# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S310 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 310 HIGHER EDUCATION 6-07 Concordia Theological Seminary Springfield, Il. Board of Control Members of the Board of Control of Concordia Theological Seminary are: Mr. Harold M. Olsen, chairman: Rev. Walter C. Maas. secretary: Mr. Edward J. Werner, Mr. John D. Biese- meier, Mr. Earl Boucher, Rev. Arthur Kuehnert, and Rev. Theodore F. Nickel, D. D. The board met at regular bimonthly intervals with two extra meetings necessitated by exigencies that arose during the biennium. In addition to its normal super- vision of personnel, programs, and property, the board spent much of its time in considering the possibility of inaugurating a Doctor of Ministry program, in searching out new professors and staff people, and in upgrading both the development pro- gram of the school and the academic program. The board and faculty wish once again to thank God for the privilege of serving in this mission preparing men for the public ministry of Word and sacrament. Statistics Enrollment 1973—74 school year 377 1974—75 school year . . 409 Placed in Pastoral Office 1973—75 Year Fall Winter Spring Summer Total 1973-74 2 7 54 6 69 1974-75 ss «66 11 88 6 111 Coloquy Placements 1973-74__ 1 — 2 - 3 1974-75 1 5 - 6 The students at the seminary manifest the highest degree of motivation and commitment to the ministry. About half of the students came to the seminary from secular campuses, slightly less than half from Concordia Senior College and other synodical schools, Faculty As of March 1, 1975, the faculty consists of 29 people. During the biennium a number of changes have taken place. Dr. Richard Schultz, president of the institution, accepted a call to Village Lutheran Church, Forked River. N. J., where he is also to serve as educational consultant to the New Jersey District. On May 24, 1974, Dr. Robert Preus, professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. was issued a call to become president and accepted. During the biennium a number of professors accepted calls. Prof. William Meyer left to become a member of the faculty of Concordia College, Austin, Tex. Prof. Dennis Schlecht ac- cepted a call to Grace Church, Modesto, Calif. Rev. Jon Diefen- thaler accepted a call to Bethany Church, Waynesboro, Va. Prof. John Fritz left to become pastor of Christ Memorial Church, Houston, Tex. Prof. Lorman Petersen accepted a call to Faith Church, Appleton, Wis. Prof. John Johnson accepted a call to St. Lorenz Church, Frankenmuth, Mich. Two men have accepted calls to fill these vacancies. Prof. William Houser is now on campus helping in vicarage supervision and in teach- ing courses in the practical department. Prof. Alvin Schmidt has accepted a call to teach in the practical department in the areas of church and society, ethics, urban society, church and world society, and related courses. Rev. Robert Rowland has been engaged to assist the faculty in the creation and use of media instructional materials. Calls at the present time have been extended to five more competent scholars to fill out some of the vacancies that have occurred during the past several years. Dr. Clarence Spiegel has become professor emeritus but is still teaching symbolics, and Dr. Fred Kramer, who is on modified service, is still teaching a two-thirds load in Syste- matic Theology. Prof. Roy Suelflow from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is presently engaged as guest lecturer in historical theology. A team-taught course is being offered on the subject “Know Your Synod” by leading officials and leaders in our Synod. Another team-taught course is being offered by staff people from synodical headquarters in evangelism. Seven professors are engaged in postgraduate and doctoral work. Six study leaves have been granted professors during the past biennium, and two sabbatical leaves have been given professors. Aid in helping these professors carry out their advanced work has been generously forthcoming from the Aid Association for Lutherans. Academic Program A broad curriculum has been offered not only during the three quarters of the usual academic year but also in the summer session throughout the biennium. Increasingly students are graduating from the seminary at times other than the end of the spring quarter, thus providing our Synod with pastors through- out the year and increasing the efficiency of our academic pro- gram. Despite the loss of several veteran professors during the 1974—75 academic year, the curriculum was held to and even broadened during that time with the help of several staff people and guest lecturers. Practically all of the students now receive the M. Div. degree, except a very slight percentage who came without the B. A., B.S., or other university or college degrees. An excellent crash course in Greek is offered to all students who come without that prerequisite and are candidates for the ministry with the competence and enthusiasm for preaching and teaching on the basis of the original text. A new track offering Old Testament exegesis on the basis of the original Hebrew language, which is competently taught at our seminary, is now inaugurated and is very successful. We expect to have at least half our students follow this track before long. Alumni are able to receive M. Div. degrees on completion of additional studies here or at extension centers. Extension courses have been taught at St. Paul, Milwaukee, Ann Arbor, Fort Wayne, Selma, Austin, Los Angeles, and Edmonton. Extensive research work has been done by the academic dean and other staff people toward initiating a Doctor of Minis- try program. A visit by representatives of the Association of Theological Schools will take place soon, and it appears that there will be a program available by the fall quarter of 1975. The D. Min. is a new degree within the higher educational structure of the Synod. It is designed primarily for pastors in service who wish to take a leave of absence and study courses and engage in workshops intended to improve their position as pastor, administrator, Seelsorger. and evangelist. Pastors in the immediate area, of course, can take courses on a more casual basis. At the present time, the concentration of this pro- gram will be on evangelism, church growth, missions, adminis- tration, and homiletics, areas where our faculty already has strength. In special cases recent graduates of our seminary may enter the program, but it is usually designed for those who have been in the ministry for at least 3 years. It is hoped that this program will complement the graduate school already operative at our sister school in St. Louis. Two graduates of our seminary will be called as staff persons on a 2-year contract, one to carry out recruitment work. the other to assist in seminary development. The Board for Higher Education has asked both seminaries in our church to concentrate more on evangelism and even to require courses in that area of study and work. Concordia Theological Seminary tends to comply with this request by offering new and exciting courses and workshops in evange- lism. Four different courses in this vital aspect of the church's work will be offered next year. Prof. William Houser will be asked to develop the entire field of study, along with Prof. Otto Hintze. who as professor in missions has been teaching in this area for several years. The seminary also intends to call a man qualified in Hispanic studies to teach courses in Spanish and Hispanic studies and other practical courses for seminarians desiring to go into that vital ministry. It is the hope that, after completing 2 years of concentration in that area of work and special Spanish-language training, students will be able to vicar in a Spanish-speaking or bilingual situation and then finish their work, probably on an- other campus closer to large concentrations of Spanish-speaking people and university training Hispanic studies. The seminary recognizes the urgency of this program at just this time. Schulz Memorial Library The library’s book collection has now reached 75,000 vol-