LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 253

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HIGHER EDUCATION 253

For the Deaconess Ministry

There were no applications for admission to the deaconess
ministry by colloquy during the past biennium.

R. Wiederaenders, Chairman

6-03

Report of Commission
on Lay Higher Education

The 1969 convention of the Synod established a Commis-
sion on Lay Higher Education to assume the functions of
the Valparaiso Advisory Commission and to interest itself
in the affairs of lay higher education in the church gen-
erally. The 1971 synodical convention determined that the
commission should consist of three members appointed by
the President of the Synod, after consultation with the Board
of Directors. They shall serve for terms of 4 years in such
manner that the term of one member shall alternate with
the terms of the other two members. Also, the chairman of
the Division of Higher Education shall be an advisory mem-
ber and shall provide for necessary staff services.

The three members of the commission are: Judge Jay
Pfotenhauer, Doctor Gerhardt E, Nitz, and Mrs. Dorothy
Rosin.

During the past bienniun the commission was not as
active as it could have been. Opportunities will be sought
during the next biennium to carry out its duties and will
give special attention to three stated duties:

1) Encourage the congregations of the Synod and their
memberships to take the fullest advantage of the oppor-
tunities for Lutheran lay higher education available at the
colleges and seminaries of the Synod.

2) Plan and disseminate a program to inform pastors and
congregations about the general educational opportunities
being provided at synodical colleges, at other Lutheran col-
leges and universities. and at those non-church-related insti-
tutions where the Synod provides a campus ministry.

3) Encourage the support of Valparaiso University and
ccoperate with Valparaiso in her concern for Lutheran lay
higher education.

Gerhardt E. Nitz, Chairman

6-04
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.

For the privilege of continuing to share in God's mis-
sion to the world during the past biennium, the Board of
Control of Concordia Seminary. St. Louis. Mo., offers thanks
to God and praises Him for His continuing grace and mercy
as it submits the following report to the 50th regular con-
vention of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.

I. Purpose

Your seminary continues to carry out the program en-
trusted to it by the Synod to train ministers for service in
the Evangelical Lutheran church. Accordingly, the semi-
nary strives to provide a spiritual, physical, cultural, social,
and educational environment in which the church may seek
out and nurture the requisite gifts of the Spirit in those who
will edify the body of Christ and equip God's people to be in
mission to the world.

II. Board of Control

Members of the Board of Control during the present bi-
ennium are Rev. Dr. George A. Loose, chairman, pastor in
the Florida-Georgia District: Rev. Dr. William A. Buege,
vice-chairman, pastor in the Missouri District; Mr. Walter
C. Dissen, secretary, layman in the English District; Rev.
Dr. Herman C. Scherer, President of the Missouri District:
Rev. Dr. Edwin C. Weber. synodical Vice-President and pas-
tor in the Michigan District; Rev. Dr. Kurt W. Biel, pastor
in the Florida-Georgia District; Mr. Paul G. Nickel, teacher
in the Missouri District: Mr. August E. Beckemeier, layman
in the Missouri District; Mr. Charles H. Burmeister, lay-
man in the Missouri District: Mr. Eugene Fincke, layman in
the Southern Illinois District: and Mr. Erwin Roschke, lay-

man in the Northern Illinois District. Synodical Vice-Presi-
dent W. Harry Krieger served for a 2-month period in the
place of Dr. Weber.

The Board of Control gave the highest priority to fulfill-
ing the assignment which it received from the 1971 Mil-
waukee convention in Res. 2-28. The Board conducted reg-
ular monthly meetings and one special meeting. It regularly
extended its meeting time, holding 2-day meetings on five
occasions and one 4-day meeting. It devoted most of its
time to a review of the Fact Finding Committee Report, a
study of the issues identified on the basis of the Report,
and interviews with members of the faculty. Appended to
this report and a part of it is a special report on the Board's
action in carrying out the directive of Res. 2-28 of the Mil-
waukee convention.

The Board of Control and the faculty share a common
concern to replace polarization with reconciliation and to
bring about a resolution of our present problems in the
Synod. The Board and the faculty have therefore jointly
submitted an overture to the convention to urge the Synod
to seek reconciliation through fraternal discussion. The
Board respectfully invites the attention of the convention's
delegates to the overture.

Res. 2-43 of the Milwaukee convention, not adopted but
referred to the Synod's Board of Directors under an omni-
bus resolution, was referred by the Board of Directors to
the Board of Control for report to the next synodical con-
vention. The Board of Control reports that the overture to
which Res. 2-43 was a proposed response dealt with an issue
to which the board had already addressed itself and which
was resolved to the satisfaction of all parties, as expressed
in a "Statement to the Synod,” signed by the presidents of
the Synod and the seminary, which appeared in the March
21, 1971 issue of the Lutheran Witness Reporter.

Il. Enrollment

A. Regular Session 19i1—72 1972-73
IV year — 167 173
III year (vicars; not in residence) 190 156
II year 156 170
I year —_ eesSSC*d'TB 158
Specials Ss Ttt 6
Subtotal 695 663
M.A.R. Students on campus 14 25
S.T.M. Students on campus 37 36
Th. D. Students on campus —-_____ 23 14
Chicago Extension _.._-_.-_- 4 5
Fort Leonard Wood Extension ____ 11 5
Los Angeles Extension ___....__-._ 10 9
Specials 12 11
Subtotal 111 105
Total 806 768
B. Summer Sessions 1971 1972
331 361

C. Degrees Awarded 19T1—72—1972—3*
Theological Diploma __ __._ 151 175
M. Div. 177 189
M.A.R. 7 7
S.T.M. 9 13
Th. D. _ 4 5

“Estimated

D. Admissions

More than 75% of each year's entering class is composed
of graduates of Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Ind.
The seminary continues to appreciate the excellent work
which the schools in the Synod’s coordinated pretheological
program are doing to equip students with a broad liberal
arts education and with dedication to the ministry. Par-
ticularly in the last 5 years students from the Synod’s other
terminal schools, from Valparaiso University, and from
other colleges and universities have also been accepted for
admission, contingent upon the removal of any deficiencies
in their preparation for theological study. These students,
too, have given evidence of dedication and have made a