LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 246

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246 HIGHER EDUCATION

Conelusion

During the past biennium the faculty at Seward devoted
considerable time and energy to the process of discussing and
revising its official mission statement. We conclude our report
to the Synod by sharing the first paragraph of this consensus
statement:

Concordia Teachers College, owned and operated by The Lutheran

Church—Missouri Synod, is a coeducational institution of higher

learning committed to the Christian growth of its students. Con-

cordia’s foremost goal is the education of the whole person for
effective Christian living and for ministry to church and world. This
goal is accomplished through degree programs in professional
education and the liberal arts. In addition, Concordia’s faculty,
staff, and students are committed to service to the church, the
community, toscholarly activity and research. These programs and
activities are set forth in an explicit value system that has as its core:
faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and only Savior of the world.
commitment to the Holy Scriptures as the communicator of that
faith, and commitment to the Lutheran Confessions as a true
exposition of the Scriptures.
Board of Control
Harold Stelzer, Chairman
M. J. Stelmachowicz, Executive Officer

Concordia Lutheran College
Austin, Tex.

Introduction

God's finest blessings and the generous participation of
God's people throughout Texas have marked the first biennium
of Founding 4, Concordia’s great venture of faith and service.
Convention action in 1979 authorizing the founding of a four-
year program at Concordia of Texas gave impetus to an idea
and to detailed plans whose time was right. Concordia of Texas
is only one short year away from graduating its first class with
baccalaureate degrees, ready for immediate service in our
congregations, for entry into our seminaries, or for embarking
on other professional careers. Long-time constituents and
supporters are seeing the outcome of their prayers and aspira-
tions, and a host of others who have newly identified with
Concordia have caught the vision of how productive Lutheran
higher education in their area can become. The Board for
Higher Education, the Board of Control, and the faculty and
staff find that the labors and hopes of their planning—
estimates, goals, timetables—have been vindicated. The Lord
has been remarkably good.

Although movement relative to the challenges and oppor-
tunities at Concordia of Texas grabs the headlines these days,
the week-to-week ministry of teaching and administering
continues to prosper as well. Motivated by Biblical values and
by dedication to godly service, the Concordia family continues
to grasp the talents and energies that God bestows in such
abundance as the strength of their daily learning and teach-
ing, conversation and counsel, worship and fellowship. The
result is that each succeeding academic year has been better
than the last.

Board of Control

The Board of Control provides the temperament, experience,
and enthusiasm necessary for steady and orderly growth.
Their unquestioned commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, to
the health of the Synod, and to the strength of the institution
provides the context for making sometimes difficult decisions.
Present board members are Dr. Ray A. Malzahn, college
administrator (chairman); Rev. Herbert Graf, pastor (vice-
chairman); Mr. Donald Schmidt, teacher (secretary); Mr. God-
frey Cadra, retired businessman; Rev. Marvin Lehnhardt,
pastor; Rev. Glenn O’Shoney, Texas District president; Mr.
Leonard Schroeder. business executive.

The Board of Control along with the administration of the
college benefits from the energies, thoughts, and recommen-
dations of a newly established Concordia Council. This council,
consisting of about 60 influential and insightful Lutherans
from throughout the Southwest, is divided into commissions to
give counsel to the programs and policies that characterize the
development of Concordia. Executive coordinator of the Con-

cordia Council is Rev. Martin Ramming, who is retired from
pastoral ministry in the Texas District. The Concordia Council
has quickly established its merit through its advice to the
Board of Control and by strengthening constituent relations.

Faculty

The faculty persists in being extraordinarily active in all of
the committee tasks inherent in change and growth. They have
freely accepted the challenge of uncounted hours of research
and discussion without abandoning the regular responsibili-
ties of their offices: extensive teaching loads, advanced studies,
conference papers, guest preaching, participation in campus
life, counseling students, and the like. Rewards have been
limited to personal satisfaction and the apparent success of
their labors.

Those who joined the faculty in the past biennium are
Robert W. Culp, 1979; Barbara E. Morton, 1979; Thomas H.
Orton, 1979; John D. Graham, 1980; Linda C. Lowery, 1980;
and Leonard E. Stahlke, 1980.

Those who left the faculty over the same period are Daniel
C. Bruch, 1979; Brenda Lentz, 1980; and Robert W. Culp, 1981.

The full-time faculty of 22 is assisted by 7 part-time faculty
members. Several calls to key teaching roles are pending.

Other positions have been filled by Jack Gillam and Phil
Hohle, admissions counselors, and Paul Wacker, development
associate.

Student Body

The granting of four-year status to Concordia of Texas has
had an immediate positive effect on enrollment. Official
figures for 1980—81 show 360 students enrolled. The exciting
novelty of the count, of course, is that 57 of the total are juniors—
The majority of the approximately 200 freshman indicate that
they have enrolled with the intent of pursuing their education
to the baccalaureate level at Concordia. The result is not only
good numbers, relatively speaking, but also good prospects,
especially as additional approved degree programs are more
fully implemented.

The wholesome trend in general enrollment is exceeded by
the most satisfying trend in the enrollment of church-work
students. In the spring semester these number 114, more than
twice the number reported to any of the last several con-
ventions. The four-year program has also added to the number
who make career changes to church work, either by entering at
an advanced level from without or by changing career goals
while enrolled.

Early statistics with reard to 1981—82 suggest that pro-
jected growth goals were well founded and that the trend to
greater numbers will continue.

Finances

The combination of adequate enrollments, synodical sub-
sidy, and the collective and individual generous support of the
Texas District, its congregations, and its families has provided
the funds that, under sound and sometimes creative manage-
ment, have added to the string of years in which income has
been adequate to support the entire operation of Concordia
without deficit.

It continues to be clear, however, that the personnel of the
College are asked to bear too much of the brunt of such solvency
through modest salaries and minimal funds allocated for
professional development, coupled with the fact that they are
typically cut off from the potential of that occasional generous
outpouring of a loving congregation in the observance of an
anniversary or the like.

Founding 4

Founding 4 is the term chosen to describe the entire
movement to functional four-year status. It is an effort that
extends until 1983, the time of a projected enrollment of 600, a
full-time faculty of approximatley 30, five majors fully in place,
and two new buildings, along with three others extensively
remodeled, in use. These goals in turn contribute to the goal of
doing things right from the beginning.

Founding 4 bears a significant price tag, especially for
construction. The effort to gather $3,000,000 launched in
January 1980, will have been successfully completed in June