# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S342 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 342 HIGHER EDUCATION 6-82 To Protest Use of Name “Concordia Seminary” by Seminex WHEREAS, Confusion about the location of Concordia Semi- nary has been caused by a group who formed the operation they call “Concordia Seminary-in-Exile” or ‘‘Seminex”’; and WHEREAS. The use of the name ‘Concordia Seminary” by Seminex is illegal; and WHEREAS, That illegal use by Seminex has resulted in great confusion within the Synod, leading especially to the loss of funds (for example: the taking by Seminex’s “World Mission Institute” of over $20,000 in Lutheran Women’s Missionary League funds designated for Concordia Seminary); therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod assembled in convention request the Seminex institution that it is no longer to consider itself Concordia Seminary; and be it further Resolved. That all boards, synodical schools, and officials of the Synod identify The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod seminary in St. Louis as “Concordia Seminary.” St. James Lutheran Church University City, Mo. John Essen, President Carl Meinecke, Secretary Tom Baker, Pastor 6-83 To Protect Accreditation and Good Name of St. Louis Seminary WHEREAS, Accreditation is of considerable importance to the program of theological study of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod: and WHEREAS, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, was placed on probation by the Association of Theological Schools in 1972; and WHEREAS, The President of the Synod took immediate action to protect the accreditation of Concordia Seminary by appoint- ing a special task force: and WHEREAS, The Synod and the Board of Control accepted the recommendations of the special task force and implemented them, so that the concerns of the Association of Theological Schools were met and the probation lifted: and WHEREAS, The walkout of faculty, students, and staff of Concordia Seminary created a situation that prompted the Com- mission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools to propose a new probation of 18 months: and WHEREAS, The Board of Control’s efforts to answer the con- cerns of the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools and to demonstrate that probation was unwarranted were unseccessful: and WHEREAS, The Board of Control, the administration, and the faculty of Concordia Seminary believe they have always met the ATS standards and continue to make every effort to maintain a program that meets and exceeds the ATS standards: and WHEREAS, The Board of Control is satisfied that the actions of the Association of Theological Schools have not always been professional, as is evident from the resolution passed at the Atlanta convention of the ATS in 1974: therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled authorize and direct the Board of Control of Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, to take any action that may be necessary to protect the accreditation of Concordia Seminary and to protect its good name with other accredited theological seminaries: and be it further Resolved, That the Board of Control of Concordia Seminary be authorized and directed to seek appropriate judicial remedy if the present probation is not lifted. Board of Control Concordia Seminary St. Louis, Mo. Ralph Bohlmann, Acting Executive Officer 6-84 To Maintain Accreditation WHEREAS, The Synod is committed to a program of quality education at its seminaries, colleges, and universities; and WHEREAS, Accreditation by regional and professional agen- cies is a recognition of the achievement of academic standards: and WHEREAS. Accrediting agencies have given repeated assur- ances that it is not their intention to infringe on the confessional position of the Synod or its rights and privileges; therefore be it Resolved. That the Board for Higher Education, Boards of Control, and the faculties of our educational institutions be en- couraged to maintain academic standards for accreditation and to correct any circumstances that place in jeopardy the accreditation of any of our educational institutions. English District Robert L. Landeck, Secretary 6-85A To Explore Other Accreditation WHEREAS. It is the right and sacred duty of the Synod to exercise doctrinal supervision over its colleges and seminaries; and WHEREAS, In putting Concordia Seminary on academic probation in 1972 in response to the synodical President's ap- pointment of a Fact Finding Committee, the Association of Theological Seminaries (ATS, formerly AATS) has shown itself to be both irresponsible and manipulable by a certain partisan doctrinal faction within our Synod: and WHEREAS. This irresponsible and partisan interference was underscored by certain hostile resolutions it adopted at its Atlanta conference last year; and WHEREAS. The ATS has also raised serious doubts about its professional standards when it granted associate accredita- tion to Seminex in spite of the fact that Seminex was: (a) but a year old, (b) had no facilities of its own, (c) had no library of its own, and (d) had a “board of control’ which was essentially a mere creature of its faculty: and WHEREAS, Our Synod’s rights of doctrinal supervision seem threatened and the standards of academic quality seem poorly served by our relationship to the ATS: therefore be it Resolved. That the Boards of Control of our two seminaries be encouraged to assert and maintain before the ATS our Synod’s right of doctrinal self-control: and be it further Resolved. That these two boards be encouraged to investigate other avenues of accreditation (e.g., the North Central Asso- ciation of Colleges and Secondary Schools, which now also accredits theological seminaries), such avenues as would main- tain high professional standards of accreditation and would not amount to a doctrinal Trojan horse in our seminaries. Christ Lutheran Church Waverly, Il. Emery Seiz, President Marvin Duewer, Secretary E. A. Bielefeld, Pastor Identical or similar: 6-85B St. James, University City, Mo. Tom Baker 6-86A To Certify LCMS Students at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon WHEREAS, The Synod has authorized the establishment of a theological chair on the faculty of Lutheran Theological