# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1979_S176 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) LATE REPORTS AND OVERTURES 179 The District Board for Education established new policies and received a full-time executive secretary when Dr. Nestor L. Beck was appointed for that position during 1978. This brought also changes in the admini- stration of the seminary, and the Board of Control made every effort to adjust to the new policies. Enrollment The academic year in Brasil starts in March and ends in December. There are two semesters, but until now the seminary enrolled new students only at the beginning of the academic year. The following numbers of students were registered during these academic years. For the first time we will have close to a hundred students enrolled in the theological courses of the seminary. 1977 1978 1979 Basic course ............. _ 31 33 Ist Theology ............. 22 _ 27 2nd Theology ............ 20 22 ~ 8rd Theology ............. 18 20 21 4th Theology ............. 21 16 17 Colloquy .............06. — 1 1 Total ................ 81 90 99 The classes start to become larger for two reasons: (1) the enrollment at the Instituto Concordia, Sao Leopoldo, is becoming larger; (2) the seminary is accepting stu- dents from other high schools and colleges through a special entrance examination, through which candi- dates are tested especially in their knowledge of Chris- tian doctrine and the Bible. All need a recommendation from their pastor to enroll at the seminary. During the biennium the seminary placed in the pastoral office a total of 34 candidates. There were 19 of the 1977 class and 15 of the 1978 class. One-third of these candidates were sent to the mission fields in northern and central Brasil. The student association developed a great activity during the biennium. One of the major achievements was the return of the student publication Nostra Vita, which had been silent for more than 15 years. At the end of 1978 the students received a helping hand through the organization of the seminary guild (ASAS) by a group of ladies from the parishes of Greater Porto Alegre. During the second semester of 1978 the Board of Control authorized the introduction of physical educa- tion. The students organized their teams and took advantage of the facilities with new joy. Faculty As of Feb. 1, 1979, the faculty consists of 10 members, since Prof. Arnaldo Schueler started his contract on that date. During the years 1977 and 1978 there was no change in the faculty except change of positions. Prof. Dr. Martim C. Warth replaced Prof. Arnaldo J. Schmidt as president on May 31, 1977. From November 1976 to May 1977 Dr. Martim C. Warth was a guest professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, during his sabbatical year. Most members of the faculty are full-time profes- sors. Only professors Mario L. Rehfeldt (church history), Dr. Donaldo Schueler (New Testament), and Hans Gerhard F. Rottmann (church music, liturgics) decided to work only part-time for the seminary. During the biennium 1977/78 Dr. Martim C. Warth (systematics) was acting president, and academic dean. Prof. Walter OQ. Steyer (missions) is vice-president and dean of students. Prof. Acir Raymann (Old Testament) is dean of admissions and records and served as secretary to the faculty. Prof. Arnaldo J. Schmidt (homiletics, pastoral theology) serves as director of studies. Dr. Johannes H. Rottmann (New Testament) is librarian. Dr. Otto A. Goer! (homiletics, symbolics) serves as director of re- search. Prof. Arnaldo Schueler (symbolics, philosophy) serves as director of literary production. Prof. Hans G. F. Rottmann served as dean of the chapel. Prof. Elmer N. Flor (Old Testament), of the Instituto Concordia, served as guest professor during 1978. Rev. Hans Horsch (New Testament) was guest lecturer in 1977. Rev. Vilson Scholz (New Testament, librarian) and Rev. Paulo W. Buss (church history) were engaged during 1978 to substitute for professors on leave. Part- time instructors were Mr. Eli D. Thome (physical educa- tion), Rev. Mario Lehenbauer (English), Rev. Valerio Huwer (music), Rev. Carlos L. Feldmann (counseling), and in 1979 Rev. Norberto E. Heine (counseling). Dr. Walter G. Kunstmann is the only professor emeritus. The Rev. G. Grasel will prepare a course in institutional mission. Since 1977 there are 25 pastors of the Greater Porto Alegre area who serve as instructors of the fieldwork program started with the second semester of 1977. On sabbatical leave during the biennium were pro- fessors Dr. Martim C. Warth, Dr. Donaldo Schueler, Dr. Otto A. Goerl, and Mario L. Rehfeldt. Academic Program At the beginning of 1978, the 75th year of service to the church, Seminario Concordia published its first catalog. Until the middle of 1977 the seminary followed a prescribed program for the classes, without much choice for the students. Since the second semester of 1977 the seminary adopted the credit system, with some flexibility and choice for the students. In view of the small number of regular professors and the small number of students, the options are not very great, but they exist. This brought much change and many diffi- culties at the beginning, but the faculty and the students are getting accustomed to it. At the same time the fieldwork was also organized in such a way that all students are engaged each week in one of the 25 parishes of Greater Porto Alegre. The students are accepted in the parishes by a special introduction ceremony. There are also special services at the seminary for the students who complete their first homiletics course and their worship course, to remind them of the seriousness of the sermon and the distri- bution of the Lord’s Supper. Since 1977 there is also a special service for those who are assigned for vicarage and those who receive their first call. There are still too many credits required if one compares with other college standards. But the faculty decided to have students for more time in the classroom