# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S216
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

214 SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES

professor reaches the age of 65, the possible reduction of his
teaching load shall automatically come up for consideration. What-
ever adjustments may be desirable or necessary shall be made by
the local Board of Control in consultation with the Board for
Higher Education.” (Proceedings, 1941, P. 105, Sec. 2.)

However, there is no provision for replacement of the lost
services. Where adjustments are made, no new professor may be
called because the professorship is not vacant.

The ranking proposals provide an ideal solution for the prob-
lem created by the “load-lightening provisions.” Rather than ap-
point inexperienced Seminary students on a year-to-year basis
for five years, adoption of the ranking proposals would enable the
local: Board of Control to appoint an instructor as understudy for
the professor involved. Normally such an arrangement might
continue through reappointment for four or six years. If such
an instructor had then, under the guidance of the original pro-
fessor, proved his worth, he could be reappointed as instructor
or could be called to an associate professorship. No calls, no
permanent commitments, and no additional professorships would
be involved up to the time of the professor’s retirement. At the
same time there would be sufficiently attractive tenure salary,
and promise of advancement to attract qualified assistance.

3. The ranking proposals retain the desirable stability features
which have been a great blessing to the schools. Wherever a
call is involved (associate professors; professors; administrative
officers), no limitation is attached or implied. At the same time
a new classification which gives faculty status and prestige (but
not life tenure or an administrative vote) is created. In addition,
the present arrangement which provides for annual appointment
of inexperienced assistants (Seminary or Teachers College stu-
dents or graduates) is retained under the Tutor classification.

4, There is also created a practical possibility of transferring
instructors from one school to another within Synod’s system.
Several conventions of Synod have recognized such a situation as
being desirable, but have found no satisfactory solution in any case
where divine calls are involved. The possibility of violent enroll-
ment fluctuation as well as curricular program changes make it
desirable to have available at all times efficient means for in-
creasing or decreasing teaching staffs and for transfer of teaching
personnel.

5. This arrangement offers the local school an excellent op-
portunity to observe those who might be promising candidates
for future permanent positions. Under the current arrangement
the only persons who can normally come under observation prior