# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S545 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) ‘ a 544 Report of Board for Higher Education XII. RELIGIOUS LIFE OF STUDENTS _ Avital personal religious life is critically important for a studen ‘ the ministry. Coming to our schools with varying backgrounds ‘ant experiences, the religious life of our boys and young men must developed and maintained. That is the grave responsibility of ‘th faculty. Not all schools are discharging this duty with equal e tiveness, although all of them provide similar opportunities for. ‘pros moting the personal religious development of their students. Daily chapel exercises are Perhaps the most important means promoting the religious life of the student. At four of our institutions the president conducts the morning chapel exercises. The cen Point of the devotional program is a well-prepared, five-minu address by the president, especially designed to meet the d spiritual needs of the youths assigned to his care. The chapel is heart of a Christian college, vitalizing and sustaining the spiritua life of the students. The more the chapel exercises approach E dignity and order of a church service, the greater will be the benefi derived. A perfunctory, routinized devotional program must avoided. .While stressing communal worship, the encouragement private devotions must not be overlooked. _ A second opportunity for religious growth is a regular attendanc at church by all students and their active participation in its auxili activities. All of our schools report favorably on the observance ‘o: this Christian duty, and on general Participation of their students i Practical church service, such as Bible class and Sunday sch instruction and affiliation with youth organizations sponsored ° by the Church. © Me The .course in Bible and religion offer a third direct. means of% enlarging a student’s religious experiences and deepening his fai The major portion of these courses is usually given by the colleg Presidents, who are fully aware of. the opportunities they offer Courses in Bible and religion at our schools are more than meri academic disciplines with objective outcomes. ‘Their content. mis’ ‘function as an inspiring personal message to each participant, pene- - trating into and broadening his spiritual life. Hardly less important than the above Promotional measures t safeguard and quicken the faith of the students is the bond of friendly Christian co-dperation. and intercourse between student and teach that finds its best expression in private counseling, trustfully sought - and kindly given. Pre-eminently, on account of his responsible p tion, the president. is the “Seelsorger” of his flock and in this capacity-ai@ can most effectively meet the religious problems and perplexities. thategg eventually confront every student. Much more can be done at ‘so of our schools to: bring about this happy relationship between ‘the students and the faculty. :