Collection › LCMS Convention Proceedings (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1938 · 37th Convention, St. Louis › Page 95
LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1938, Page 95

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

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Action Regarding Individual Institutions 96

taining for the higher education of our young people. In view
of the large investment which our Lutheran people have made in
this institution and in view of the great progress which Valparaiso
University has made, under the blessing of God, in its development
and in its capacity for rendering valuable service in years to come,
it is only reasonable that the place of Valparaiso University be
considered if Synod should adopt any larger program for the
general higher education of our youth.

Il. The question confronting Synod, if our information is cor-

- rect, seems to us to be one of such importance that a thorough

study of it should be made, preferably with the aid of disinterested
competent educational authorities, before any final action is taken
with regard to it. We do not believe that Synod should change
its historic policy merely as a matter of expediency. Such action
would accomplish little in advancing the cause of general Chris-
tian higher education. Nor do we think it wise to call numerous
local organizations into existence for the support of lay education
at our various synodical institutions. Such a policy would make
for confusion and not for educational efficiency. If a change is
to be made, it seems to us that it should be made only as a matter
of principle. It is quite possible that the time has come for Synod
to give up the policy of the past and to enter the broader field of
general education for the youth of our Church within the Church.
We believe, however, that, before this change is made, Synod
should have more definite information regarding the following:
(a) the cost involved; (b) the trends in college enrolments caused
by the declining birth-rate; (c) the number of institutions at
which such general education should be offered; (d) the geo-
graphical location of these institutions; (e) the possibility of in-
tegrating the courses to be offered in these institutions with those
now offered at Valparaiso University, so that the graduates of our
junior colleges may continue their education at our institution
without loss of credit. It is our conviction that, unless Synod is
ready to enter the field of general higher education as a matter
of definite policy, and unless it is prepared to meet the expenses
involved in offering general education in a really effective way,
a change in its present policy would only lead to confusion and
fail to accomplish the desired end.

Ill. We believe that Synod can very effectively aid the cause
of Christian higher education by urging the members of our Church
to make greater use of the educational facilities now provided for
our young people at Valparaiso University, which exists within
Synod only to serve Synod and its members. We call Synod’s
attention to the fact that Valparaiso University is accredited, that
it offers thorough instruction at a moderate cost in a great variety