# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S469
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

‘Report of Board for Higher Education 469

Table 16 ©

. REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION OF MINIS-
TERIAL TRAINING ABOVE THE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL LEVEL

‘PREP.— DIFFER-

‘ SPRINGFIELD ST.LOUIS. ENCE
. Course Total* Total*
2 Yr. Acad. 3 Yr. Sem. 5 Yrs. 9 Yrs. . 4 Yrs,
2 Yr. Acad. 3 Yr. Sem. 5/Yrs. .- 9 Yrs. 4 Yrs.
3 Yr. Acad. 3 Yr. Sem. 6 Yrs, 9 Yrs, 3 Yrs.
2 Yr. Acad. {1 Yr. Col. 6 Yrs. plus 10 Yrs. 2.Yrs.
3.Yr. Sem. 2 Publ. H.S. .
0 Yr. Acad. {2 Yr. Col. 5 Yrs, plus . 10 Yrs. 1 Yr.
. 8 Yr. Sem. 4 Publ. HS, -

Yr. Acad. 10 Yrs.

\
6 Yrs. plus
4 Publ. H.S.

rly; the difference which formerly existed between Springfield
t. Louis in the length of time required beyond grade school for
paration for the ministry has been reduced from four’ years
me.year and would be completely eliminated if Springfield’s 1941
est’ for an additional year were granted. While it is true that
ents who enter the preparatory college-St. Louis system at the
id’ of high school graduation and who lack credits in classical lan-
ges will require an additional year, it is likewise true that the
ajority of students who'enter Springfield at the present time are
on y high school graduates, frequently of the preceding June. The
important comparison is between the normal preparatory college-St.
ouis and the normal Springfield student as indicated in the fore-
ing table.

However expedient and productive these adjustments may have
en, they must be viewed in relationship to Synod’s basic training
stem at St. Louis. We must not forget that Springfield’s service
gewas to be complementary to the preparatory college-St. Louis train-

ing. Synod apparently did not realize that by permitting these gradual
changes i in the Springfield curriculum it. was creating a second institu-
ion paralleling the standards of the St. Louis theoretical seminary. .
nod has never gone on record as intending to maintain two semi-
pNaries of similar standard.

It is apparent that during the past decade or. two the gap between
pringfield-St. Louis has been progressively narrowed. Minimum
age entrance requirements have shifted from “over-age” to “normal
ge.” Academic training. underlying: purely theological training as
*xpressed in years of high school and college work are about identical.
numerous instances they are, in fact, greater at Springfield than
t St. Louis. The critical difference between Springfield and St.
ouis in the total time required after grade school graduation for
ining pastors has been reduced from four years to one year. Ac-
ording to Springfield’s plan, no difference’ whatever would exist.