Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 269
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 269

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

HIGHER EDUCATION 269

student grants and scholarships. This has made it pos-
sible for many of our students to attend the seminary.
A practice has begun recently of having congregations
or individual groups within congregations “adopt” stu-
dents whereby they give them a certain amount of
money per month, perhaps food and clothing, and take
a very personal and great interest in a particular student
and his family. More than 74 such adoption arrange-
ments are in operation, and-they are increasing con-
stantly. We hope that more congregations and indi-
viduals will be encouraged to take up this fine practice.

E. Recruitment. The recruitment of ministerial can-
didates is one of the pressing needs of the entire Chris-
tian church. There are presently more than 500 vacan-
cies in our Synod. We have the services of a man who
is visiting major campuses in America, attending con-
ferences of campus pastors, and carrying on an active
correspondence and public relations program in the area
of recruitment. This has been found to be very bene-
ficial, and we expect a considerably larger beginning
class than we had this past year. Each year for the past
7 years the number of beginning students has increased
despite the fact that we have raised entrance require-~
ments and are now expecting the bachelor’s degree from
nearly all entering students.

F. Devotional Life. The devotional and spiritual life
of students is a very important phase of our seminary
program. Morning chapel is held each day of the school
week, and evening devotions are held in the dormitories
along with cottage meetings and home devotions in the
homes of married students. The faculty and administra-
tion consider this extremely important and are giving it
cooperation and encouragement. It is hoped before too
long that a chapel will be built on our campus which.
among other purposes, will serve to develop the spiritual
life of our students.

G. Accreditation. In 1968 the seminary received full
accreditation with the American Association of Theo-
logical Schools, marking an important milestone in the
history of the school.

H. Testing Program. Under the direction of Dr. Allen
Nauss, director of student personnel services, a very full
testing program has been inaugurated. Some tests are
given before students enter, some at the time of en-
trance, and careful follow-up tests of different kinds are
given throughout the student’s career at the seminary.
We also hope to develop a testing program which will
include men who have graduated and are presently
serving in the ministry. This has been extremely helpful
in admissions, in academic counseling, and in placement
of graduates.

WI. Academic Program

A. Board of Control. The Board of Control is made
up of Dr. Lewis Niemoeller, chairman; Martin Wessler,
vice-chairman; Dr. Harold Olsen, secretary; Dr. Paul
Streufert, representing President Harms; Walter Kayser,
Grand Rapids, Mich.; Rev. Milton Nauss. St. Louis, Mo.;
Herbert Schwomeyer, Indianapolis, Ind.; and Dr. Ben
Selcke, Oxford, Ala., honorary member.

B. Faculty. We have 33 full-time faculty members
including administrators, all of whom do some teaching.
We also have three part-time instructors, During the
past biennium our faculty suffered the loss of Dr. George
Dolak, who was called to his eternal rest, and Dr. Fred
Precht, who accepted a position with The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod Foundation.

During the biennium the following joined the faculty:
William Meyer, Old Testament: John Costello, clinical
pastoral education; Daniel Reuning, liturgics; and John
Fritz, practical theology. Mr. Alfred Krause joined us
in the department of development.

During the past biennium the following has been
given study leave to continue his education: Otto Hintze,
one quarter per year. The following were granted sab-
batical leave during the biennium: Fred Kramer, Mark
Steege, J. A. O. Preus. Presently we have on our staff
13 men with earned doctorates. Of the remaining fac-
ulty members, 14 have their doctorates and 14 have
earned the master’s degree. Many others are working
toward doctoral degrees. Scholarships for faculty mem-
bers have been available from the Aid Association for
Lutherans and the Fred C. Rutz Foundation. The Board
for Higher Education has also been very generous in
helping men to achieve their doctorates, The following
have been promoted in rank as an indication of the
quality of their services: Richard Schultz, Walter Maier,
Warren Wilbert, John Fritz, Barbara Whalen, Harry
Huth, Dale Hartmann, James Weis.

Several professors have published books, and many
have contributed articles to various periodicals. A large
number of faculty members have served on synodical
boards in which their services as writers have also been
employed. Nearly every member of the faculty has
served on some synodical board, commission, or com-
mittee. and we are grateful for the opportunity to keep
an active liaison between the church-at-large and its
seminary at Springfield.

C. Library. One of the most significant developments
in the library has been the great increase in the use of
library facilities and services by both faculty and stu-
dents. Several cooperative efforts have been under-
taken, such as participation in the union list of serials
for the Springfielder and increasing interdependence
with the libraries of the Springfield area, both state and
local, and also with our sister seminary library at Saint
Louis. During the past year the library collection in-
creased from 54,000 to more than 58,000 volumes. An
instructional materials center has been set up for audio-
visual material, and a videotape machine for programed
instruction was given to the library by Concordia Semi-
nary Ladies Guild. The chief problem is the matter of
space. Ever since the building was built, the administra-
tion has also utilized one third of the library. This situa-
tion will be corrected by the completion of our ad-
ministration building, but by the time we move into the
administration building, the library will be entirely
filled. We are calling the attention of the Synod to this
matter because it may involve us within the next three