# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S195
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES 193

The construction of even a partial plant on the campus in River
Forest would be more costly than the provision for similar arrange-
ments on some other existing campus where available facilities
might be expanded, or otherwise modified, and re-established as
a Senior College. It should also be borne in mind that any signifi-
cant future expansion of either school would be prohibited by the
present size of the River Forest campus and by the fabulous cost
of land in the area. Even the limited joint use of certain facilities
would not leave either school entirely free in the control of its
program. There is also a possibility that undesirable rivalries
between the students and the staffs might be generated by the
physical proximity of the institutions and by whatever amount of
joint administration might be found to be efficient and other-
wise desirable.

Two additional features of the plan may well be sources of
concern. The instruction of ministerial students by men not called
or appointed by Synod represents a departure from a policy which
has traditionally been considered highly desirable, if not essential.
Yet the circumstances demand that the University finally appoint
its staff members even though the devices mentioned in the
detailed description of the plan might be fully applied. It is
further to be noted that the division of responsibility between
instruction and guidance, while not without precedent, may render
it difficult to effect a proper co-ordination and a desirable unity
of purpose.

Synod is, of course, not in a position to conclude unilateral
action on such a plan. Even though the proposal does not appear
to make it necessary for Synod to seek any direct representation
on the Board of Directors of Valparaiso University, it may be
that the Lutheran University Association would find such a juncture
of its present area of activity with synodical ministerial education
unattractive in so far as it may appear inconsonant with the specific
objectives which the Association now serves.

But the plan also involves many desirable and attractive
features. A well-located campus in a suitable educational en-
vironment would be made available. At the same time the advan-
tages of a great metropolitan and Lutheran center would be
conveniently at hand without, however, involving most of the less
desirable concomitants of great concentrations of population. The
possible tonic effect upon the general spiritual level of this great
Lutheran constituency as well as upon the campus and the Lutheran
University at Valparaiso might well prove a blessing far in excess
of the costs involved.

Such a plan also has the advantage of conforming to familiar
Proceedings, 1947 13