# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S459
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

; aduates traveled the much greater distance: to Midwestern
tions’ rather than.to Oakland. In addition, five undergraduates |
rred, for one reason or another, to these central echools.

the poor but capable bona fide pretheological student to travel
kland. Grants in aid by the District, by Synod, by’ churches,
, Aids, Walther Leagues, private individuals, and scholarship’
‘Oakland are worthy of consideration. Finally, there remairis
ossibility—though not to be promoted throughout Synod—of
fAding'a local high school for all or part of the high school work. |

Conclusion ;

nod is now faced with an alternative of either maintaining this
istitution or abandoning it. Considerations which might be urged
1 favor ‘of maintaining the institution are the following:

(a) A sympathetic consideration of the personnel of the institution.
The staff has worked patiently, untiringly, and faithfully for
many decades under rather adverse conditions, and one would
desire to have them experience the joy of culminating their
efforts in a new plant.

(b) In view of the uncertainty of future developments, Synod may
‘ consider it advisable to maintain an institution so that it would
be. prepared to take advantage of any possible growth in the
area. ;

(c) Church life in the District might receive some stimulus’ from .
the presence of one of Synod’s institutions. It should be
clearly understood that this procedure, however, involves Synod

‘in the immediate future in a building program of approxi-
mately $100,000 and that it would continue to add to Synod’s
educational costs an annual sum of $15,000 to $20,000 for the
school’s maintenance. ,

_ In favor of closing the institution the following considerations may

be advanced: .

(a) 'In view of Synod’s demands for theological candidates, the
institution is not needed. The full supply may be. secured .

; from other existing institutions.

(b) Portland is a handicapped school, educationally no less than
in terms of equipment. Consequently it does not meet
Synod’s needs in the training of future Lutheran pastors. ,

(c) It is uneconomical, since the cost of educating a- theological
student through four years of high school approximates $5,000
per graduate. | ;

(d) New plant and equipment would need to, be supplied if the
institution were to. be continued. These costs together with
annual maintenance would impose a heavy financial burden
on Synod, and vital improvements in other phases of Synod’s
educational work would be seriously impeded.