Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1981 · 54th Convention › Page 6
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 6

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

6. HIGHER EDUCATION

6-01
Report of Board for Higher Education

Preamble

When the 1979 synodical convention endorsed the planning
principles proposed by the Board for Higher Education, it
demonstrated its confidence in its schools and their faculties
and administrations. Above all, it expressed its faith in the
promise of a gracious triune God to bless the efforts of the
Synod and its seminaries, colleges, and high schools that are
directed toward entering the doors which He has opened and
continues to open in higher education.

To take such action required faith and courage in the face of
factors that gave every indication that the future of higher
education was bleak and uncertain. At a time when colleges
and universities had entered a period of retrenchment because
of a decline in the traditional student population and because
of the pressure of continuing and growing inflation rates, the
decision to move forward in providing expanded programs of
Christian higher education and increased services was a

“ daring one. That, however, should not be surprising, because it
is the nature of faith to accept that which appears impossible
and to trust the faithful God who presented the challenge to
provide the means for meeting it.

He has demonstrated both His ability and His readiness to
do that in the past. Paramount in that demonstration is His
faithfulness in the fulfillment of His promises to meet the
problems resulting from man’s faithlessness. The life and
death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ for us and for all
the world are a constant stimulus to seek opportunities for
service in the cause of Him who “came not to be served but to
serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Reflection upon
His countless blessings on the efforts of the schools of the
Synod in the past provides the confidence to move forward in
remembrance of those blessings.

Acting upon the principles adopted in 1979, the Board for
Higher Education has sought to work closely with the colleges
and seminaries as they developed their plans to provide the
pastors, teachers, and other professional workers needed by
the Synod to meet the mission and ministry goals adopted by
the Saint Louis convention. In doing so they have been very
sensitive to the fact that while the individual boards of control

are responsible for the operation of the schools, the Board for
Higher Education also has a heavy responsibility for providing
leadership and guidance. In spite of the intense effort for
recruitment of such workers, it is obvious that even more
prayer and effort will be necessary.

The resolution calling for the Synod to redouble “‘its efforts
to recruit for church ministries” must be given most serious
consideration in the future. This is especially true as the
population of young people available for such ministries
continues to decrease, as competition for their talents and
services becomes more intense, and as new and unique oppor-
tunities for other forms and areas of ministry develop.

Although enrollment at the seminaries continued to in-
crease, a report at the end of 1979 still showed a net loss of 92
pastors for the Synod. Hopefully, this will be reduced by the
larger classes now graduating from these schools. While the
net increase in the number of women teachers was 368 for 1979,
male teachers showed a net decrease of 4 for the same year.
Undoubtedly, this is due to the decision of some male teachers
to enter the pastoral colloquy program. The following table
illustrates the pattern of the past four years. Final statistics are
not available at this time for 1980.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES
IN SYNOD’S MINISTRY—PASTORS 1976—1979

Entered Synodical Service

Left Synodical Service fe Gain

or Loss
5 | 7

z
3
3 6

< z Za jrnor
=v N cS Eo] c= —~ ee
3: a - So] % Z= Jue g) o
25 = = & ak Sac =
2 e) 2 |Pzs}z | $2 )e32) 2

% = & amet o x2 ;egzy] =
= 3% = 2o]2 & 30
a c E54
o 3 Be ves
2 oe |f£au
= x

Based on Statistical Yearbooks 1976-1979

ACTIVE SYNODICALLY TRAINED TEACHERS (Accessions and Losses) Four-Year History—Male Teachers

Accessions

Losses

Graduates| Re-entered| Otherwise

Secured | Accessions

Resigned| Retired] Returned} Died

Other To Other| Total | Net Gain
Church
Position Synods |Losses| Or Loss
42 3
41 48
42 17 -16
38 4 284 T <4

These figures include special education and prekindergarten programs.
Based on Board of Parish Education Studies