# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S306 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 306 HIGHER EDUCATION constructed on the first floors of the men’s and women’s residence halls, Rehwinkel and Mundinger, respectively. St. John’s College purchased an 80-acre physical edu- cation and athletic field prior to the present biennium, and during this past year the businessmen of Winfield completed the payment of the greater share of the origi- nal cost. The balance was paid by the St. John’s De- velopment Fund. By convention time our new maintenance and ware- house addition will be completed, annexed to the power- house. This much-needed facility will permit us now to raze all of the old houses on the property adjacent to the college and to expand our campus, presently for park area and, in the future, for building sites. Plans for the Future Besides strengthening the present conventional pro- grams of instruction on campus, a strong thrust in fur- ther development of the parish worker emphasis is being planned and programmed. The parish workers now in the field have made this ministry of the church an obvious need. A further strengthening of background and courses is being pursued for the field of social work in the 2-year curriculum. The faculty and the Board of Control have been working closely with the Board for Higher Education in service to the Kingdom. Plans for the future include working in those areas which the Synod and/or the Board for Higher Education indicate are the concerns of the church and St. John’s role in them. Primary concerns for the immediate future include: . Construction of a fine arts center . Additional student housing . Expansion and modernization of classrooms . Additional site acquisitions Landscaping and outdoor lighting . Air conditioning aHvaw> Services to the Synod St. John’s College continues to place its educational emphasis on preparing professional full-time church workers. Many theological, teacher training, deaconess, and social worker students receive their preliminary training here. In addition, St. John’s continues to serve the Synod by offering terminal training to parish workers. Prior to the official approval of this program at the synodical convention in 1962, parish workers were trained and placed by the college for 30 years. During the past 7 years over 200 parish worker graduates have been placed by the synodical board. The general education and business curricula con- tinue to provide educated laymen for our parishes in the Synod, where they take many leadership positions. As stewards of Christ and His church we intend to continue the operation of St. John’s College and Acad- emy in accordance with the wishes of the Synod and in compliance with the Word of God. Boarp oF CoNTROL Norsert R. Woprtke, Secretary R. C. BEIse., Executive Officer (6-23) Proposed Irvine College, Southern California The Synod’s youngest Board of Control is pleased to make its first report to the Synod and present the opportunities and challenges that the Synod has under- taken in order to meet the educational needs of the West. President Oliver R. Harms gave life to this body through appointment on Jan. 30, 1967. The members are: Rev. Elmer W. Matthias, a Vice-President of the South- ern California District and pastor at Zion, Anaheim, Calif. Rev. Carl H. Harman, a Vice-President of the English District and pastor at Faith, Tucson, Ariz. Mr. Eugene M. Oetting,* principal of Walter A. Maier Memorial High School, Los Angeles, Calif., Southern California District. Mr. Glenn Molyneaux, M.D., California and Nevada District Mr. Carl E. Schroeder, president, First National Bank of Orange County, Calif., Southern California District Mr. Al Goeppinger, retired businessman, Escondido, Calif., Southern California District * Mr. Richard W. Scheele, principal at First Lutheran School, Alhambra, Calif., Southern California Dis- trict, replaced Mr. Eugene M. Oetting on Oct. 30, 1968, the latter having accepted a call to Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebr. According to synodical regulations this board will serve until the college is opened and an election can be held at a synodical convention following the opening of Irvine College. History In the 1959 San Francisco convention the Synod in- structed the Board for Higher Education to give special attention to the nature and scope of pastor and teacher training in the western part of the United States (Pro- ceedings, p. 144, Resolution 37, Committee 1). The reso- lution to build a new Lutheran college in southern California was passed by the Cleveland convention in 1962 (Proceedings, p. 79, Resolution 1-22). This resolu- tion expressed the hope that this college could be opened in September 1965. The resolution was reaffirmed by the Detroit convention in 1965 (Proceedings, p. 144, Resolution 6-26). In 1967 the matter again came before the New York convention. The floor committee, in con- currence with the Board for Higher Education, brought in the resolution urging construction of the Irvine cam- pus. However, a substitute resolution was presented to the convention, sponsored primarily by our brethren in the California and Nevada District, urging that all plans and construction halt while the situation be re- studied for 2 years. The resolution asked that “the Board for Higher Education make a final restudy of the entire matter of higher education on the West Coast.”