Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 270
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 270

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

270 HIGHER EDUCATION

or four years in requests for a major addition to this
building.

D. Curriculum. The curriculum itself and the indi-
vidual courses are continually being evaluated and scru-
tinized. In the past year plans were laid for rather
sweeping curricular revisions. In this matter we con-
sulted not only the faculty but also the students and
alumni. 144 quarter hours plus one year of vicarage
are required for graduation. The credit hours are dis-
tributed among four departments: Systematics, Histor-
ical, Exegetical, and Practical.

The bachelor of divinity degree has been offered
since 1964 and is being given to a great majority of our
students. A research elective program must be taken
for a student to be eligible for the B.D.

In 1967 the seminary carried on two overseas semi-
nars, one a Reformation lands seminar, the other a Bible
lands seminar, whereby students and pastors of the
church under the direction of professors of the seminary
have spent a period of time abroad. Credit is given for
the courses, and more than 50 students have been in-
volved. We feel that this is one of the’ most worthwhile
enterprises on which our seminary has embarked. This
has been made possible by very generous grants from
the Aid Association for Lutherans.

E. Extra- and Cocurricular. The curriculum further-
more provides valuable training and experience in sev-
eral cocurricular areas.

The fieldwork program is designed to provide the
student of theology with an understanding of the work
of the ministry through actual participation in church-
related activities, primarily through the vicarage pro-
gram but also through the resident fieldwork program.
The seminary believes it is desirable for the student to
learn the privileges and duties of the ministry gradually
and progressively in correlation with the curriculum
and his own maturation and pastoral insights. The ob-
jective of the fieldwork department is to provide the
student with essential pastoral skills on which he can
build his ministry. The student is required to take the
course in fieldwork during each year at the seminary,
thus becoming acquainted with hospital work, parish
work, Christian education, community services, and in-
stitutional work. A junior boy’s basketball program and
a community Sunday school are both conducted by stu-
dents under the direction of the fieldwork department
to enable the students to become better acquainted with
the underprivileged. Students are also given ample op-
portunity for preaching in congregations of the Central
Illinois District. Summer vicarages are arranged for
many students in addition to their regular vicarage.

Cocurricular activities also include a course in phys-
ical fitness and an intramural athletic program. a very
ample lectureship program, displays of religious art,
concerts, religious drama, and many other activities de-
signed to increase the student’s cultural and spiritual
insights.

During the past year under the direction of Dr.
Johnson a radio program was inaugurated with one of

the local radio stations, called the Concordia Hour. This
program involves the talents of both faculty and stu-
dents and gives students an opportunity to develop
skills in radio broadcasting. The time has been donated
by the radio station. Reception in the community has
been very good.

The seminary has developed a clinical pastoral edu-
cation program under the direction of Prof. John
Costello.

The Springfield seminary is the first Lutheran semi-
nary in America to have a full-time faculty member in
the field of clinical pastoral education.

F. Continuing Education. The seminary carries on
an active continuing education program both on and off
campus. We have established extension divisions at
Concordia College, St. Paul, Minn.; Concordia Teachers
College, Seward, Nebr.; Concordia College, Milwaukee.
Wis.: and Concordia Junior College, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Our summer school has continued to grow until it re-
quires the services of two thirds of our normal school-
year faculty. The summer school enrolls somewhat more
than half as many as the regular school enrollment.

IV. Plant and Property

The following requests for capital funds are pre-
sented to the Board for Higher Education for recom-
mendation to the Synod:

1. Campus site acquisition 00.0202. $175,000
2. Wessel Hall air conditioning —..........00000.. 0. 17,000
3. Luther Hall air conditioning .... . 16,000
4. Van Horn Hall remodeling —...........2.22..0002..0--0- 44,000
5. Snack bar remodeling 2.0.0.0... fete 38,000
6. Library remodeling —............2.0.00....- 17,000
7, Campus walks, drives, and lighting . 15,000
8. Classroom and library equipment ....... 20,000

V. Plans for the Future

A. Students. Recognizing the constant need for more
pastors in the church and for an increasing number of
specialized ministries, the recruitment program on cam-
puses of secular colleges throughout America will con-
tinue unabated. We sincerely hope that enrollment will
show an increase again next year and that we will get
to the point where we admit 150 to 175 students per
year. We have a plant which will enable us to handle
an on-campus student body of at least 700 students.

B. Faculty. A few additional faculty members will
be needed because of impending retirements and also
because of the constant need for doing a more complete
and thorough job of training men for the holy ministry.
We hope to add one man to our exegetical department
and another man in sociology.

C. Plant. During the past biennium the seminary
remodeled Van Horn Hall, which was originally a dor-
mitory but is now used for classrooms and office space.
We were also most fortunate in receiving funds of more
than $200,000 from the Spencer Werner Foundation and
$200,000 from The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
for the erection of the Spencer Werner Administration
Building.

For many years the alumni of the school have been
raising money for a chapel. At the present time more