Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 306
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 306

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

306 HIGHER EDUCATION

constructed on the first floors of the men’s and women’s
residence halls, Rehwinkel and Mundinger, respectively.

St. John’s College purchased an 80-acre physical edu-
cation and athletic field prior to the present biennium,
and during this past year the businessmen of Winfield
completed the payment of the greater share of the origi-
nal cost. The balance was paid by the St. John’s De-
velopment Fund.

By convention time our new maintenance and ware-
house addition will be completed, annexed to the power-
house. This much-needed facility will permit us now to
raze all of the old houses on the property adjacent to
the college and to expand our campus, presently for
park area and, in the future, for building sites.

Plans for the Future

Besides strengthening the present conventional pro-
grams of instruction on campus, a strong thrust in fur-
ther development of the parish worker emphasis is
being planned and programmed. The parish workers
now in the field have made this ministry of the church
an obvious need. A further strengthening of background
and courses is being pursued for the field of social work
in the 2-year curriculum.

The faculty and the Board of Control have been
working closely with the Board for Higher Education
in service to the Kingdom. Plans for the future include
working in those areas which the Synod and/or the
Board for Higher Education indicate are the concerns
of the church and St. John’s role in them.

Primary concerns for the immediate future include:
. Construction of a fine arts center
. Additional student housing
. Expansion and modernization of classrooms
. Additional site acquisitions
Landscaping and outdoor lighting
. Air conditioning

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Services to the Synod

St. John’s College continues to place its educational
emphasis on preparing professional full-time church
workers. Many theological, teacher training, deaconess,
and social worker students receive their preliminary
training here.

In addition, St. John’s continues to serve the Synod
by offering terminal training to parish workers. Prior
to the official approval of this program at the synodical
convention in 1962, parish workers were trained and
placed by the college for 30 years. During the past
7 years over 200 parish worker graduates have been
placed by the synodical board.

The general education and business curricula con-
tinue to provide educated laymen for our parishes in the
Synod, where they take many leadership positions.

As stewards of Christ and His church we intend to
continue the operation of St. John’s College and Acad-
emy in accordance with the wishes of the Synod and
in compliance with the Word of God.

Boarp oF CoNTROL
Norsert R. Woprtke, Secretary
R. C. BEIse., Executive Officer

(6-23)
Proposed Irvine College,
Southern California

The Synod’s youngest Board of Control is pleased
to make its first report to the Synod and present the
opportunities and challenges that the Synod has under-
taken in order to meet the educational needs of the
West.

President Oliver R. Harms gave life to this body
through appointment on Jan. 30, 1967. The members
are:

Rev. Elmer W. Matthias, a Vice-President of the South-
ern California District and pastor at Zion, Anaheim,
Calif.

Rev. Carl H. Harman, a Vice-President of the English
District and pastor at Faith, Tucson, Ariz.

Mr. Eugene M. Oetting,* principal of Walter A. Maier
Memorial High School, Los Angeles, Calif., Southern
California District.

Mr. Glenn Molyneaux, M.D., California and Nevada
District

Mr. Carl E. Schroeder, president, First National Bank
of Orange County, Calif., Southern California District

Mr. Al Goeppinger, retired businessman, Escondido,
Calif., Southern California District

* Mr. Richard W. Scheele, principal at First Lutheran
School, Alhambra, Calif., Southern California Dis-
trict, replaced Mr. Eugene M. Oetting on Oct. 30,
1968, the latter having accepted a call to Concordia
Teachers College, Seward, Nebr.

According to synodical regulations this board will serve
until the college is opened and an election can be held
at a synodical convention following the opening of
Irvine College.

History

In the 1959 San Francisco convention the Synod in-
structed the Board for Higher Education to give special
attention to the nature and scope of pastor and teacher
training in the western part of the United States (Pro-
ceedings, p. 144, Resolution 37, Committee 1). The reso-
lution to build a new Lutheran college in southern
California was passed by the Cleveland convention in
1962 (Proceedings, p. 79, Resolution 1-22). This resolu-
tion expressed the hope that this college could be opened
in September 1965. The resolution was reaffirmed by
the Detroit convention in 1965 (Proceedings, p. 144,
Resolution 6-26). In 1967 the matter again came before
the New York convention. The floor committee, in con-
currence with the Board for Higher Education, brought
in the resolution urging construction of the Irvine cam-
pus. However, a substitute resolution was presented to
the convention, sponsored primarily by our brethren
in the California and Nevada District, urging that all
plans and construction halt while the situation be re-
studied for 2 years. The resolution asked that “the
Board for Higher Education make a final restudy of the
entire matter of higher education on the West Coast.”