# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S302 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 302 HIGHER EDUCATION I. Governance of the System The resolution creating the Task Force discusses the need for an independent review of the role of the Board for Higher Education and its relationship to the various Boards of Control. The same concern has been expressed a number of times in various ways by individuals and groups throughout the work of the Task Force. A general concern appears to exist as to author- ity and responsibility of the BHE, the Boards of Control, and the Board of Directors. Some confusion apparently results from Handbook provisions that have been adopted in piece-meal fashion and do not now clearly identify synodical intent as to authority and responsibilities in the area of higher education policy and management. The fact that similar problems exist in most publicly sup- ported institutions of higher learning is no comfort for the Task Force. It is evident that in a number of instances considerable energy is expended with little accomplishment and a great deal of individual and corporate frustration. In studying this general concern the Carnegie Commission found that great care needs to be exercised in influencing and controlling general policies for higher education as opposed to the administration and management of an institution within the broadly established policies. The commission recommends that limitations be placed on involvement by policy-making groups in order to permit the individual institution a degree of freedom necessary to operate in an efficient manner. Though some of the Carnegie Commission recommendations are not entirely appropriate for synodical higher education, they are deserving of detailed study. The Task Force has been able to identify the following spe- cific problem areas in need of resolution: 1. Doctrinal supervision: . Closing of schools: . Functions of the BHE vs. the Boards of Control: . The relationship of the BHE to its administrative staff: Selection of members of the BHE and the Boards of Control: 6. Potential of establishing Boards of Control for multi- campus operations, for example by type of school as op- posed to each school having a separate board: 7. The responsibilities of the Board of Directors in higher education matters. we WS DP The Task Force Recommends Il. That the Board for Higher Education appoint a special committee of qualified individuals to carefully review its func- tions in relation to those assigned to local Boards of Control: 12. That each Board of Control carefully review its function in relation to those assigned to the Board for Higher Education: I3. That the special committee review the powers reserved by the Synod, the Board of Directors, and others, if any, having to do with the higher education system: 14, That the special committee study the potential of establish- ing Boards of Control by type of school rather than separate boards for each school: I5. That reports of the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education: Governance of Higher Education (1973) and The Capital and the Campus (1971), be used as working resources in the above reviews: and 16. That the Board for Higher Education, in consultation with the Boards of Control and others studying the entire organiza- tional structure of the Synod, prepare necessary and desirable recommendations to provide clear policies and procedures on governance for consideration by the 1977 convention. J. Ministries to Minorities Frequent recommendations have been made by synodical conventions on matters concerning minority groups in The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod. Many of these recommen- dations have had to do with priority funding of programs of ministry designed specifically for blacks, and in recent years for Hispanics. These two minority groups have become a sizable percentage of the U.S. population. In 1974 blacks constituted some 10 percent of the population 14 years of age and older, Hispanics nearly 42 percent. These two minorities are growing more rapidly than the balance of the population and make up large segments of the younger age groups. At this time opportunities for blacks and other minorities are virtually unrestricted in the United States. The church needs to make certain that its programs and its opportunities are likewise unrestricted and to listen to the cry for educational leadership for minorities. To do otherwise will create a large vacuum in leadership personnel at a time when this segment of our popula- tion is expanding. The Task Force Recommends J-Al. That ministries to ethnic groups (especially blacks, Hispanics, Indians) are deserving of adequate financial support: J-A2. That the contribution of Alabama Lutheran Academy and Junior College, Selma, Ala., has been invaluable to The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod, but such programs for peo- ple who intend to work in ministries among the blacks need to be strengthened and vigorously pursued through coordination with Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, under super- vision of the Board for Higher Education: J-A3. That the educational programs offered at Alabama Lutheran Academy and College be continued even though the tuition support recommended for church work students will be inadequate to supply the needs of the school and that institu- tional support be made available by the Board for Higher Education on a priority basis: J-A4. That programs for ministries to ethnic groups other than blacks be thoroughly studied and where necessary be implemented by the Board for Higher Education with particular emphasis on the practical ministries program suggested for Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield (Fort Wayne): and J-A5. That the Board for Higher Education coordinate the development of a vigorous program of recruiting black and other minority students. The calling and placement of black pastors and other black church workers in the ministry of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod must be accomplished so that their use and mobility is not restricted to congregations that are predominantly black. The practice of restricting black church workers to black congregations does not present an appealing picture for student recruitment, because it tends to relegate their future placement to generally weak and subsidized congregations in the Synod. The Task Force recognizes that placement and mobility issues are not the direct responsibility of the Task Force, but it is concerned about these because of the effect they have on student recruitment. The Task Force Recommends J-B1. That the Board of Assignments strive to avoid all apearance of discrimination in the assignment of black vicars and graduates: J-B2. That District Presidents and mission executives chal- lenge synodical congregations to call candidates, pastors, and other church workers without regard to race: and J-B3. That the Commission on Theology and Church Rela- tions examine the ‘divinity of the call" in relationship to the various implications involved in the practice of calling black pastors solely to black congregations and to the image the church presents to the world when it permits such practices. The Task Force regrets that lack of time did not enable it to give sufficient attention to the entire subject of recruitment of minority and ethnic students into the church’s professional ministry or other areas of concern related to ministries to the minorities. This entire area is deserving of a high priority for adequate study in the next biennium, particularly since the 100th anniversary of ministry to blacks will be celebrated in 1977. The Task Force Recommends J-C1. That a task force be created to develop a strategy for the recruitment of blacks and other minority students for professional service in the church: J-C2. That such task force be composed of persons knowl- edgeable in these matters: and J-C3. That such strategy be developed based on the CTCR examination of the ‘‘divinity of the call.”