position were not available, and the 1953 convention encouraged the Fiscal Conference to provide funding as soon as feasible (Proceedings, 1953, 713–14).

In 1953 the synod resolved that the Radio and Television Committee be reorganized “so that all agencies now in the field of radio and television be adequately represented, also those agencies which are not sponsored directly by Synod” (Proceedings, 1953, 712). This new committee, appointed by the Praesidium and serving under the Board of Directors, would carry out “the work done hitherto by the present Synodical Radio and Television Committee, by Radio Station KFUO, by Lutheran Television Productions Committee and by the Department of Public Relations.” It was also to serve as a “Co-ordinating Council” for the work covered by these groups.

In 1956 it was reported that this “newly appointed Mass Communications Commission functioned in a semi-legislative capacity, resulting in unforeseen practical difficulties” (Proceedings, 1956, 706). As a result, the Mass Communications Commission was discontinued. Lutheran Television Productions, Inc., was to continue as a board appointed by and directly responsible to the Board of Directors; the KFUO Board was also to continue as a board appointed by the directly responsible to the Board of Directors. A Mass Communications Council was established with representation from Lutheran Television Productions, Inc.,; KFUO; the Department of Visual Education; Concordia Publishing House; and the Department of Public Relations. The LLL was to be represented in an advisory capacity. A member of the Board of Directors would chair the council.

After 1956 the Mass Communications Council does not appear in synodical convention reports. The synod’s radio work is covered by the KFUO Operating Board, and the Department of Public Relations is responsible for work with mass media. The records of the operating board from 1959 on are in a separate collection.