LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 299

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HIGHER EDUCATION 299

Task Force has had difficulty in determining a proper direction
for Christ College, Irvine. Although the 1973 convention had
called for a restudy of the synodical educational system, it had
also acted to instruct the Board of Directors to begin construc-
tion even if funds had to be borrowed. The various convention
resolutions concerning higher education on the West Coast
emanated from a period of history when the synodical colleges
were growing at a rather rapid pace and the Synod itself was
experiencing significant growth. At the present time it is rather
difficult to conceive of a 4-year institution in southern California
that would not have a very serious impact on other colleges in
the synodical system. Based on the number of students presently
enrolled in the synodical system from the California area and
from areas of a similar-sized constituency, it is difficult to con-
clude that a 4-year institution primarily educating church work
students would in fact be a viable operation at this time.

The leaders of Christ College, Irvine, the Board of Control,
and the Irvine Foundation report community, District, and
regional enthusiasm and support for the establishment of Christ
College as a liberal arts program in a Christian setting for stu-
dents preparing for various vocations, including professional
church work, and to expand educational opportunities to repre-
sentatives of ethnic and international communities. A new 4-year
college in southern California that would have a large percent-
age of general education students from its very inception ap-
pears to be a possibility but would be a new type of undertaking
for The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.

The Task Force believes that the present 4-year synodical
colleges can accommodate a sufficient number of students to
meet current and future needs for pastors, teachers, and other
ministries. The development of additional 4-year programs
would only serve to spread the limited number of church work
students among more colleges and thereby tend to weaken
present programs.

The Task Force also recognizes that from the point of view
of synodical finances the present is a poor time to expand
educational programs. Christ College, Irvine, could expect
at best very limited support from the Synod for any additional
building programs or capital improvements, and such funds
would have to be developed from alternate sources not now
made available to the Synod. The operating costs of the educa-
tional programs at Christ College, Irvine, could be supported in
accord with the general tuition support program as recom-
mended by the Task Force emphasizing the support for students
preparing for full-time church work. However, in line with the
recommendation of the Task Force that no new 4-year schools
or programs be implemented, the Task Force cannot support
the development of Christ College, Irvine, as a 4-year institution.

The leaders of Christ College, Irvine, have proposed an inter-
esting variety of educational offerings as part of their proposed
curriculum. Such proposals should be encouraged, and the
implementation of these programs should be explored with the
Board for Higher Education for development in cooperation with
existing colleges of the Synod.

The Task Force recognizes the value of a synodical school
in the Pacific Southwest and the contributions such a school
could make to the development of Lutheranism in that area,
as well as to the recruitment of students for the teaching and
preaching ministry of the Synod.

The Task Force was led to accept the following conclusions
in regard to Christ College, Irvine, because (1) the financial
needs of the present synodical higher educational system are
greater than it seems possible to adequately support: and (2) the
present program conception of Christ College was not felt to be
entirely in keeping with the synodical priorities of education
for pastors, teachers, and other full-time church workers.
Some members of the Task Force felt that Irvine should be
closed. However, in view of previous commitments of the Synod
and the vast amount of work already completed, other members
felt that the future development of Irvine should be encouraged
but should proceed in a very cautious manner.

The Task Force Recommends

F1. That Christ College, Irvine, be instructed to discontinue
all efforts for the development and inauguration of 4-year pro-
grams. Education for students at the freshman and sophomore
level should be developed on an extension center basis in coop-
eration with existing synodical colleges:

F2. That no additional building programs are to be under-

taken until specific financial resources are developed and
secured under the approval of the Board for Higher Education
and the synodical Board of Directors:

F3. That students studying at Christ College, Irvine, for
authorized church work programs receive tuition support from
the Synod in line with the support formula recommended for
all schools by the Task Force: and

F4. That all educational programs initiated at Christ College,
Irvine, in cooperation with existing synodical colleges be
reviewed and approved by the Board for Higher Education to
insure that they are appropriate and consistent with the pro-
grams of teacher and preministerial education in the Synod.

G. Concordia College and High School. Edmonton. Alberta

The concerns of the Task Force relative to Concordia Col-
lege and High School, Edmonton, Alta., have been reflective
of the synodical endorsement of the Detroit convention in 1965.
The adoption of Resolution 6.08 resolved:

The plans and problems associated with the development of an

indigenous Canadian ministry require that the future of Edmonton

be considered apart from the long-range plans for the synodical
schools in the United States.

The realities of cultural, political, and educational differ-
ences between Canada and the United States have been
amplified since the 1965 convention to the point where they are
now extremely important and fairly permanent factors in
operating a “‘synodical” education program in Canada. The
financial, attendance, and constituency support data concerning
Concordia College and High School, Edmonton, clearly indicate
to the Task Force that changes must be made in order for the
needs of students and of Canadian congregations to be fully met.

At the present time the college department offers only the
freshman year in affiliation with the University of Alberta. Upon
completion of this year, students must transfer to the secular
university or to synodical colleges in the United States. Upon
completion of college level work in the secular Canadian
universities or in the synodical colleges in the United States,
pastoral candidates must continue their education at the United
States seminaries or transfer to the affiliated program with
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Saskatoon. It has become
increasingly apparent that Canadian citizens cannot be attracted
to the educational alternatives available in the United States
schools. Additionally it should be pointed out that at the present
time Canada has needs and opportunities quite different from
those in the United States. In Canada there are only two Lu-
theran grade schools and the high school at Edmonton. Con-
sequently there is a very limited need for teachers but a broader
need for other types of ministries. In the current year of an
enrollment of 66 college students, five college students indicate
church-work career goals and one student indicates a Lutheran
elementary teacher goal. The high school department shows a
total of 10 students indicating a church-work career, of whom
five indicate pastoral intent. In terms of church affiliation, 68
of the total 230 students have a Missouri Synod background, an
additional 18 are from other Lutheran backgrounds, with the
remaining 144 students, or almost 63 percent of the student
body, coming from other affiliations. Alberta residency is indi-
cated for 167 of the 230 students, of whom 96 are from the
Edmonton area.

Synodical support for the school has been approximately
$140,000 during each of the past 6 or 7 years. Other sources of
income, such as government grants, and tuition and fees have
increased rather dramatically from $145,000 in 1968 to $263,000
in 1973.

The faculty at Concordia, Edmonton, is quite interested in
developing a 4-year college program to better relate to the
higher educational needs of the Lutheran laity in Canada.
Immediate need is felt for the development of the second
college year with the third and fourth year added ata later time,
either in affiliation with the University of Alberta or as a separate
college program. It should be noted, however, that history
indicates such a college will be largely serving as a Lutheran
educational missionary endeavor offering Christian higher edu-
cation to a student body largely interested in secular careers.
It is felt by the faculty that growth of the Lutheran Church in
Canada is dependent more on the laity than on professionally
trained church workers.

Current discussion, particularly in western Canada, for po-