LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1932, Page 78

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82 Proceedings of Thirty-Fifth Regular Convention,

e. That this Committee on Higher Education be instructed ,
empowered to study, survey, and plan a permanent reorganizati and
our educational system; ‘On of

d. That all memorials pertaining to any phase of ministeria]
normal educational work be put into the hands of this Committ ‘ *
Higher Education; “on
 & That the committee be given a budget allowance, with the s
tion of the Board of Directors, sufficient to permit it to carry 0 na
work according to its best judgment; mits

f. That the Committee on Higher Education be, and herewith is
instructed to submit its plans to the Board of Directors, the Colle @ i
Presidents, and the congregations, and to present them to Synod o mM
next convention. All overtures relative to this subject must be sub.
mitted to the Committee on Higher Education within the next twely
months. °

On Section III (Extension of Normal Course) it was resolved to
adopt Recommendation B, page 21, “that the factors deciding the
adequacy of supply and demand shall be not only the number of calls
to be supplied by the Committee on the Distribution of Calls, but also
the capacity of the institution.” Recommendations A, C, and D were
tabled.

On Section IV of the report of the Survey Committee, Commit-
tee 1 had no report to make, since this matter (suggestions for the
course of study, seventh year of pretheological work) will fall within
the problems of the work of the new Committee on Higher Education,

On Section V of the report it was resolved that the regulation of
all sports at all our institutions be left in the hands of the local boards
of control.

On Section VI of the report it was resolved that the resolutions of
the Survey Committee be adopted, namely, that a two-hour semester
course in church music and hymnology be given at our seminaries and
that the objectives noted in the Survey Report be accepted as sug-
gestions of the committee, with the suggestion added by Committee 1
that soberness in the observance and application of symbolism in con-
nection with hymnology and liturgics be recommended as an objective
in the course.

On Section VII it was resolved that no action be taken at this
time on Resolution a) of the Survey Committee, that the initial call
to one of Synod’s institutions shall be a call to an instructorship, no
consideration being given to a time limit. Resolution b) of the Survey
Committee was adopted in the following form: “That, as a rule, a man
must have been engaged in pastoral or parish-school work for a period
of not less than five years before he can be elected to a full professor-
ship.” No action was taken by Synod in regard to a so-called “sab-
batical year” for professors. ‘

Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1932. 83

On Section VIII of the report, advocating the establishment of
a General Board of Higher Education with an executive secretary, in
order that general control and supervision may be exercised over the
courses of study, ete., Synod adopted the following resolution: —

We earnestly request and urge the faculty at St. Louis to use the
authority which Synod has given it to bring about better cooperation
and coordination in our preparatory schools.

Section IX of the Survey Committee’s report dwelt on matters
concerning the Springfield Seminary. The following points had been
brought out : —

“J, The original purpose for which the institution was established
has been achieved.

“2. The Seminary at St. Louis will be able to furnish all the can-
didates we shall need from now on.

“3. The existence of the Springfield Seminary makes for a double
standard in our ministry.

“4, The difference between an eleven-year course and a six-year
course is too great.

“5. The institution cannot meet the historical standards of the Lu-
theran Church in regard to the ancient languages.

“6. The institution can be reorganized so as to offer courses on
missions for those called to the foreign field and also courses for lay
workers in the Church.”

A minority report, disagreeing with the findings of the Survey
Committee on this point, had been brought in by Prof. L. Wessel, D. D.

Since the adoption of the Survey Committee’s report on this point
would have meant a complete change in the character and purpose of
the Springfield institution, a number of memorials had been submitted,
asking Synod not to close the Springfield Seminary. The sentiments
of about thirty unprinted memorials all supported the petition of the
Central Illinois District in Memorial 122 not to close the Springfield
Seminary or to change its character. The memorial follows: —

Wuereas, Synod’s Seminary at Springfield for eighty-five years
has ably and faithfully served its purpose and by the grace of God
has furnished a large number of devoted and efficient pastors for the
Lord’s work; and

Wuereas, The Lord in no wise has indicated that this institution
is no longer needed, neither by a constantly decreasing enrolment nor
by a diminished demand for the services of the graduates and students
of this institution; and

Wuereas, We regard it as the duty of the Church to offer, also in
the future, to consecrated and talented young men of more advanced
age an opportunity to prepare themselves for the ministry; and