LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 282

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282 HIGHER EDUCATION

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
in convention at New Orleans, urge the Board for Higher
Education to carry out a thorough study of all the aspects
of education for blacks in the synodical schools of higher
education; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education imple-
ment necessary changes in recruitment, curriculum, and
academic policies called for by the study; and be it further

Resolved, That the Stewardship Department of Synod be
instructed to translate the implications of this study into
suggested congregational approaches toward a growing black
leadership on the parish level.

“Memorandum issued by Pastors William Griffen and Albert
Pero, Oct. 2, 1972:

The Need: There is an acute need for black church workers, es-
pecially pastors and teachers, to serve in the black communities
where congregations of our Synod are present. A minimal number
of black students are now enrolled in Synod's schools in programs
preparing them to be church workers. Only meager efforts have
been expended to recruit black students for church vocations in our
schools. Recruitment difficulties are compounded by the problems
black students experience in attending synodical schools. There
have been serious difficulties in relating graduates of Alabama
Lutheran College in Selma with the educational program of the
other schools in the system. Black students attending our predomi-
nantly white schools are very unhappy with their educational ex-
perience and its relevance for their future service in the black com-
munity, Minimal efforts are expended in our schools to enable
white students to come to terms with the Black experience for the
sake of their future ministry. Many ideas have been proposed con-
cerning education for Black's in the Synod’s schools of higher ed-
ucation, However, there has been little action and no compre-
hensive plan of recruitment and education. No one is sure of what
to do or how to do it. Our basic need is for a careful and com-
prehensive study which hopefully will issue into a basic plan.

Objectives of the Study: To develop an overall plan for recruit-
ing black young people in large numbers for educational programs
of our Synod's schools leading to church vocations.

A specific proposal for a curriculum redesign in our Synod’s
schools, especially its seminaries and teachers colleges, which will
take account of the black experience to prepare blacks more ef-
fectively for their ministry.

A snecific proposal for the most practical route for blacks to
reach the goal of church vocations through the schools of the
synodical system.

Proposals for assisting Synod's schools in taking the black ex-
perience into account in their educational offerings for the sake
of white students and their future ministries.

Cross LUTHERAN CHURCH
Milwaukee, Wis.

Paulette Barr, Secretary
Cardell Willis, President

6-60

To Examine Admission Requirements
for Concordia Seminary, St. Louis

WHEREAS, The admission requirements of Concordia Sem-
inary, St. Louis, as described in a recently published bro-
chure advertising admission requirements seem to down-
grade the training which graduates of Synod’s Junior and
Senior Colleges receive in the Biblical languages and es-
pecially in religion; and

WHEREAS, It appears especially unwarranted to dismiss
the training in religion which students receive in our Jun-
ior and Senior Colleges by suggesting that “nonsystem” stu-
dents may acquire this same training or a satisfactory equi-
valent by merely completing “a list of readings available
from the seminary’s director of admissions,” and this without
any mention of testing the skills, knowledge, and attitudes
acquired in such reading; and

WHEREAS, It is not clear whether these new admission re-
quirements have been approved by the Synod’s Board for
Higher Education as mandated by the Handbook, Section
6.05 c, to wit: “The board [Board for Higher Education], in
carrying out its function, shall— ...c¢. prescribe such stu-
dent admission and transfer standards as are required in the
interest of effective educational procedures and are in har-
mony with the Synod’s objectives of professional training and
commensurate with the purposes and capacities of the indi-
vidual institutions”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education and the
Board of Control of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, be asked

to examine these admission requirements and to adopt such
admission requirements as will take into account the train-
ing provided by the Synod’s preministerial colleges.

St. Paut’s LUTHERAN CHURCH
Bremen, Ind.

Henry Kiefer, President

Dan Miller, Secretary
Raymond Mueller, Pastor

6-61

To Require Doctorate for Heading
Graduate School

WHEREAS, The head of a graduate school should have a
doctorate in the area he is supervising; and

Whereas, It is customary and essential that a director
of a graduate school excel and have the highest possible
degree obtainable in the area he is to supervise; and

WueREAS, The director of the graduate program at the
St. Louis seminary has been involved in this very position
without a doctorate degree; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod insist that any graduate program
be administered by a person who has excelled and has the
highest possible degree obtainable in the area he is direct-
ing, namely, at least a doctorate in at least one field.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Casper, Wyo.

Don Eckelberg, Secretary
LaVern R. Bellamy, Pastor

6-62

To Direct Board for Higher Education

to Guide Its Boards of Control More

Effectively According to Bylaws 6.03
and 6.05

Whereas, There has been great diversity of theological
thought being taught at some of our institutions of higher
learning and especially at the St.Louis seminary (Presi-
dent's report to The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod,
Sept. 1, 1972); and

Whereas, In one institution some professors have been
advised, and indeed allowed to teach using a Higher Criti-
cal Methodology which has not been sanctioned by the
Synod (President’s report to The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod, Sept. 1, 1972); and

Wuereas, The current theology being taught using the
Higher Critical Methodology, indicates that the Board for
Higher Education has not fulfilled its duties and responsi-
bilities to Synod to adequately supervise our institutions of
higher learning (Handbook 6.05b); and

WuereEaSs, The Commission on Theology and Church Re-
lations has fully endorsed the Statement of Scriptural and
Confessional Principles, as a guidance to the Synod in mat-
ters of theological and church relations and expressed the
opinion, quote:

We find the doctrinal content of A Statement to be in accord

with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions and to con-

tain nothing contrary to them. We also find the doctrinal con-
tent of A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles
to be in accord with the doctrinal position of The Lutheran

Church — Missouri Synod as it has been taught historically and

expressed in the official doctrinal statements of the Synod.

Therefore be it

Resolved, That the Voters’ Assembly of St. John’s Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church, 503 Chase Parkway, Waterbury,
Conn., of the New England District of The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod asks the 1973 synodical convention that
the Board for Higher Education be directed to fulfill its
duties and responsibilities, Handbook 6.05b, which states,
quote:

The board, in carrying out its functions, shall . . . determine,
direct, and supervise, within the intent and resolutions of the
Synod, the educational and administrative standards, policies,
and procedures of Synod’s educational system and institutions;

and be it further