# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1967_S135
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

HIGHER EDUCATION 135

To Decline to Rescind Detroit Resolution 7-03
(Federal Aid)
RESOLUTION 6-37

Overture 6-74 U (URO, p. 55)

Wuereas, The Detroit synodical convention in 1965
deemed federal aid acceptable for children attending
nonpublic schools; therefore be it

Resolved, That the convention decline Overture 6-74
U, which requests that we rescind the Detroit resolution.

Action: Adopted.

To Say Ebenezer for God’s Rich Blessings
in the Cause of Lutheran Higher Education

RESOLUTION 6-38

Report 6-01 (CW, pp. 138—162)

Wuereas, God in His mercy has heaped upon our
Synod numerous blessings through the system of higher
education which our Spirit- and faith-filled fathers
handed down to us; and

‘Wuereas, Among these blessings we count especially
the clergymen and teachers who through our system of
schools have received careful and thorough Christ-
centered academic preparation for their chosen minis-
tries; and

Wnuereas, While there does exist within our Synod a
definite shortage of pastor and teacher candidates, it is
nonetheless true that our Synod’s system of higher edu-
cation has annually provided the Synod a bountiful har-
vest of qualified, consecrated, and dedicated laborers;
and

Wuereas, In this period of our history it is clearly
evident that the Synod needs to act decisively in order
that its system of higher education will be able to meet
the educational challenges which are even now being
thrust upon our changing society; and

Wuereas, It is our responsibility under God to hand
down to succeeding generations a program of higher ed-
ucation which will meet the demands of tomorrow; and

Wuereas, It is already obvious that pastors and
teachers in the church of tomorrow will need to be
equipped with a great variety of skills and have aca-
demic as well as practical preparation in numerous fields
of learning; and

Wueneas, Our faith in the promises of the Lord Jesus.
Christ makes evident to us that the Synod will need to

make provisions even now for the recruitment and prep- _

aration of large numbers of workers for the church of
tomorrow; and

Wuereas, To meet the needs of tomorrow, it is vital

that the Synod develop sound and imaginative plans to

meet the challenges which are already upon us in the.

field of ministerial education; and

Wuerzas, Failure on our part to meet our responsi-~. . .
bilities and. opportunities with Spirit-filled determina= ~

tion will doubtless lead us into grave difficulties which

could hamper seriously our Synod’s mission to the whole
man and the whole society; and

Wuereas, It is also evident that a faith-filled commit-
ment to the cause of higher education will, under God,
make possible an effective church in mission; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the 47th convention of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod, assembled in New York, ac-
knowledge with grateful hearts and in all humility that
God has given abundant and rich, albeit undeserved,
blessings to our Synod through its colleges and seminar-
ies, for which we now say Ebenezer; and be it further

Resolved, That the delegates here assembled deter-
mine to speak to one another this day of God’s mercies
especially as these have come to us through our Synod’s
system of ministerial education; and be it further

Resolved, That the leadership of the Synod be di-
rected to make special efforts to inform the entire con-
stituency of the Synod regarding the manifold problems
as well as the magnificent opportunities which now con-
front Lutheran ministerial education; and be it further

Resolved, That we avoid the dangerous pitfall of
viewing the Ebenezer Thankoffering as a final solution
to a troublesome financial shortage, but rather that we,
with love, remind each other that God expects much
where much is given; and be it finally

Resolved, That we now with firm faith in Christ our
Lord make a new and bold commitment to the cause of
higher education in order that God’s people who follow
after us might likewise find cause to say Ebenezer and to
recount and acknowledge that the Lord has blessed us
hitherto.

Action: Adopted.

To Retain Language Requirements
for Ministerial Training Program
RESOLUTION 6-39

Overtures 6-34, 6-36 (CW, pp. 211—212)

Wuereas, Ministerial professional competence de-
mands the study of the Biblical languages; therefore be
it

Resolved, That Overture 6-36 be respectfully de-
clined.

Action: Adopted.

To Refer Proposals for Ministerial Curriculum

“Changes. to BHE
RESOLUTION 6-40

Overture 6-35 (CW, p. 212)
Wuereas, The synodical school faculties, with ap-

~-proval of the respective boards of control’and under the

supervision of the Board for Higher Education, contin-
ually develop and. construct curricula implementing the

‘recognized ‘and established purposes of the institution

and designed to attain the synodically approved objec-