LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 167

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ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

. Two hundred new campus ministries.

. Two hundred new deaf ministries.

. Three hundred percent increase in the number of blind
people served by programs of the Synod.

Professional Education Planning Unit

Ever since the organization of the LCMS, the colleges and

seminaries of the church have served as effective agencies in
carrying out its mission responsibility. Education and mis-
sions are two sides of the same coin. The church needs an
effective and supportive program in both areas. The future is
being planned with certain assumptions in mind.

Planning Assumptions

1.

10.

ll.
12.
13.

14.

15.

The world area mission goals will be pursued with realistic
zeal and determination and are within the realm of possi-
bility. The renewed evangelism emphasis will produce
positive results in membership dedication and increased
new membership and retention of members.

. Inthe 1980s there will be severe competition for a diminish-

ing supply of traditional college-age students. About 1.1
million fewer 18-year-olds will be available for college in
1990. Presently about 50 percent are attending college.

The financial gap between public education and private
will widen, reducing the percentage of young people able to
attend private colleges.

. Financial aid will be important for at least two-thirds of

prospective students. Colleges will have to draw increas-
ingly on their own resources to meet student aid needs. The
plan of the federal government is to cut back on student
assistance programs. If this continues, states will be hard
pressed to maintain student assistance programs at pres-
ent levels. Diminishing returns can be expected from
government funding.

. The normal professional replacement needs (pastors,

teachers, other ministries) will remain fairly constant with
current production.

. The rapid changes in society and the changing values and

living styles of people will require new educational ap-
proaches and retooling for some of today’s professional
church workers.

. Present college overhead costs need to be reduced. Adminis-

tration can be cut back and some programs consolidated.

. Few new facilities will be needed, but maintenance will

need to be increased. In a few cases aging buildings may
need to be replaced.

. The church and individual congregations will recognize

that the colleges offer a unique system of Christian higher
education for the laity over and above the programs
leading to professional church service and will support this
with students and financial resources.

. The church and individual congregations will recognize

and accept their individual and corporate responsibility in
supporting the entire program of the colleges and semi-
naries.

The role played by the colleges and seminaries in the total
program and mission of the church merits greater financial
support.

The current product is good but can be improved. The
academic integrity of the schools must be maintained.
The present preseminary enrollment levels at the colleges
should and can be increased.

It is desirable to engage synodically trained personnel at
the congregational level in terms of competence, dedi-
cation, and stability.

The colleges and seminaries exist primarily for the training
of LCMS students.

The colleges can also serve a mission purpose and be recog-
nized as a focal center of the LCMS presence.

Goals

1.

Student Enrollment Goals

a. The recruitment of students who will meet the changing
needs of the church as identified by its leadership.
Sufficiert graduates will be provided to meet the world
and North American mission goals.

b. The increased use of marketing expertise and tech-

2.

3.

167

niques to secure students appropriate to synodical
goals.

c. The placement of greater emphasis on recruitment of
preseminary students.

d. The reduction of student attrition rates.

e. Theexpansion of colloquy programs for nonsynodically
trained teachers in order to increase to 70" the number
of synodically prepared teachers in the elementary and
secondary schools of the Synod.

Financial Goals

a. Thecontinued engagement in long-and short-term plan-
ning in order to maintain fiscal soundness.

b. The reduction of per student overhead costs by 10".

c. An annual increase in subsidy support for seminaries to
a level of 65% of general and educational costs by 1993.

d. Anannual increase in subsidies for colleges to a level of
30". of general and education costs by 1993.

e. The creation of a permanent endowment fund or funds
of at least $20 million in support of student financial aid
by 1993.

f. The elimination of all current operating deficits at
colleges and seminaries by 1993.

National Staff Goals »

a. The reduction of competition in recruitment and fund-
raising between synodical higher education institu-
tions.

b. The sensitization of individuals, congregations, and
Districts to the responsibility of supporting the Synod’s
system of higher education.

c. The enlistment by 1993 of 85% of the congregations of
the Synod in annual submission of names of potential
students.

d. The computerization of lists of potential students at the
national level by 1985 for sharing with colleges and
seminaries.

e. The yearly evaluation of finances, programs, and per-
formance of graduates on an individual institution and
system level.

f. The development ofa plan by 1986 for restructuring the
system of synodical higher education in accordance
with fiscal capabilities and personnel needs of the
Synod.

g. The implementation of a plan for restructuring the
system of higher education by 1989.

h. The development of a computerized list of potential
faculty members by 1985.

i. The promotion of continuing education at the District,
circuit, and congregational levels.

Congregational Ministries Planning Unit

Planning Assumptions

1.
2.

Christians in the local congregation are moved by the love
of Christ to be involved in the ministry of the local parish.
The basic unit for the ministry of the Word of God in The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is the local congre-
gation.

. The ministry of the local parish involves Christians of all

age levels in worship, nurture, witness, service, and fellow-
ship support.

. Each parish unit has received from God adequate resources

to fulfill its mission in that place.

. The Synod through elected and appointed leaders in the

international and District offices serves congregations by
enabling Christians through resources of people and media
to carry out their ministry of the Word of God.

Worship Goals

1.

By 1994 the Synod has enrolled at least 50% of its members
in a program of daily private or family Bible reading,
instruction, and prayer.

. By 1994 the Synod has increased to 50% of its baptized

membership the size of the average Sunday morning
gathering of people to hear God’s Word and attend the
Lord’s Supper (up from 39% in 1979).

. By 1994 the Synod has published worship resource ma-