# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S266 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 266 HIGHER EDUCATION toward adjusting the current situation, not only at Saint Louis but at all of our synodical schools. It should be evident to all that the Synod cannot afford to allow an erosion in the quality of its teaching staff which has the responsibility to prepare pastors, teachers, and other church workers. Enrollment Enrollment figures for 1967—69 are: Regular Sessions 1967—68 1968--69 Fourth year _. - 167 149 Vicars (not in attendance) __. 152 137 Second year «146 146 First year 172 180 Special students ee 9 2 Graduate students ~~. ss 77 57 Summer Sessions Seminary students 134 132 Graduate students —___-__-._ 179 217 Net totals _ 1,036 1,020 School for Graduate Studies Summer Fall Winter Spring 196768 _____-. «(179 77 76 67 1968—69 __-_--—-—sa2:17 57 66 67 Advanced Degrees Awarded 1967—68 1968—69 (estimated) M.A. in Religion —_...-——‘:10 17 S.T.M. 22 21 Th. D. 6 6 Recruitment While by far most of the students who matriculate at the seminary are graduates of Concordia Senior Col- lege, Fort Wayne, Ind., in the past years a gradually increasing number of students have come to us from Valparaiso University and other colleges and univer- sities. Presently 38 students have been preenrolled from these schools. In spite of the growing interest from schools outside the Synod we may soon share the expe- rience of most theological schools of a decline in enroll- ment. Statistics provided by the Board for Higher Edu- cation indicate that student enrollment supplied by the synodical schools may drop as much as 30% in the next 4 years. Studies indicate that career decisions are being made later in life and therefore more than formerly students who finally enter the ministry of our Synod are attending state universities and other nonsynodical colleges for undergraduate study. Thirty-seven students planning to enter the ministry of the Missouri Synod are now studying at Lutheran seminaries sponsored by other synods. In order to meet changing conditions, the seminary is planning to engage a full-time director of recruitment, who will coordinate all recruitment efforts for the B.D. program, advanced degrees, extension centers, and other programs of continuing education. Development Though The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod continues to support theological education in a generous manner, the seminary has been forced to seek additional financial support elsewhere. Because of the steeply ris- ing cost of education and the hesitancy to raise tuition very much above that charged by other Lutheran semi- naries, it has become necessary to turn to foundations and other organizations, congregations, friends, and alumni to gain the rather sizable sums needed in order to maintain our work on an acceptable level of quality. The seminary is particularly grateful for the financial assistance given it from sources beyond the synodical budget. Such funds have made it possible to foster spe- cial institutional studies and training projects, to prepare research publications, and to offer considerable student and faculty help in the form of scholarships and grants. We wish to express our appreciation especially to the Aid Association for Lutherans, the Lutheran Brother- hood, the Kresge Foundation, the Sealantic Fund, and the Research Committee of the Synod for their financial support. The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod Foun- dation is especially thanked for its cooperation in help- ing the seminary establish several estate-planning pro- grams for individual families. II The Constitution of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod states that one of the objectives of the Synod is “the supervision of the ministers and teachers of Synod with regard to the performance of their official duties” (III, 7). Another object of the Synod is “the protection of pastors, teachers, and congregations in the perfor- mance of their duties and the maintenance of their rights” (III, 8). Since it is the duty of the Board of Control of a synodical educational institution “to pro- vide effective local administrative organization, to facili- tate the achievement of purposes for which the Synod operates and maintains the respective institution, and to foster and safeguard its religious, academic, and financial interests in it” (Bylaws 6.21), and since all Boards of Control are “accountable to the Synod for all their actions” (Bylaws 2.13), the Board of Control of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. is herewith giving an account of its actions in the case of an 18-page bro-~ chure, A Layman’s Concern About His Church, written by Mr. Marcus R. Braun of Kansas City, Mo., in 1967. Mr. Braun brings charges directly and indirectly against seven members of our seminary faculty. Christian consideration dictates that the board, deal- ing with matters of this kind, proceed privately and quietly. However, according to Mr. Braun’s own esti- mate, more than 60.000 of his brochures have been dis- tributed. He published and distributed his accusations a full year before approaching personally any of the seven faculty members whom he accused. There was therefore no opportunity for the faculty members or for the Board of Control to discuss these matters prior to publication. Because the Board of Control has re- ceived inquiries from every sector of the Synod, asking what it is doing about answering these charges against the faculty, the following report is published. The Board of Control appointed a special committee of three of its members to study the charges and to