# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S477
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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Report of Board for Higher Education 477
that because of human frailty and the wiles of the devil
ould: creep. into Theological Faculty A, it must likewise be
‘ed that because of the same elements mutual suspicion, jealousy,
: controversy might be injected into Synod if Faculty B were
tained. for the express purpose of watching over Faculty A. In
ell-meant effort at guarding against one danger we would be
g ourselves to another.

cordingly your Board respectfully submits the conclusion which
years clear and convincing: It is unnecessary, it is unfeasible, it
undesirable to maintain. two theological faculties for the express
ose of exercising reciprocal vigilance. Existing means for the
servation of doctrinal purity, are entirely adequate and amply
ctive. The conscious addition’ of another device would contribute
further protection, would involve extremely unfortunate implica-
lons, and might create problems more serious than the ones it would
£ expected to solve. Fundamentally, there is only one positive ap-
‘oach to the preservation of uncompromisingly sound Lutheranism
seminary faculty. That positive approach is taken when, under
le‘ guidance of God, electoral boards exercise prayerful care in the
lection ‘and calling of seminary professors.

Conclusions :

he conclusions pertaining to Springfield, then, are the following:
. Springfield is not needed now, nor is there sound.reason to
think that it will be needed in the proximate future to prevent
a shortage of candidates.

Facilities already exist at several preparatory colleges for train-
ing most of the students of the group who now enter Springfield,
and if necessary, these facilities could readily be extended. ‘

‘3. Forces in American life have impelled. Springfield in a direction
' which is contrary to the best interests of Synod. The continued
-, operation of these forces in the future, probably with even

greater intensity, would result in a full liberal arts college.
Either a two-divisional school—liberal arts college and theolog-

: ical seminary—would come to exist at Springfield, or'a major

_ operation of ‘amputating one of the divisions would become

necessary. Both developments should be resisted.

-.. The internal pattern of the school resulting from the operation of
,, these forces will be an approximation of either the St. Louis cur-
‘riculum, if exegetical languages are stressed, or of the modern sec-
tarian type of theological trainnig if they are not stressed: Neither
Outcome is desirable.

.’ The encouragement provided by Springfield’s existence to by-pass’

. the four-year high school training in our own ministerial Preparatory

. schools is' detrimental to Synod’s future welfare,

‘4. Annual operating and maintenance costs of $25,000-$30,000
or more represent a substantial sum which. could _be used more

7 effectively to strengthen other schools,

2.