Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Sheet 525
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Sheet 525

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

402 OTHER REPORTS

in nursing. enrolled its first class of 55 students in the
fall of 1968. Two study centers were opened abroad.
beginning with the spring semester in January 1968.
One of these is at Cambridge, England: the other is at
Reutlingen. Germany. Students spend one semester at
either place under direction and instruction of teachers
responsible to the university. A smaller group passed
the school vear 1968-69 in Coventry. England, study-
ing religious drama and related subjects. These pro-
grams have proved very popular and offer a new di-
mension to our educational program.

The completion of several buildings on the east cam-
pus, through the generosity of friends and with the
help of government grants. and the prospect of several
more buildings now under construction will soon enable
the university to move a large part of its academic life
into new facilities. But these have also added to the
cost of operations of the university. and the problem of
securing additional funds for current operations is as
serious as it has ever been.

The burden of the rising costs at the university has
had to be borne in large measure by the students
through increased tuition. Far more scholarships and
grant-in-aid funds will be needed if we are to enroll
students from the church who lack the means to pay
the rising charges.

Some of the young people applying for admission
each year will enter the professional service of the
church and take programs as deaconesses. youth work-
ers, teachers, preministerials, and social workers. But
all of our students. even those entering a wide variety
of lay occupations, will carry with them a better under-
standing of the love of God in Christ. and His will for
their lives. as a result of their educational experience
at Valparaiso.

The resignation of Dr. O. P. Kretzmann from the
active leadership of the university was received with
regret by the Board of Directors. His service as presi-
dent since 1940 has been marked by the most significant
developments in the history of the university. Every
aspect of the university life will long bear the impact
of his prodigious effort and high vision. In August
1968 Dr. Kretzmann was designated as chancellor of
The Board of Directors named the
undersigned as acting president at that time and as
president in December 1968.

the university.

The university is grateful to the many congregations
and individual members of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod who have contributed to its cause. The
expanded support of the church is essential if Val-
paraiso is to realize its full potential as a great uni-
versity serving young men and women under the cross

of our Lord. A. G. HvuEG 1, President

(11-E)

Report on Lutheran Deaconess Association

The Lutheran Deaconess Association reaches its 50th
birthday as this convention meets.

Through this half century there have been outward
changes in the program, but the inner motivation has
remained the same: faith and service in Christ. Today,
when all deaconesses must secure at least their bachelor
of arts degree in a 5-year program, their concern is
the same as it has always been —to serve Christ in
other people. This service finds its locale in parishes,
institutions, urban ministries, and foreign fields. The
deaconess program is always open to new situations as
they develop.

The 50-year history of the deaconess program is,
under God, the result of the sincere interest of many
persons and institutions. The Synod itself has nurtured
this program in tangible ways: its most recent expres-
sion of support was the inclusion of the Lutheran Dea-
coness Association in the Ebenezer Thankoffering. The
plenary board of the association is grateful to the Synod
for this expression of love.

Pastors and others throughout the church have en-
couraged women to enter the program and have facili-
tated financial support for the program.

Valparaiso University has, over a period of more
than 25 years, provided excellent educational facilities
and financial encouragement.

Faithful board members and staff personnel of the
association have worked diligently through the years
for the cause of the association.

But the most important factor of all is the deaconess
herself. It is the deaconess who has kept the program
going by her love for Christ and her willingness to
serve.

The plenary board of the association has submitted
a memorial to this convention, requesting the Synod to
take note of the 50th aniversary of deaconess ministry
at this convention itself, and to invite the congregations
of the Synod “to remember with thanksgiving the min-
istry of women to the church as exemplified in the dea-
coness program. The plenary board places equal em-
phasis on “the ministry of women to the church” and
“as exemplified in the deaconess program.”

It should be noted that the plenary board is not re-
questing a fund-raising effort. We are talking about
“remembering with thanksgiving.”

We are asking that this convention request the con-
gregations of the Synod to become acquainted with and
to “remember” the ministry of deaconesses.

But we said that our memorial is equally slanted
toward remembering “with thanksgiving the ministry of
women to the church.” We are asking the Synod to
consider the ministry of women in congregations and
other settings. both lay and professional. The Com-
mission on Theology and Church Relations has already
given consideration to the question of woman suffrage
in our congregations. Our memorial, however. is more
extensive in intent. We are asking the Synod to give
serious attention to the question of the revolution in
the life style for women through which we are going.
and whether we are responding adequately to it. We
are asking the Synod to consider whether, and the ex-