Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 268
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 268

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

268 HIGHER EDUCATION

III of the four-part brochure, entitled, “My Answers
to Your Questions.” The questions had, of course, been
intended to serve as the basis of oral discussion at the
July 5, 1968, meeting which Mr. Braun failed to attend.
After reading Mr. Braun’s answers, the special com-
mittee was more convinced than ever that a personal
meeting of the type proposed by the board was essen-
tial. The committee therefore extended a new invita-
tion to Mr. Braun in a letter of Aug. 2, 1968, emphasizing
again the purpose of the meeting. Mr. Braun rejected
our invitation and suggested that in the future all dis-
cussions with him be carried on by correspondence.

The Board of Control accepted the report of the
special committee and is fully satisfied that the seven
faculty members referred to in Mr. Braun’s pamphlet,
A Layman’s Concern About His Church, are not guilty
of the charges of teaching false doctrine leveled against
them by Mr. Braun with the use of very intemperate
language. The board is satisfied that all seven are
faithful to their ordination promise, made again at the
time of their installation into their professorial chairs,
and continue to teach in conformity with the Word of
God and the Lutheran Confessions.

Further correspondence has ensued, but as of this
writing the situation remains unchanged.

In giving this account of our actions in the case of
the charges brought against members of our faculty
by Mr. Braun, we want the Synod to know that we
are willing to investigate any charges brought against
our faculty but at the same time expect those who
accuse to demonstrate a willingness to meet with us
in a brotherly manner and to prove their charges or
to withdraw them.

We stand ready to share with the Synod, if it so
desires, a detailed and complete documentation of our
dealings with Mr. Braun.

The Board of Control now comes to the convention
of the Synod with the request that the convention ex-
press itself with regard to the matter of protecting these
teachers of the church, who have been accused by Mr.
Braun, in the performance of their duties and the main-
tenance of their rights. The board also requests the
convention to take steps to uphold the board in its
determination to carry out all of the objectives of the
Synod as they apply to the board’s assigned responsi-
bilities. Boarp or CONTROL
Georce A. Loose, Chairman
Aucust E. BECKEMEIER, Secretary

(6-05)
Concordia Theological Seminary,
Springfield, Il.

The Board of Control of Concordia Theological Semi-
nary, Springfield, Ill, herewith submits the biennial
report of the seminary together with a statement of the
needs of the seminary.

I. Type of Institution

Concordia Theological Seminary is one of the two
theological seminaries operated by The Lutheran

Church — Missouri Synod for the purpose of training
men for the pastoral ministry. Organized at Fort Wayne
in 1846 and located at Springfield since 1874, it has
nearly 125 years of rich tradition and service to the
church. It has prepared more than 3,800 men who have
administered the Word and sacrament in parishes and
mission fields, on campuses and battlefields, in hospitals
and institutions. Some of these have continued in grad-
uate study and are now serving in the specialized min-
istries of the church. The seminary continues to make
it possible for a limited number of older men who decide
later in life to obtain a quality education for the holy
ministry. Except for selected and qualified older stu-
dents, all entering students are now required to have
a college diploma before entering the seminary. The
changing educational and social scene makes it neces-
sary to adjust the goals of the seminary to meet needs
of the church and of the world in which we live.

The seminary provides the church with more than
40 percent of the candidates who each year enter the
holy ministry. The challenge to the future of the semi-
nary lies in the continuing recruitment of graduates
from colleges and universities all over North America
who shall bring into the ministry the skills and attitudes
gained from a broad educational background. The cur-
riculum provides 4 years of extensive theological study,
three of which are in residence and one in a supervised
vicarage.

Il. Enrollment Summaries

A. Statistics. Enrollment: Enrollment as of Oct. 1
for the 1967—68 school year was 417, and as of Oct. 1 for
the 1968—69 school year a total of 432 students were
registered. A continuing increase in students admitted
since 1964 is the most encouraging development.

B. Degrees and Backgrounds. During the past school
year 90 percent of our students had the bachelor’s de-
gree before entering the seminary. It is anticipated that
this percentage will increase slightly. More than 150
American colleges and universities are represented in
our student body.

Number of Placements, 1967—69

Year Fall Winter Spring Summer Total
1967—68 _............ 3 3 49 19 74
1968—69 0... 6 3 67 17 93

Each year a small number of Seminary IV graduates
pursue advanced theological study before they accept
calls into full-time positions in the church. Conse-
quently the number of graduates in a given year does
not tally with the number of placements.

C. Married Students. There are 69 percent of mar-
ried students on the campus this year. There may come
a time when synodically owned and operated married
students housing will be required. For the immediate
future at least this is not anticipated.

D. Scholarships. A very sizable amount of money
has been given by the Synod, the Aid Association for
Lutherans, the Fred C. Rutz Foundation, the Lutheran
Ministerial Scholarship Foundation, the Woltmann
Foundation, and other groups and individuals toward