# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S832
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES 136,

B. REPORT OF THE BOARD
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
(Memorial 148)

In its administration of the numerous directives on higher
education issued by the last convention, your Board for Higher
Education has attempted to give practical expression to the fact
that the primary ‘objective which Synod seeks to achieve through
its system of ministerial and teacher training is the creation of
the deepest possible spiritual convictions and of ingrained attitudes
of consecration and service. In this connection the Board is
extremely grateful for the excellent leadership furnished by our
college and seminary presidents and for the encouragement, co-
operation, and help which it has received from other synodical
boards, officers, and, particularly, from the special Advisory Com-
mittee * appointed by President Behnken at the request of the
Fiscal Conference. ‘

In the early part of the triennium the Board gave primary
attention to the task of carrying out the synodical directives on
' accreditation, enrollment policies, testing, accounting, ranking of .
- faculties, institutional budgets, resident student counselors, physical
education, and music. While these administrative techniques and
new areas of synodical responsibility contribute significantly to
the outcomes of our ministerial training program, the present
report will make it clear that new and major problems have now
combined to demand Synod’s attention and, consequently, have
pre-empted major attention in the Board’s report to this convention.

It can be said, without exaggeration, that these new problems
and the financial implications involved constitute a real crisis for
our Church. Accordingly we are compelled to devote the major
portion of the Board’s 1950 report to calling Synod’s attention to
the problems raised by the pressing. demand for an increased
volume of production of ministers and teachers.

The following extensive and detailed presentations on the
senior college, on the reorganization of the existing system, on
curricular problems, on integration of the Lutheran high schools,
on changing the program pattern at some preparatory institutions,
and on finances are all essential aspects of the one central problem
of producing an adequate number of properly trained professional

* Mr. Henry Buck, Kansas City, Mo.; Rev. H. Hartner, Denver,
Colo.; Vice-President F. A. Hertwig, Detroit, Mich.; Dr. P. W. Lange,
St. Louis, Mo.; President W. Nitschke, Howard, S.Dak.; Dr. M. Piehler,
Chicago, Ill.; Rev. H. Romoser, Oak Park, Ill; Rev. O. A. Sauer, Rich-
mond, Va.; Dr. M. H. Scharlemann, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.; Rev. G.
Smukal, Los Angeles, Calif.; Rev. C. Stephan, Bloomington, Ind.; Mr. M.
E. Strieter, Rock Island, Ill.; Rev. R. Wiederaenders, San Antonio, Tex.