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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 138

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

138 SEMINARY ISSUES
Similar: Similar:
3-70B 3-81B
Faith Lutheran Church, DeMotte, Ind., Albert Melchert, English District, Robert L. Landeck, Secretary
President; Eugene Storm, Pastor,
3-81C
3-71 Southern District, Lothar Kleinhans, Secretary.
3-81D

To Emphasize That We Find Christ
in the Scriptures

Wuereas, The Scriptures are the only source of the true
knowledge of Jesus Christ; and

Wuereas, The belief is current in The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod that we bring faith in Christ to Scrip-
tures; and

Wuereas, The distinct impression is given by this position
that faith in Christ is not dependent on the Scriptures; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
confess its truly Lutheran belief that the Scriptures bring
us to Christ; and be it further

Resolved, That we reject as false doctrine the contrary
opinion that Christ brings us to the Scriptures.

ST. Pau, Lutueran Cuurcu
Ellsworth, Kans.

Delvin D. Haase, Chairman
Ralph R. Choitz, Secretary

AATS
3-81A

To Remedy Conditions Which Precipitated
Action of AATS

Wuereas, The American Association of Theological
Schools, after careful examination of Concordia Seminary,
has found conditions which have led it on June 2, 1972, to
place the seminary on probation and has allowed until June
1, 1974, to remedy those conditions or lose accreditation; and

WHEREAS, The seminary, its faculty, Board of Control, ad-
ministration, and students are not primarily responsible for
the conditions which called forth this action; and

Wuereas, Efforts of many decades to improve the stan-
dard of ministerial education at the Concordia Theological
Seminary at St. Louis have therewith been jeopardized with
similar implications for Concordia Theological Seminary of
Springfield, Il., and all the other educational institutions of
Synod; and

Wuereas, This action handicaps graduates of the seminary
as they apply for admittance to programs of clinical pastoral
education, military chaplaincy, graduate study in accredited
schools, and administrative posts in missionary fields; and

Whereas, Similar handicaps would affect graduates of all
synodical colleges; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Florida-Georgia District convention
urge the members and leadership of The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod to remedy the conditions which precipi-
tated the action of the American Association of Theological
Schools; and be it further

Resolved, That the Florida-Georgia District convention
memorialize Synod in convention in New Orleans to make
the following changes required by the American Association
of Theological Schools:

1) That the Board of Control of the seminary has both in
legal structure and in practice the determination of
policy and the responsibility for the operation of the
seminary;

2) That there is adequate procedural protection of the
academic freedom of faculty in the confessional con-
text of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod;
That the life and work of Concordia Seminary is car-
ried on under conditions that are conducive to educa-
tion for ministry.

3

w

Fiorra-Georcra District
Theodore W. Eisold, Secretary

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Minnetonka, Minn., Harold
Marquardt, Chairman; Esther Asmus, Secretary.

3-82

To Insure Removal of Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, from Probation Regarding
Accreditation

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
through its New Orleans convention make every effort to
remove those reasons for the AATS’s placing Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis, on probation for accreditation and to
insure that said reasons do not reoccur; and be it further

Resolved, That the authority of the Board of Control of
Concordia Seminary be guaranteed by ecclesiastical struc-
tures of the LCMS for the seminary to carry on its educa~
tional functions as a graduate professional school of theol-
ogy; and be it further

Resolved, That the freedom of the faculty to teach and
publish research be prescribed in ways defined in terms of
a contract of employment; and be it finally

Resolved. That attention of students, faculty, and admin-
istration be redirected to matters related to education for
ministry.

Reasons: (1) It appears that the Board of Control of
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is not guaranteed its rights
to execute its functions:

(2) It is necessary to insure a student the pursuit of
higher education with the fullest accreditation:

(3) It appears that students, faculty and administration
are unduly detracted from matters for education to ministry.

ATLANTIC District
Arlin A. Mass, Secretary

3-83
To Change Bylaws

Wuereas, We have noted with dismay that Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis, is in grave danger of losing its accredi-
tation with the American Association of Theological Schools;
and

Whereas, Its present probationary status has been caused
by judgments made by synodical officers and boards super-
imposed upon the seminary and its Board of Control; and

Wuereas, It is highly desirable that the objections of the
AATS be met by Proper adjustments in the ecclesiastical
structures of Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That appropriate changes be made in the By-
laws of the Synod so that the faculty and Board of Control
of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, may carry out their re-
sponsibilities in academic freedom and in harmony with the
confessional position of The Lutheran Church — Missouri

Synod, REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH

Fort Wayne, Ind.
Richard Laker, President

3-84
To Instruct Board for Higher Education
to Maintain Status of Synod’s Colleges

and Seminaries as Accredited Institutions

Wuereas, The accreditation of Synod’s colleges and semi-
naries by various regional and national accrediting organi-
zations (e.g., the North Central Association of Colleges and