LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1962, Page 171

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NOR olan ies

COMMITTEE 1 171

Wuereas, The student has had the benefits of private
education at a reduced cost by association subsidy and
support; and

Wuereas, The high schools of our Synod, supported
by the local constituency, have saved the Synod educa-
tional costs and not the individual; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod restudy its policy of re-
imbursing transfers from our Lutheran high schools;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod reimburse the institution
where the transfers have attended (rather than the indi-
vidual) in the same proportion as it reimbursed the

individual. THE PASTORAL CONFERENCE, Circuit 21

SourH WISCONSIN DIstrRIctT

G. N. Busarow, Secretary
[176]

To Have Concordia Theological Seminary
at Springfield Revert to Its Original Concept
as Training School for Older Men
with Limited Formal Schooling

Wuereas, The latest catalog of our Concordia Theo-
logical Seminary at Springfield, Ill, contains this sen-
tence regarding entrance requirement: “It is the policy
of the seminary to train for the ministry men who have
attained the level of bachelor’s degree,” and also a sen-
tence to the effect that in no instance will they admit
a person who “has less than 60 semester hours of ac-
ceptable college credit”; and

Whereas, The original purpose of the Springfield
seminary was to provide an opportunity for training
those who later on in life, with little formal training,
were induced by the Spirit to take up the ministry as
their lifework; and

Wuereas, Various reasons may make it impossible
for men to obtain the requirements now demanded by
the seminary, and many may thus be discouraged from
entering the ministry; and

Waereas, Consecration to the Lord and loyalty to
His Word are needed even more than academic ex-
cellence, in every age and also in our day; and

Wuergeas, There is a shortage of qualified ministers
in our Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, and it is
urgent that we recruit men for the ministry at an in-
creased rate; therefore be it

Resolved, That this convention of The Lutheran
Church -— Missouri Synod —

1) Urge our Board for Higher Education to intro-
duce into our system of ministerial training a practical
seminary for the training of those who formerly found
a school in our seminary at Springfield;

2) Or require that our seminary at Springfield relax
its entrance requirements and become again that type
of seminary which it was in its earlier days.

Cart HorrMeyer, Hamler, Ohio
Pau. LreHENBAUER, Deshler, Ohio

(177]

To Impose Less Stringent Requirements
for Entrance to Concordia Seminary,
Springfield, TIL

Wuereas, We gather from the portion of the Spring-
fielder (Winter 1962; catalog) that the entrance re-
quirements for all students under 25 are being raised
from two years to four years of college or the A.B.
degree (“It is the policy of the seminary to train for
the ministry men who have attained the level of the
bachelor’s degree . . . the degree requirement is not

waived for any young man under the age of 25 years.”
(P. 10); and

Whereas, The two additional years would discourage,
if not in some instances make it impossible, for some
students, particularly those who are married, to be-
come ministers of the Gospel; and

Wuereas, The shortage of ministers of the Gospel
seems to become more acute as the challenges with
which the Lord of the church confronts us increase; and

WuereEas, Ministers with only two years of college
and then seminary training have over the years served
the church faithfully and efficiently; and

WuerEAS, Two extra years of training in a secular
college does not necessarily make for a more devoted
and efficient ministry; and

Wuereas, It is debatable whether the church ever
has the moral right to keep a young man from entering
the holy ministry by establishing human standards
which go beyond the standards set by God Himself
(1 Tim. 3:2, 3,4,6; Titus1:9); therefore be it

Resolved, That younger men, below the age of 25,
be encouraged to obtain an A. B. degree or the require-
ments stipulated in the entrance requirements (Spring-
fielder, p. 10); and be it further

Resolved, That obtaining more than two years of
college before admission to the Springfield seminary be
left to the discretion and the option of the student; and
be it finally

Resolved, That while we seek to raise the standards
for a better trained ministry, we do not shut the door
to someone who has the qualities and abilities to serve

in the ministry.
y Zion LUTHERAN CONGREGATION

Mascoutah, Il.

Louis WESTPHAL, Secretary

W. H. Symank, Pastor
[178]

To Discontinue the School for
Graduate Studies
Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod

finds itself in a serious financial condition due to ex-
penditures above and beyond moneys received; and

Wuereas, The population of the heathen world is
increasing so greatly and yet finds itself without the