LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 265

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HIGHER EDUCATION 265

WHEREAS, The policy has caused a severe reduction in
subsidy to ALAC; and

WHEREAS, The reduction in subsidy this year reported to be
$85,000; and

WHEREAS, This reduction is hampering the support needed
by the president of ALAC as he seeks to implement his
programs for recruitment of Lutheran students and faculty;
and

WHEREAS, The application of this policy at this time to a
unique and special situation is detrimental to the programs
and educational objectives of the school as set forth by the
Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That until the 1985—86 school year, Alabama
Lutheran Academy and College be exempt from the Board for
Higher Education’s subsidy policy based on the number of
Lutheran church-worker students.

Commission on Black Ministry
Simon Bodley, Chairman

6-45

To Increase Support
of Alabama Lutheran Academy and College

WHEREAS, God has richly blessed the development and
ministry of Alabama Lutheran Academy and College (ALAC)
during the past eight decades; and

WHEREAS, ALAC both helps educate young men and women
for professional church ministries and serves as a regional
center of Christian higher education for many area students
from non-Lutheran background (thus functioning as a mission
arm of the church); and

WHEREAS, Current plans of ALAC include the attaining of
regional accreditation of its present two-year college program
by 1983 and the future expansion of the college to four years;
an

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has gen-
erously supported the college with annual subsidy and capital
improvements; and

WHEREAS, There is a growing potential due to the increasing
population of the Sunbelt and other factors to develop ALAC as
the Synod’s college for the southeastern United States; and

WHEREAS, A change in policy regarding subsidies to synod-
ical schools by the Board for Higher Education has predicated
future subsidy on the basis of the number of professional
church-work students enrolled, thus producing for ALAC an
unpredictable income level; and

WHEREAS, Such an effect has been experienced during the
1980—81 school year through the reduction of the previous
year’s subsidy of $350,000 to $268,000, which was later adjusted
somewhat to alleviate the financial anxiety caused; therefore

e it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
praise and thank God for the ministry of Alabama Lutheran
Academy and College; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
encourage the Board of Control and faculty of ALAC in their
effort to upgrade and expand their curricular program; and be
it further

Resolved, That the LCMS endorse and approve ALAC’s
two-fold educational thrust of both preparing professional
church workers while also serving as the regional center for
Christian higher education; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS direct the Board for Higher
Education to aid and assist the college in shedding its pro-
vincial image in its continuing development as the synodical
college of the southeastern United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS stabilize the funding for ALAC by
directing the Board for Higher Education to declare an
exception to the formula rule by which it grants ALAC its
support; and be it finally

Resolved, That synodical support of ALAC be maintained

at no less than the $350,000 level for each of the next three
years.

Board of Directors

Southern District

Richard E. Kuehnert Jr., Secretary

6-46

To Reaffirm the Need for Black Faculty
and Staff at Secondary Schools
and Colleges

WHEREAS, An accelerated recruitment program focused on
the potential Black professional church workers has been
launched by our church; and

WHEREAS, Such a recruitment program should result in a
greatly increased number of Blacks in the secondary schools,
colleges, and seminaries of our Synod; and

WHEREAS, Black faculty and/or Black advisors have proven
to be very helpful in communicating with the Black students,
helping them to cope with the social and academic problems on
our campuses; and

WHEREAS, The number of Black faculty and staff personnel
in our system of colleges and secondary schools is appallingly
negligible; therefore be it

Resolved, That each college and seminary be instructed to
employ at least one Black faculty member during the next two
years; and be it further

Resolved, That the seminaries and colleges be instructed to
cooperate with the work of the Commission on Black Ministry,
which is the coordinative synodical body for this purpose; and
be it finally

Resolved, That the report on the status of this resolution be
included in the report of the Board for Higher Education to the
next convention.

Commission on Black Ministry
Simon Bodley, Chairman

6-47

To Reaffirm the Need to Revise and
Enrich the Program for Training of
Pastors and Teachers for Black Ministry

WHEREAS, A large number of individuals will be entering the
pastoral office of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod over
the next 10 years; and

WHEREAS, Many of these persons will be serving urban
Black and integrated parishes for the foreseeable future; and

WHEREAS, The curricula at the seminaries are not designed
to equip the individuals to serve effectively in such parishes;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the 1981 convention instruct synodical
institutions to upgrade their curricula to include required
courses and experiences reflecting the culture and experiences
of Blacks and other ethnic minorities.

Commission on Black Ministry
Simon Bodley, Chairman

6-48

To Develop Alternate Forms of Training
for Church-Vocational Workers

WHEREAS, Changing times and changing communities (e.g.,
ethnic, inner-city, rural, urban, suburban, apartment, single
parent, senior citizens) require new ideas for ministry for the
church to go, teach, and baptize; and

WHEREAS, New forms of ministry need people to be properly
trained to make new mission outreach a successful reality; and

WHEREAS, Present forms of church-worker training do not
always meet the needs of the community to be served; therefore
be it