Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 263
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 263

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

HIGHER EDUCATION 263

Bertram, Frederick W. Danker, Edgar M. Krentz,
Herbert T. Mayer, Robert D. Preus, and Walter Wegner
were elevated to the rank of professor. Assistant Pro-
fessors Ralph A. Bohlmann, John W. Constable, Carl
Graesser Jr., Robert A. Grunow, Norman C. Habel, Miss
Lucille Hager, and Lester E. Zeitler were elevated to the
rank of associate professor. Instructors Mark P. Bangert
and Nolan R. Bremer were assigned the rank of assistant
professor. Graduate Assistant David E. Deppe was given
the rank of instructor.

Twelve men were granted sabbatical leaves in ac-
cordance with the synodically approved program. In
addition three were granted 2-year study leaves to per-
mit them to complete their work toward a doctorate.
The various leaves offered staff members opportunity
to continue their academic work, to gain practical expe-
riences in counseling and at urban centers, to assist
churches in foreign fields in the development of their
theological educational programs, and to serve the
church at large in preparing much-needed theological
literature.

During the past biennium 27 members of the faculty
served on various synodical and intersynodical boards,
commissions, and committees. In addition to the usually
large number of conference and convention essays, the
faculty contributed major articles to more than 24 differ-
ent learned journals including such eminent periodicals
as Harvard Theological Review, Archiv fiir Reforma-
tionsgeschichte, Indian Journal of Church History,
Journal of Ecclesiastical History, Zeitschrift fiir Alttes-
tamentliche Wissenschaft, Novum Testamentum, and
Catholic Biblical Quarterly.

Curriculum

The faculty has addressed itself seriously to updating
the curriculum in order to enable the seminary to meet
changing needs in our present society. After a series
of meetings, workshops, and a faculty retreat, in which
consultations were held with pastors, vicar supervisors,
synodical officials, college and theological educators
from various areas of the church, the faculty has now
entered into a full-scale curriculum revision. Through
a special grant of $24,000 to the Board for Higher Edu-
cation such a study has been made possible. Dr. John
Damm was granted a leave of absence to direct the
study, which should be of very great benefit to both
synodical seminaries,

Meanwhile a number of curricular experiments are
under way. Together with Eden Seminary and the
St. Louis University School of Divinity a number of
students have been involved in a research elective
titled “Study of Metropolitan Affairs.” During the past
biennium we also had our first experience with the
clinical pastoral education program as an option for
undergraduate students. The amount of credit allowed
for a quarter of clinical training at an accredited clinical
pastoral education center is about equal to that earned
during a quarter in residence at the seminary. In the
1967—68 school year 17 students took advantage of the
choice; in the 1968—69 school year 29 students elected

clinical pastoral education. We believe that this training
in pastoral care is one of the most useful tools for build-
ing the student's skills and helping him to become
generally a more skillful and considerate pastor.

The seminary has become a charter member of the
recently formed Association for Clinical Pastoral Edu-
cation, Inc.

Arrangements have also been completed with Saint
Louis University that will permit fourth-year and grad-
uate students to take courses at the St. Louis University
School of Divinity as part of the seminary’s program.
This arrangement is made on a reciprocal basis. Also
a graduate seminar on Reformation studies is being
offered jointly with Washington University and the St.
Louis University School of Divinity for doctoral candi-
dates. As this report is being written, the faculty is
considering a major interim curricular change which
will reduce the number of core courses and add greater
flexibility to the seminary offerings. To meet the grow-
ing interest in the church's work in urban affairs, highly
qualified guest instructors are assisting the seminary in
such courses as “Mission and Ministry in a Diverse
Society,” “The Urban Church.” “Counseling.” “Race
Relations and the Church,” “Social Work for the Pas-
tor,” and “Special Ministries.”

In the area of worship and church music, the Schola
Cantorum, conducted annually since 1965 during the
summer, offers a program of growing importance to the
Lutheran Church. especially in this day of liturgical
renewal.

Missionary Education

The missionary education program, conducted on our
campus under the direction of Prof. William J. Danker
each summer since 1956, will be carried on jointly
during the next 3 years by a new group representing
the mission boards of The American Lutheran Church,
the Lutheran Church in America, and The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod. This year’s site is Chicago.
In 1970 it will be Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; in
1971 Luther Seminary, St. Paul. Professor Danker was
invited to teach the main course on the theology and
practice of missions at Chicago this year. The mission-
aries of the three groups work very closely together
abroad. In some instances, e. g., in Japan, the Lutheran
churches have already declared and implemented pulpit
and altar fellowship. Therefore joint missionary prep-
aration better fits the new realities.

Professor Danker spent the winter quarter, 1968—69.
on a mission study trip in East Asia, his first in 7 years.
One purpose was to allow him to catch up with the
dynamic changes in this part of the world and its mis-
sionary situation. He spent 2 months in Japan acquiring
contemporary background for a course in comparative
religions. Regular study trips of this type are absolutely
essential for men who teach world missions and com-
parative religions.

Professor Repp spent 6 months, from June to De-
cember 1968, in New Guinea. He served as professor at
Martin Luther Seminary at Lae and made a thorough