# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S876
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES 179

In addition to the three major considerations listed, the Board

examined, once more, the objections previously mentioned:

1, The need for having institutions in various geographic areas
(and particularly there where the Synod is in the process
of strengthening and expanding its work) so that the min-
istry and teaching profession will get a broad cross section
and adequate variety of individual types and backgrounds.

2. Recruitment problems.

3. The inherent difficulty of conducting really effective minis-
terial training when student bodies are excessively large.

4, Transportation problems for students.

Can We Afford the Loss?

In this connection, Paragraph 3 of the major negative factors
seems to be of most critical importance. The Board pondered the
fact that, by the grace of God, Synod now has five schools which
are located strategically so that they are in a position to render
special services to our Church: Austin, Portland, Oakland, Bronx-
ville, and Edmonton. Texas, Oregon, and California classify as the
fastest growing areas of population and industrial development in
our country. A similar classification applies to the Canadian
location.

Elimination of Bronxville would involve the loss of our only

aa educational holding in the entire East. Every elimination means

that an area within a 300 to 500-mile radius of the institution in-
volved is without ministerial and teacher training service. Even
more important is the loss of the recruiting and synodical interest
stimulation in such sections of our Church. The severe limitation
of area coverage, the 300 to 500-mile radius served by an institution,
which would result, is indicated on the map. (Exhibit 1 A, page 155.)

The sections mentioned are, unquestionably, important growth
areas of the nation; but, more important is the strategic significance
of the five synodical colleges which happen to be located in-them.
Sensing the critical role which these institutions can plan in the
future work of Synod and the immense, but unnecessary, penalties
involved in delayed action, your Board is glad to be able to report
campus expansion at Austin, Portland, Edmonton, and Bronxville
during the past triennium. In addition, construction has already
been completed or is being actively planned on every one of these
campuses.

The tremendous population thrusts into four of these areas, the
strategic importance of the entire East Coast, the evidence of im-
mense commercial and industrial development in each of these