LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 264

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264 HIGHER EDUCATION

the Synod tells us that for a number of decades the Synod paid
for the location, construction, and maintenance of its colleges
and seminaries and charged students and their supporters
only for board.

WHEREAS, Changes in charges to students have risen a
great deal so that today student charges at the St. Louis and
Fort Wayne seminaries amount to $4,000 and more per year;
and

WHEREAS, The synodical support for the two seminaries is
less than 40 percent while the rest that is needed comes from
inadequate funds or special appeals; and

WHEREAS, The current shortage of pastors in the Synod is
above 500 while there are ample openings for missions at home
and abroad: and

WHEREAS, The mission of our Savior does not indicate only a
small percentage of support from rank and file members of the
Synod while calling for major support from students, their
parents, and special donors. We assert that the people as a
whole are obligated to bear the total cost. A fair support from
students, their parents, and others is proper. Not all members
can serve in person, but they can serve by proxy. The students
become their agents; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod return to its original program of
bearing the cost of training its professional workers, except for
a nominal charge to the student, at this time possibly $500 per
year; and be it further

Resolved, That the cost be added to the Synod’s annual
budget; and be it further

Resolved, That this be in fullest accord with the Holy
Scriptures in Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47; and
Acts 1:8-9, which make every donor a missionary according to
the word of our Savior; and be it finally

Resolved, That we join in prayer that this effort, in full
harmony with our Lord’s great preascension command, in due
time bring us an ample supply of pastors and missionaries.

Trinity Lutheran Church
New Haven, Mo.
Orville Meyer, Secretary

8-43
To Support the Mission Role of Selma

WHEREAS, Alabama Lutheran Academy and College (Selma)
was founded in 1922 by the Synodical Conference for the
special purpose of preparing Black professional church
workers; and

WHEREAS, The Synodical Conference in 1962 transferred the
entire ownership, control, and maintenance of the schools to
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, In the same year the Synod in convention stated
that:

WHEREAS, The Southern District is addressing itself aggressively to
the problem of raising the level of the Lutheran elementary schools
which supply students for Selma Lutheran Academy and College,
Selma, Ala. (Proceedings, 1962, Res. 1-21, p. 78)

and

WHEREAS, The Southern District continues its efforts to
upgrade the area Lutheran elementary schools, and the Synod
has brought the physical facilities to acceptable health, safety,
and academic standards by providing six new buildings since
1965; and

WHEREAS, The graduates of the high school and junior
college divisions of Selma transfer to other synodical schools to
complete their preparation for professional church work; and

WHEREAS, The mission of Selma is still viewed as recruiting
Black students for professional church work but the entire
Black baptized membership of the Synod numbers only about
10,000 and

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has resolved, “That
synodical subsidies be granted to colleges and seminaries
primarily for the support of church-work students according to
a formula established and implemented by the Board for
Higher Education on approval of the Board of Directors, with

support increasing as students progress through the class
levels of each church-worker program, and with priority being
given to students preparing for the pastoral and teaching
ministries” (Proceedings, 1979, Res. 6-01A, p. 139); and

WHEREAS, Selma has not yet been able to achieve accredited
status with the regional accrediting agency and as a con-
sequence is being deprived of significant potential sources of
funds and students; and

WHEREAS, A considerable improvement of institutional
resources in the area of faculty, library, and faculty and
student support services is needed to obtain accreditation;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod thank and praise God for the
many blessings bestowed on Selma and its faithful Board of
Control, faculty, and students; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod continue to support the special
mission of Alabama Lutheran Academy and College and
encourage all of its congregations and professional church
workers to recruit students for ministry to Blacks; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Board for Missions recognize the unique
mission of Selma and in consultation with the Board for
Higher Education provide financial assistance to the insti-
tution to meet operating costs not covered by the normal Board
for Higher Education allocation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Control in consultation with
the Board for Missions and the Board for Higher Education
review its purpose, identify its service area and clientele, and
establish specific goals and objectives which will give direction
to Alabama Lutheran Academy and College; and be it finally

Resolved, That to assist in accomplishing these goals and
objectives the Board for Higher Education be instructed to
provide a one-time grant to Selma, over and above the regular
synodical allocation for operating costs.

Board for Higher Education
Walter L. Rosin, Executive Secretary

6-44

To Exempt Alabama Lutheran Academy
and College from the BHE Subsidy Policy

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
always given special attention to the opportunities and needs
of Alabama Lutheran Academy and College; and

WHEREAS, The synodical Board for Higher Education has
met at Alabama Lutheran on a number of occasions to take a
firsthand look at the needs and opportunities of this institution
as indicated in its convention reports (New Orleans Conven-
tion Report, 1973, pp. 241—250); and

WHEREAS, This attention to the needs of the school has
resulted in a significant strengthening of the faculty and the
accreditation of the academy; and

WHEREAS, ALAC in its nearly 60-year history has, under
God’s grace, supplied a significant number of men and women
who have entered professional church work; and

WHEREAS, ALAC presents an opportunity for the LCMS to
be a voice and conscience to the many unique opportunities
existing in the South today; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of these unique opportunities gives
the LCMS the opportunity to provide wholehearted support to
the work at ALAC; and

WHEREAS, ALAC has been urged to go full steam ahead in
recruitment and expansion of education opportunities; and

WHEREAS, This effort has resulted in the recruitment of a
significant number of non-Lutheran and general education
students; and

WHEREAS, There is a great possibility of mission and
evangelism among the non-Lutheran students who attend
ALAC; and

WHEREAS, The present subsidy policy of the Board for
Higher Education is based on the number of Lutheran church-
work students; and