# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S988
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

the study of theolo ;
gy. It is, theref i i we
lead the Protestant ‘churches in ministerial tony Position to again

Plant is the ideal answe ‘however a net
r to Synod’s needs; however, it is not

opposed to the conversion of an existin
PPOs & propert:
Pr Tao ol ve two-year, Separate senior college e reas the
Syn, wea envied concomitant capacity adjustments to meet
enad's = seen in the ‘ministerial- and teacher-training pro-
cram & meee ‘A and as long as the attendant circumstances
which See or the Senior College to reach the objecti
as adopted for it. vectives
(c Pil Board is glad to report also that
(college and seminary presidents), accordin
at the February, 1953, plenary Session, s

its Advisory Council
to a resolution Passed
concurs in the view that

tt: The Problem Defined
‘is to be noted, once more, i i
t » in this: connecti ‘
fon wm is mot Properly defined as the problem cf vouabiching
year college training preparatory to admission to a theological

SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES 189

Synod’s problem requires our Church to find a method
‘a one additional year (net) into the center of an al-
ing ten-year program (plus one year of vicarage). Every
on must be given, therefore, first of all, to the fact that

ready ‘has ten preparatory schools established in a fixed
“eshchip to one of its seminaries. No adjustments of any type
abe indertaken without automatically affecting both the exist-
a ‘Peeparatory schools and the existing seminary. In addition,
gat Synod already possesses replacement values in excess of
soni 9,000 in this area; it already has 278 buildings devoted to

‘cause; it already salaries 285 persons devoting their full time
to ‘this purpose. No other Protestant church body and no secular

- systeni’ of academic training has an identical or even a similar

situation.

It is readily apparent, therefore, that perfectly reasonable solu-
tions of ministerial training problems under other circumstances
may not be adequate to meet the unique requirements of Synod’s
situation. o

Our Synod has the priceless opportunity to establish one well-
equipped and staffed Senior College, to which she can bring all
her ministerial students from the United States and Canada to give
them a final training period of uniform: quality at a mature level,
in which they can rigidly and effectively examine their desires to
enter our seminary for the study of theology.

The establishment of a single unit for this purpose appears to
be the ideal method, also, by which the necessary homogenization
of academic background, local loyalties, and adolescent enthusiasms
of graduates from so many different preparatory schools in all
parts of North America can be achieved before these men enter
the seminary, thus leaving the professional-graduate school free
to devote itself entirely to its proper level and type of work.

Finally, this plan will give much more significance to seminary
studies, since some properly oriented courses in sociology, public
speaking, languages, psychology, education, religious art, etc., are
more defensible in the undergraduate school and can often be
taught there more effectively.

On the basis of current construction costs, the Board estimates _
that it would require approximately $4,200,000 to complete the -
plant of the Senior College. This sum would include provision
for purchasing land, furnishings, equipment, landscaping, and
architects’ fees in addition to the construction; but it would not
include faculty housing, since it is assumed that such housing
would be built on the Building and Loan plan if Synod desires to
furnish residences on campus as it has done prior to the 1950
convention.