LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 236

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236 HIGHER EDUCATION

marking the anniversaries, including the opening service of
the present school year, the seminary hosted a number of
convocations and lectures dealing with topics related to our
confessional heritage. One of the most significant events was
the April 10—11, 1980, conference on the theme “A Celebration
of Confessional Subscription: Past, Present, and Future,”
which brought parish pastors and scholars together for essays
and discussions on confessional themes. Several of the semin-
ary faculty were also invited to deliver lectures and essays
related to the confessional anniversaries in the U.S.A. and in
various parts of the world, including New Zealand, Australia,
Taiwan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Korea, and Germany.

Seminary Publications

Concordia Seminary continues to provide its Concordia
Journal without cost to the pastors of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod. Although the escalating cost of providing this
service is very difficult for the seminary to assume in these
inflationary times, the board nevertheless feels that this
publication is an important resource for the pastors of the
Synod. During the past biennium, several seminary faculty
members published various journal articles and books, and
contributed essays at several District conventions as well asa
number of pastors and teachers conferences.

Television Program on Second Careers

In the fall of 1980, Concordia Seminary hosted a half-hour
television program produced and presented by NBC—TV.
Entitled ‘‘From Pew to Pulpit: Second Careers,” the program
featured seminary president Ralph Bohlmann in interviews
with four seminary students who have left successful secular
careers in order to become pastors. The program received wide
distribution and attention throughout the country and evoked
many favorable responses to its expression of the deep con-
viction and commitment of today’s seminary students, what-
ever their age, who seek to bring the Gospel of forgiveness and
life to a sinful and dying world.

Planning for Future Needs

The board has formed a Planning Committee, consisting of
representatives of the board, administration, faculty, and
student body, in order to develop plans for the seminary’s
future physical needs. A great deal of attention has been given
to the development of a master plan for the campus, a detailed
landscaping and reforestation plan to enhance and increase
the beauty of the seminary campus, the feasibility of con-
structing new worship facilities, as well as the building
projects made possible by the Forward Fund. It is hoped that
the efforts of this committee will assist the board in continuing
to provide excellent facilities for the training of the Synod’s
pastors.

Financial Matters

Financial concerns continue to cause the seminary a great
deal of anxiety. The effects of inflation have been devastating.
The continued growth of the seminary has necessitated addi-
tional faculty, staff, and service personnel. Although The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod continues to subsidize the
seminary in a generous fashion, that subsidy is actually
providing a decreasing percentage of our support each year. In
the current school year, for example, the seminary’s subsidy
from the Synod is $46,000 higher than in the previous year, but
provides 7 percent less of the income needed to take care of our
educational and general expenses (32.1 percent in 1980—81 vs.
39.6 percent in 1979—80). At the direction of the 1979 synodical
convention, the synodical colleges and seminaries were given
additional funds to provide for generous faculty salary in-
creases in the 1979—80 school year. However, the 1980—81
subsidy from the Synod was not only insufficient to maintain
those increases from synodical funds, but failed to provide for
those who were added to the faculty. Unless unrestricted gifts
to the seminary during the current fiscal year exceed $750,000,
the gap between income and expenses in this year’s budget will
not be closed, leaving the seminary with a large deficit. With
such sizable needs for general operations, it becomes increas-
ingly difficult, if not impossible, to build our endowment for

student financial assistance or to undertake necessary capital
or program projects.

Because our sister seminary in Fort Wayne faces a similar
situation, both institutions have submitted overtures to this
convention asking the Synod to take various steps to relieve
this situation. Our board believes that the members of the
Synod share our conviction that nothing has higher priority
for us in the Synod than the preparation of our pastors and
missionaries. We are therefore confident that the members of
the Synod will respond with open and generous hearts to our
plea for increased financial assistance.

Overtures to Convention

In addition to the aforementioned overture submitted jointly
by the Fort Wayne and St. Louis seminaries, our Board of
Control has submitted overtures to this convention asking for
improved housing allowances for college and seminary staffs,
urging the Synod to maintain the present percentage of college
and seminary support, asking for continued upward adjust-
ments in faculty salaries, and requesting a change in the
Bylaw requirements for granting permanent tenure to pro-
fessors. Additional overtures have been submitted by the
seminary faculty. We appreciate the attention and considera-
tion given to these overtures by the delegates.

Conclusion

Concordia Seminary is intensely gratified and privileged to
be permitted to serve the members of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod in their faithful efforts to carry out the Great
Commission of our Lord and Savior to make disciples of the
nations. The seminary is a living example of the “partnership
in the Gospel” that St. Paul wrote about in his Epistle to the
Philippians, especially as laymen and pastors throughout the
Synod join hands with the students, staff, faculty, and board of
the seminary to do the many tasks associated with preparation
for the ministry of the Gospel. The board in particular herewith
expresses its deep debt of gratitude to the many members of the
Synod who have remembered the seminary so generously with
their offerings and whose prayers for its ministry never cease.

The blessings received by Concordia Seminary have been
manifestly abundant. Through them we have been able to
advance the ministry of Word and Sacrament by offering a
truly Biblical and confessional theological education to a
growing student body. But we cannot rest as our Lord continues
to challenge us with new opportunities for service. Our answer
to His challenge must be a continuing commitment to build on
our blessings.

E. J. Otto, Chairman
Walter C. Dissen, Secretary
Ralph A. Bohlmann, Executive Officer

6-04

Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Ind.

Home Again in Fort Wayne

In 1976 Concordia Theological Seminary returned to Fort
Wayne, Ind., its original home. During the preceding 130 years
the seminary moved from Fort Wayne to St. Louis, to Spring-
field, Ill., and back again. The dreaming, planning, adjustment,
and evaluation of the past five years have been trying, yet
stimulating and wholesome experiences for the faculty, the
students, the Fort Wayne community, and The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. With the settling-in process accom-
plished, the seminary as a service institution now is poised to
pursue new programs, improve existing ones, and continue its
proper role on the cutting edge of theological education.

As a community of faith and learning maintained and
supported by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Con-
cordia Theological Seminary has certain cherished and fun-
damental convictions, relations, and intentions.

Convictions. The faith by which this community of faith
and learning is nourished is that of historic, or classical,
Lutheranism, exemplified in the writings of the Book of
Concord (1580). Such a confession supports the seminary in its