# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1860_S61
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— Page 61 —

...the practically trained students exercise their influence, so that
the latter are spurred on to diligent study and, for all their
practical skill and dexterity, are nonetheless kept from despising
the noble discipline of scholarship. It cannot be denied, to be sure,
that with the two kinds of students living together the danger will
also arise that pride on the one side and envy on the other may cause
various frictions; but the great benefit and blessing far outweighs
such harm. It should, moreover, be well considered that such harm
does not spring from the union itself, but from sinful flesh and
blood, and that one can counter it with the proper remedies as soon
as it appears.

6. Through a union, our theological faculty would be able to
work outward in a wholly different and more influential
way — for instance, with respect to the publication of
journals, the drafting of theological opinions, and giving
voice on questions of the day, and the like.

This point was explained as follows: a synod's theological faculty
has the calling to conduct doctrine publicly in the name of the
Synod; further, to give a public and official judgment, through the
Synod's organs (that is, its church periodicals), on questions of the
day that obviously cannot all be debated before the Synod itself; it
is therefore of great importance that we gather together the
strength and gifts God has given us and make our faculty as strong as
possible. A theological faculty also often has to issue theological
opinions in the most difficult cases, which are to be regarded not as
decisions voiced by a private person, but as official communications
issued in the name of the Synod; it therefore looks not only highly
peculiar when such communications are signed by a single individual
alone, but it is also hard for one person alone to bear the weight of
such important decisions by himself — hence he should by all means
have one or more colleagues at his side.

7. That our two theological seminaries be united is also
advantageous from an economic standpoint.

Under this point it was shown that the union would save many
expenses, both for the Synod and for the students. For further
detail, see the "Denkschrift" [memorial].

As its conclusion, the committee stated the following at the close of
its proposal:

To be sure, after all this, the most expedient course, and the one
from which the greatest blessing could be expected, would be
for all our institutions to be united both locally and
organically; but since insurmountable difficulties stand in
the way of that, the Synod should at least take steps to see
that the two preachers' seminaries be united, and that, to
that end, the preachers' seminary together with its
pro-seminary be transplanted from Fort Wayne to St. Louis,
while, conversely, the gymnasium be transplanted from St.
Louis to Fort Wayne, and that everything necessary for such a
thoroughgoing change be done — for instance, with regard to
the buildings and the teaching staff.