Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 272
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 272

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

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272 HIGHER EDUCATION

6-22

To Experiment with New Models
for Higher Education

Whereas, Present economic realities make it increasingly
difficult to maintain or expand traditional models of higher
education in the Synod; and

WHEREAS, There is an ever-increasing trend in American
higher education toward the development of different ways
of achieving educational goals; and

Wuereas, Effective ministry to a rapidly changing society
demands flexibility of approach and constant re-evaluation
of the educational process; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in New Orleans commend the
Board for Higher Education for their efforts in exploring the
feasibility of new models for higher education, to give strong
encouragement to the BHE to continue such efforts and to
implement them, and to instruct the BHE to initiate such
pilot programs at strategic locations in cooperation with the
respective Districts.

CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA DISTRICT
Theo. A. Iverson, Secretary

6-23
To Review Aims in Higher Education

Wuereas, We are mindful of the many blessings our
church has experienced because of our system of higher
education: and

Wuereas, The changing needs of our church require a
constant reevaluation of our goals and policies of accom-
plishing these goals; and

Wuereas, Our yearly budget allocations for higher educa-
tion are a major percentage of our synodical budget: and

Wuereas, Our present policy of operating many schools
to educate approximately 8,000 students indicated a small
student body at many or all of our schools; therefore be it

Resolved, That an independent review committee be ap-
pointed by the Council of Presidents to review the aims of
our church in the field of higher education and recommend
such changes as it deems necessary to best accomplish these
aims; and be it further

Resolved. That the Board of Directors of Synod, in con-
sultation with the Board of Higher Education, be instructed
and empowered to act to accomplish the changes recom-
mended by said review committee.

Boarp OF DIRECTORS
OKLAHOMA DISTRICT
F, Schumacher, Secretary

6-24

To Review Synod’s System of Higher
Education

Wuereas, The Synod is involved in the operation of a net-
work of 16 schools for the purpose of training full-time
church workers; and

Wuereas, The total number of preministerial students in
all schools is decreasing: and

Wuereas, We face a critical shortage of pastors and a
critical oversupply of teachers in the years ahead: and

WHEREAS, Synod is financially unable to maintain a large
number of liberal arts (general education) schools: therefore
be it

Resolved, That a Task Force be appointed by the Presi-
dent of Synod and the Board of Directors, to study Synod's
entire system and objectives of Higher Education, the au-
thority of Synod’s Board for Higher Education, the authority
of the Boards of Control; and be it further

Resolved, That this Task Force offer suggestions for the
future of the Synod’s program of higher education to Synod’s
1975 convention; and be it finally

Resolved, That no new building expansion projects be
authorized until the report is made and the findings are
reviewed.

BoarD OF DIRECTORS

InpIANA DISTRICT

E. H. Zimmermann, President
Donald W. Biester, Secretary

6-25

To Permit Other Colleges to Provide
Senior College Pretheological Training

Wuereas, It is the duty and privilege of our church to
train as many qualified students to be ministers of the
Gospel and clergymen of our Synod as is possible; and

Wuereas, Educational fees are greatly increasing and
travel costs are multiplying which, combined with other
factors, make it impossible for some young men who would
be pretheological students on the junior and senior year
levels of college to attend our Concordia Senior College; and

Wuereas, The educational pattern of the synodical schools
is changing in that the Senior College is now offering a gen-
eral liberal arts curriculum, and certain of the junior col-
leges, having on their faculties educators trained in theology
and Biblical languages, have expanded to 4-year curricula;
and

Wuereas, With adjusting and implementation these ex-
panded junior colleges, now being 4 years, could offer the
final 2 years of college to our pretheological students; and

Wuereas. It is our desire to make it possible for each
pretheological student who wishes to stay within the synod-
ical system of schools for his college education to do so;
therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod. through its Board for Higher
Education and other concerned administrative agencies, per-
mit and encourage each and every synodical junior college
which expands to a 4-year program to develop a full pre-
theological curriculum for the junior and senior years of
college: and be it further

Resolved, That this curriculum addition be implemented
immediately in the junior colleges which have already be-
come or are in the process of becoming 4-year schools for
every discipline except that of pretheological studies,
namely: Concordia College, St.Paul. Minn., and Concordia
College, Bronxville, N. Y.: and be it finally

Resolved, That the administration and leadership of Con-
cordia Senior College be commended for adapting their
educational offerings and structure to the changing dynamics
of the educational scene and the needs of the church, and
be encouraged to continue finding the new role for their
college to take as it serves the Lord.

SAINT Pau’s LUTHERAN CHURCH
Naugatuck, Conn.

Walter Pelchuck, President
Emma Barbiere, Secretary
Gregory J. Wismar, Pastor

6-26

To Study Requirements of Special Ministries

‘aerEAS, A constant challenge to the church is that it
remain responsive to the needs of those it serves; and
Wuereas, The Spirit equips the church to be responsive
through multiple ministries; and
Wuereas, The church can provide a sense of direction to
its colleges and seminaries for the training of the church’s
ministers; therefore be it

Resolved. That each congregation be encouraged to eval-
uate the objectives and methods of its ministries to deter-
mine strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for new min-
istries; and be it further

Resotved, That under the guidance of the Council of
Presidents the Districts be encouraged to examine the vari-
ous ministries which they support to determine the demand
for ministers with special skills, and be it finally