# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S152
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

152 SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES

administration of its educational projects would serve the cause
of the Church. The same Convention also created a Handbook
Reviewing Committee and directed the Board for Higher Education
to make its proposals for the Education section, including regula-
tions for the work of the Board, directly to the Handbook Review-
ing Committee.

During the course of its studies in this important area, the
Board had the benefit of consultation with the Standing Advisory
Committee, with the Committee on Colleges of the Board of
Directors, and conferences with the Handbook Reviewing Com-
mittee and the Handbook Revision Committee. The results of such
thorough consideration have been transmitted to the Handbook
Reviewing Committee. An adaptation of the proposals appears
as the Education section of the Proposed Handbook which awaits
synodical action at this Convention. Accordingly, these extensive
recommendations are not reprinted here as a part of your Board’s
Report.

II. The Senior College

With the help of special committees, many Church and secular
consultants, the deliberations of the Professors’ Conference, and
the Advisory Council, the Board has given prolonged and ex-
haustive study to the directive of Synod:

“The Board for Higher Education was requested to make
further studies regarding the advisability of changing over to
a four-year college course in preparation for entrance upon a three-
year course in theology in St. Louis and to submit a report with
recommendations to Synod in 1947.” (Saginaw Proceedings, p. 492).

The critical importance of such studies is emphasized by the
view that, under God, the future of our Church will depend upon
the spiritual and the intellectual level of its professional leadership.
During its consideration of the Senior College problem, therefore,
the Board attempted to keep clearly in mind the fundamental
criterion that any changes in the present program could have
value only to the extent that they might improve or expand the
Church’s ability to preach, teach, and apply the Gospel.

Many Plans Offered

The Board is aware of extensive popular sentiment for a Senior
College. Many plans have been offered for its consideration.

A. Basically, one major group of these plans results from the
expressed desire to adjust the Church’s program of ministerial
education in such a way that in its mechanics it will parallel or
duplicate current American Protestant practice in theological
training and secular patterns of professional education. Al] plans