# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S118
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

118

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

partnerships, which are a great blessing to both the high schools
and the university.

Life Together
Concordia continues to faithfully partner with member
congregations, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and its
agencies and to equip full-time workers for professional ministry:
••

As of July 2018, 28 percent of all rostered synodical
workers hold a Concordia degree.

••

Concordia placed 169 graduates as Lutheran teachers, directors of Christian education, and directors of
parish music during the past triennium.

••

Concordia equips approximately 35 pre-seminary
students each year in preparation for their ongoing
education at Concordia Seminary and Concordia
Theological Seminary.

••

From 2016 to 2019, Concordia will have hosted
approximately 25 different mission experiences. On
average, approximately 10 percent of the undergraduate population takes part in a mission experience
each year. To increase the number of students who
participate in a mission trip, the university established the Acts 1:8 Students in Mission Fund, which
provides grants to students to pay for a portion of
their mission trip cost, reducing the financial hurdle
to participation and involvement.

••

In response to 2016 Resolution 8-0lA, Concordia
has launched the Lutheran School Ministry Program, designed for nonrostered teachers who serve in
LCMS schools to gain additional training in order to
incorporate the Lutheran educational ethos into their
classrooms.

••

Concordia offers the Lutheran Heritage Guarantee,
providing students who are members of LCMS congregations or graduate from an LCMS high school at
least $17,000 in institutional aid per year.

••

As part of the Lutheran Heritage Guarantee,
Concordia offers at least $19,000 in institutional aid
for qualifying students who enroll in a professional
church work program.

••

The Center for Liturgical Art opened a new facility in
2017, expanding its capacity to support ecclesiastical
art within the church. During the past triennium, it
has completed 57 projects, including 50 for congregations and ministries of the Synod.

••

From October 2016 to October 2017, the university
hosted a series of 16 lectures and musical events to
celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation,
culminating in a festival worship service with more
than 1,500 on Reformation Sunday 2017.

The university continues to be tremendously blessed by the
faithful, generous financial support of thousands of alumni and
friends who firmly believe in our mission and strongly support
our educational ministry. For the 30 months of the past triennium that ended on December 30, 2018, Concordia received
more than $52 million in gifts, pledges, and deferred gift intentions from more than 7,500 supporters. These gifts have pro2019 Convention Workbook

vided funding for scholarships, operations, the Dunklau Center
for Science, Math, and Business, various endowments, including
many to provide church work scholarships, and much more.

Soli Deo Gloria
Concordia continues to be recognized and upheld for providing a Christ-centered, academically excellent education:
••

Concordia was ranked in 35th in the “Best Regional
Universities-Midwest” category of U.S. News &
World Report’s Best Colleges rankings in 2019, its
highest ranking ever. In addition, Concordia was
ranked #12 for “Best Value Schools.”

••

Concordia has been recognized as a Christian College of Distinction during each year of the past
triennium, one of only 72 so recognized during the
2018–19 academic year.

••

Concordia was accepted for membership in the
Council of Christian Colleges and Universities
(CCCU), joining Concordia University Irvine as one
of only 183 such institutions worldwide.

••

Concordia’s online graduate education degree program was recognized in each of the last three years in
the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Program
rankings.

••

Concordia ranks as the National Association of lntercollegiate Athletics’ (NAIA) all-time leader in the
number of Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes, with
1,403 and counting as of December 2018.

Looking Ahead
As it has for 125 years, Concordia University, Nebraska,
by God’s grace, remains firmly rooted in the Gospel and committed to faithfully carrying out its mission to be “an excellent
academic and Christ-centered community equipping men and
women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church
and world.” By delivering Our Promises of a Lutheran Education, Concordia strives to equip every man and woman who
wants to serve in the full-time ministries of the Synod and every
woman and man who desires to serve God by serving others in
vocations in the world.
Competition for students, both undergraduate and graduate, will continue. It is the reality of higher education. In this
competitive climate, Concordia’s expanded academic offerings
and enhanced facilities will allow the university to attract students who may not have previously considered Concordia, including members of LCMS congregations. Those who are led
to attend will, like the generations who have come before them,
receive an excellent education and, most importantly, by the
power of the Holy Spirit, meet Christ here. Secure in our knowledge of His blessing, we recognize that the opportunities before
us are ever present. May Almighty God give us the wisdom and
insight to pursue them.
Our prayers are with the delegates during their convention
deliberations. May God bless richly the 67th Convention of the
LCMS, under its theme of being “Joy:fully Lutheran,” and our
work together to witness Jesus Christ throughout the world.
Brian L. Friedrich, President