LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 241

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PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION 241

chart of accounts will be implemented beginning with the

fiscal year, July 1, 1983.

In keeping with Res. 6-05A, Concordia College, Selma, has
continued to be exempt from the restriction of the subsidy
formula for synodical support. This has been done in recogni-
tion of the unique status and purpose of the institution.

Unfortunately, the goal of establishing a $1,500,000 endow-
ment fund for the support of Black ministry students adopted
at the Dallas convention has not been achieved.The needs
have been such that it was necessary to use all funds gathered
for this purpose as well as large amounts of undesignated
funds in order to move forward in providing pastors for Black
ministry. In effect, the support has been provided, though ina
different manner than envisioned. In the future, Forward in
Remembrance endowment earnings designated for minorities
will provide some assistance and will be allocated by the Board
for Professional Education Services in consultation with the
scholarship committee of the Commission on Black Ministry.
It is also hoped that efforts can be made toward establishment
of the endowment as originally intended.

' In order to carry out resolutions relating to Hispanic
i ministries, the Board for Professional Education Services
proposed a plan for implementation of a program of prepara-
tion at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. This
plan did not appear to be feasible for meeting the pressing
needs in this area. Consequently, the Board for Professional
Education Services in consultation with the Standing Com-
mittee on Hispanic Ministry determined to proceed with
implementation of an intensified program in Chicago. Prof.
Juan Berndt was called as the first professor in this program
and began his work on Jan. 1, 1983. A second professor, Dr.
Herbert Sims, who has been active in the program in the past,
was called as a second instructor. Plans are in progress for the
calling of a third staff member.

The entire program was made possible as a result of

cooperation on the part of the Board for Mission Services,
which seconded the Rev. Carlos Puig to serve as Director of
Hispanic Ministries Programs for a period of one year and
which approved a grant from Forward in Remembrance funds
to support the program. Recruitment of students is progressing,
and the Board for Professional Education Services has been
assured by the Hispanic Standing Committee that a sizable
class will begin preparation in the fall of 1983.
: ~In spite of efforts to add minorities to the staffs of the
\ colleges and seminaries, particularly Black staffmembers asa
' number of resolutions urged, little progress has been made.
! This is not necessarily due to lack of effort on the part of
colleges and seminaries but rather to the lack of availability of
personnel. Continued efforts will be madein the next triennium
to meet the goals outlined in the resolutions. As the number of
Black church workers increases, it may be possible to achieve
the desired goals.

Major Programs

In 1981 the synodical convention resolved that a study be
made for the feasibility of a four-year college at Selma. No
action has been taken on this matter for several reasons. The
prime reason is that it is unlikely that a four-year college
program could be established at this location until accredita-
tion of atwo-year program was achieved. At this time that has
not yet occurred, although a date has been established for
visitation by an accrediting team of the Southern Association
of Schools. A second reason involved was the lack of staff and
funding to carry out such a study. If accreditation of atwo-year
program is achieved, steps will be taken immediately to carry
out the feasibility study as directed as well as to consider those
overtures which called for establishment of a four-year college
in the Southeastern quadrant of the United States.

Responding to Res. 6-02A, the Lutheran Church—Canada
determined at its convention in November 1981 to establish
seminary programs in both eastern and western Canada, with
one program to be located at St. Catharines and the other at
Edmonton. Since that decision, plans have been completed for
the construction of a seminary building on the campus of Brock
University at St. Catharines and a task force appointed by the
Lutheran Church—Canada has completed a study for the
establishment of a seminary program in Edmonton located

initially on the campus of Concordia College, Edmonton. It is
intended that this program be begun in the fall of 1983 but
definitely no later than fall 1984. During the biennium the
Board for Professional Education Services has continued to
serve as the Board of Regents for both of these programs and
has carried out its activities with a Higher Education Commit-
tee—Canada serving as a liaison between the Canadian higher
education institutions and the Board for Professional Educa-
tion Services. During the past biennium Concordia College,
Edmonton, has strengthened its relationship with the Board
for Professional Education Services while retaining its position
of special ownership and governance. Bylaws for the govern-
ance of seminary education in Canada will be presented for
consideration by the delegates at the 1983 convention of the
Synod.

Continuing Education

During the past biennium the President of the Synod
appointed a Committee for Continuing Education in consulta-
tion with the Board for Professional Education Services. The
committee has met on four occasions, the staff services being
provided by the Board for Professional Education Services,
and has developed a statement of mission, has surveyed
continuing education activities which are presently being
carried out, has suggested the development of a number of
models, has requested status as a standing committee, and has
recommended the addition of a staff member for the Board for
Professional Education Services who will be responsible for
this activity. It has recognized the value of continued education
for all church workers in this period of rapid change and the
necessity of involvement of all levels, synodical, District,
congregational, and personal, in continuing education pro-
grams. An effective program in this area will require the
personal and financial support of each level.

Forward in Remembrance

The tremendous blessings which our Lord has poured out
upon the Synod through the sacrificial gifts provided through
Forward in Remembrance have also been a great blessing to
the colleges and seminaries. As a result, over $6,000,000 has
been allocated for deferred maintenance and energy conserva-
tion projects. Each campus has been the recipient of major
amounts of funding which will result in energy savings and
reduction in cost of operation. Expressions of gratitude to the
Lord and to the members of the Synod for their generous
offerings have been heard repeatedly.

In addition over $175,000 has been made available for
scholarships as a result of earnings from endowment funds
established through Forward in Remembrance gifts. A major
source of funding for this was the $1,000,000 endowment
provided by Lutheran Brotherhood for the support of seminary
students. The endowment funds also made it possible to
provide much needed scholarships for Hispanic seminary
students as well as smaller amounts for church work students
on the college level.

Endowmentearnings of $126,000 designated for continuing
education for clergy of partner churches made it possible to
respond to Overture 6-51 which was referred to the Board for
Professional Education Services. In consultation with the
Board for Mission Services, clergy from partner churches were
brought to the United States to carry out graduate programs at
the seminaries while at the same time some seminary faculty
members provided courses, led workshops, and presented
conference papers at partner church locations.

Overtures Referred

While the Board for Professional Education Services has
not been able to provide funding for the preparation of
instructors as requested in Overture 6-04, it has moved forward
in the identification of potential instructors to meet staffing
needs at the colleges and seminaries. The request for roster
information included a request for identification of highest
degree earned as well as the area of specialty in which it was
acquired. This information as well as similar information
received from persons not included in the synodical roster will
be developed into computer listings which will be made