# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S449
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Report of Board for Higher Education . -  < $49

ten-year-old sons far from home, and recruitment of °
t& for the ministry - ‘promised to become more effective. -
of a ¢entury or more: ago these were good reasons for.
ing a.large number of schools. Today they have’-all but
‘except in the periphéral areas of the United States.. As-
i this age of streamliners, Greyhounds, and family Buicks, ‘
jatatory institutions in the Middle West are not necessary -
of: ‘transportation difficulties.

‘Kingdom. " Without much promotional effort we have over
theological students enrolled in the schools at present. If
would arise, this number could be doubled, under God’s
, by general appeals to the love and loyalty of our Lutherans.

t has often been’ said that the schools are radiating centers of —
uence in the church life of the District. There is indeed a good
of truth in these statements; however, they will require further
1) The faculties as individuals contribute to the church life of
the District by. preaching, by papers at District meetings, and
by serving in the capacity of District officials. They exert
an influence as individual personalities. .Whether these men
are at the schools or in the pastorate, they could not fail to
exert such influence by their abilities and their personal in-
terest in church work.
The schools create interest in Synod’s work in an intangible —
way. It will become apparent on closer scrutiny that the
interest which the school staffs create is not so much “Synod-
. mindedness” as “institution-mindedness.” ;
3) The physical property is often a rallying point for activities
of the District. Walther League conventions, talent quests,
District meetings, perhaps even monthly conferences, Refor-
mation memorial services, annual college days, are typical of
the gatherings held on school campuses. ,

“As centers of District activity, the colleges. undoubtedly perform a
stinct service, but their contribution in this area should not be .
ver-estimated. '

If neither services to the District nor recruitment needs nor hard-
ship of traveling an additional 100-200 miles are critical factors, it:
appears reasonable to approach the solution of the problem primarily,
in’ terms of the required output versus the number of schools in
pperation. . .

' Eight junior colleges are now maintained to supply an annual
intering class at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., sufficient to
provide 115-125 candidates. Does this not indicate that Synod has
nm unnecessary duplication of facilities to accomplish its purposes?