Árdís - 01.01.1954, Page 41

Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
39
spring. What we proposed to do was to hold a ten-day course in
Leadership Training.
The ministers assured us of their co-operation. At the Synodical
Convention the idea was received with understanding and some
interest, even if there was no enthusiasm. At the Young People’s
Convention the reception was not so encouraging. Mrs. Danielson
and myself had been chosen to bring the matter before that meet-
ing—two ministers present, Rev. E. H. Fafnis and Rev. S. Olafsson,
spoke in favor of the project and tried to arouse interest. The
young people dealt with this in a most disappointing manner,
showing no interest nor any understanding of the ideal involved
and even forgetting common courtesy in dealing with it. This and
various other factors contributed to the fact that we decided the
time was not ripe to begin this work, so nothing was done that
summer. We realized that if we failed in our first attempt, the
future of such work might be doomed.
In looking over the minutes and reports for the Convention
of the Lutheran Women’s League held during the summer of 1938,
I find the following—I quote from the president’s report: “During
the year the executive of the League has been considering a new
project which I now wish to bring to your attention, and will ask
the convention to deal with. That our organization would rent a
camp, for a short period during the summer for the purpose of
holding there a course in Leadership Training, where recreation,
relaxation as well as religious teaching could be combined. The
teachers and leaders at such a course would be the ministers of the
Synod and others. We would attempt to have the spiritual atmo-
sphere such that it would be inducive to high ideals and that it
might be an inspiration to our young people in carrying on their
leadership activities in their own churches.”—(Signed June 28th,
1938, at Arborg by Ingibjorg J. Olafsson.)
I also quote from the report given by the committee on Sunday
School work: “An idea has been brought forth at our meetings
about establishing a “training camp” which young people could
attend and be inspired to become leaders and teachers in our
Sunday Schools and Young People’s work in our churches. This
idea has to grow in the minds of those who are willing to sacrifice
for it.” This report is signed by Thjodbjorg Henrickson and Flora
Benson. In both cases I have translated these quotations from
Icelandic.