# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S841
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

LS AAR I mE FS

142

10.

ESR eS ———

SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES

. There will be an opportunity to align our Church’s training .

more closely, quantitatively, with the college training now
required by other major Protestant denominations and by
the standard professional programs required in secular
institutions and in the criteria established by both the armed
services and the accreditation associations for high schools,
for colleges, and for seminaries.

. When completed, the reorganization will clarify the present

theological seminary program by eliminating the unique
four-year plan. (The vicarage year is to remain in force.)
The liberal arts work which is now combined (in a profes-
sional school) with our professional courses in theology
creates a combination which is not readily understood by

others because it is unique in the field. Transfer of this

work to the senior college and the admission prerequisite of
a B.A. degree will clear the way for conferring the B.D.
degree to regular graduates of the seminary.

. The adjustments at the theological seminary will make it

possible to give more serious attention to the further de-
velopment of our graduate school of theology. This is one
of our Church’s most serious needs at this time.

. At least one of the adjustments proposed will enable the

Church to experiment with the. recruitment of ministerial
students at the freshman college level.

. The curricular adjustments at Fort 'Wayne will make it

possible for students to transfer from other institutions. to
this school without the deterrent of excessive academic
penalties. (This is in accord with the synodical directive
that the Board consider making greater use of the existing
Lutheran high schools in the Middle West and thus focus
synodical attention more directly on the college level.)

. The reorganization plan recognizes the ‘urgency for an

increase in the supply of candidates for the teaching pro-
fession by using all preparatory high schools for this work,
by adding teacher training courses to the program of three
junior colleges, by adding terminal teacher training at
another preparatory institution, and by proposing an addi-
tional source of women teachers (Valparaiso University).

. This plan should offer an opportunity to regulate more

accurately the flow of ministerial candidates in order to
insure, as far as possible, a gradually increasing supply
in accordance with the indicated future needs of our Church.

The enrollment of more mature students should give our