# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1989_S144
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

144 RESOLUTIONS

To Celebrate 125th Anniversary
of Concordia College, River Forest, Ill.

RESOLUTION 6-01
Overtures 6-71A-B (CW, p. 257)

Wueras, Concordia College, River Forest, has served
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as an in-
stitution for the preparation of teachers for the schools of
the Synod for 125 years; and

Wuereas, Concordia, River Forest, has grown to serve
the expanding needs of the Synod through the introduction
of programs in secondary, early childhood, music, and
graduate education; and

Wuereas, Concordia, River Forest, offers programs of
study which prepare directors of Christian education,
church musicians, deaconesses, future pastors, and lay
professionals; and

Wuereas, Concordia, River Forest, continues to supply
one-fourth of all church professionals placed annually by
colleges into the Synod’s schools, congregations, and re-
lated agencies throughout the world; and

Wuereas, Concordia, River Forest, through Lutheran
Education Center for Social Research in the Church and
the Concordia College Computing Network serves and sup-
ports the work of the Synod-at-large in many other ways;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod recognize with thanksgiving
to God, the 125 years of faithful service by its oldest college
in providing workers and servants for the church and re-
quest the President of the Synod to issue a proclamation
to all congregations of the Synod setting aside October 15,
1989, as “Concordia, River Forest, 125th Anniversary Sun-
day,” asking each congregation to commemorate the oc-
casion in a fitting manner with prayers, congratulations,
and gifts; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage member congre-
gations to support financially a major fund drive in com-
memoration of Concordia’s 125th anniversary in order that
the college may continue its work in God’s kingdom; and
be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod pause from its regular busi-
ness to offer special thanksgiving to God for His continued
blessing on Concordia College, River Forest, Ill., and com-
mend it to His continued care during the coming years.

Action: Adopted (6).

(Adoption of the resolution was followed by the singing of “Our
God, Our Help in Ages Past.” Dr. Eugene Krentz presented a
plaque marking the anniversary of Concordia College, River For-
est, to Dr. Bohlmann for display at the International Center.)

To Authorize Development
of Concordia College, Selma
RESOLUTION 6-02
Overtures 6-32A-B (CW, p. 250)
Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) owns and operates the only historically black Lu-

theran college in the United States as a two-year college
at Selma, Ala.; and

Wuereas, Our best recruitment efforts have not re-
sulted in the enrollment of large numbers of black students
at our predominantly white synodical colleges which are
now four-year institutions; and

Wuereas, There is a need for more black church work-
ers in our Synod; and

Wuereas, The 1986 convention of the LCMS estab-
lished the Task Force on Higher Education for Black Stu-
dents in Synodical Higher Education; and

Wuergas, The task force has now assembled relevant
data and conclusions from its studies (R6-05, CW, pp. 126—
30) which show that it would be beneficial for Concordia
College to become a four-year college; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education Services
(BHES) be authorized to work with the Board of Regents
and the administration of Concordia College, Selma, to
develop Concordia College, Selma, from a two-year to a
four-year college granting baccalaureate degrees.

Action: Adopted (6).

To Fund Expansion Program
for Concordia College, Selma

RESOLUTION 6-03

Report R6-05 (CW, pp. 126-30); Overtures 6-29A-32,
(CW, pp. 249-50)

Wuereas, The Synod in convention has authorized the
Board for Higher Education Services (BHES) to work with
the Board of Regents and administration of Concordia Col-
lege, Selma, to develop Concordia from a two-year to a four-
year college granting baccalaureate degrees; and

Wuereas, The BHES and the Board of Directors of the
Synod have endorsed a special appeal for the program ex-
pansion of Concordia, Selma; and

Wuereas, The administration of Concordia College,
Selma has already identified immediate financial needs of
$3 million for capital expansion; and

Wuereas, The Synod’s Board of Directors has already
authorized the Stewardship Department to conduct a spe-
cial fund appeal with an initial goal of $1.5 million to $3
million; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod endorse the Board of Direc-
tors’ action authorizing a special appeal for both capital
funds and for scholarship endowment funds to support the
expansion and development of Concordia College, Selma;
and be it further

Resolved, That this appeal have an initial component
to begin in the fall of 1989 to educate the church in the
mission and ministry of Concordia, Selma, in preparation
for the special funding appeal which shall occur between
1990 and 1992.

Action: Adopted (8).

(Following adoption of the resolution, it was announced that
the offering received at the opening service of the convention was
being directed to the Concordia College, Selma, Ala., Endowment
Fund.)