LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 307

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HIGHER EDUCATION 307

Some items have since been returned. Better security has been
provided through the installation of new locks in the educational
buildings of the seminary. Two major improvements during the
biennium were the modernization of kitchens and bathrooms in
campus faculty homes and the resurfacing of roadways and
parking lots.

Services to the Synod

The major activity of Concordia Seminary continues to be
the training of men to serve as pastors of congregations in The
Lutheran Church -— Missouri Synod. In addition, the seminary’s
educational programs provide opportunities for professional
growth and enrichment to a large number of church workers
serving in other capacities.

The faculty of Concordia Seminary has been particularly
involved in a special certification program for Seminex gradu-
ates. Realizing that synodical Bylaws make it impossible for
men to serve on the clergy roster of the Synod without certifi-
cation by a synodical seminary faculty, the faculty in April and
May of 1974 devised a special program involving an interview
by a faculty committee. This program was modified in October
1974 at the suggestion of the Council of Presidents. The faculty
has spent numerous hours interviewing and processing the
records of the Seminex graduates who have availed themselves
of this program. As of March 10, 27 1974 Seminex graduates
have been interviewed by the faculty and many of them certi-
fied for the ministry.

The first issue of a new theological journal, Concordia
Journal. appeared in January 1975. Under the editorship of
Dr. Richard Klann. the Journal is expected to be published on
a quarterly basis. It is hoped that it will be useful not only to the
pastors of the Synod but to laymen who are interested in learn-
ing more about our theological heritage. The seminary herewith
expresses its gratitude to the generous donors who have made
the publication of this journal possible.

Members of the Concordia Seminary faculty continue to
serve the Synod in a number of ways in addition to their class-
room duties. They serve on several of the major boards and com-
missions of the Synod, lecture on theological topics to various
groups throughout the church, and engage in various writing
activities that directly benefit The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod or its organizations.

Special Concerns

Accreditation. On June 2, 1972, the Commission on Accredit-
ing of the American Association of Theological Schools resolved
to place the seminary’s accreditation on a 2-year probation.
A special task force appointed by the president of the Synod
worked closely with the Board of Control and administration
officials to deal with the three conditions noted by the accredit-
ing agency. In September 1973 the present Board of Control
of the seminary appealed the probation action in a detailed state-
ment which pointed out various errors and inequities in the
action of the ATS. However, that appeal was denied. In June
1974 the seminary received word from the ATS that the three
conditions underlying the probation had been removed and that
the probation had been lifted.

However, the Commission on Accrediting of the ATS also
notified the seminary that it was placed on a new 18-month
probation in order to correct conditions caused by the exodus
of faculty and students in February 1974. While the Board of
Control did not necessarily concur with the ATS action, it de-
cided not to appeal the probation, preferring to use its time
and energy in working with ATS consultants to correct condi-
tions that had been called to the seminary’s attention. During
the 1974 —75 school year. consultants recommended by the ATS
have worked closely with the administration and faculty of the
seminary to deal with certain problems, largely in the area of
administration and staffing. Further consultations are planned
for the coming months, particularly in the areas of field educa-
tion, business management, and graduate study. Preliminary
reports from our consultants cause us to believe that the semi-
nary is successfully meeting the conditions imposed by the
accrediting agency and that our probation will be removed at
the end of 1975. In the meantime, all programs of Concordia
Seminary remain fully accredited in every respect.

Protecting the Concordia Seminary Name. In June 1974
Seminex was officially incorporated in the State of Missouri
under the name “Concordia Seminary in Exile.” The seminary’s

legal counsel advises that the name “Concordia Seminary”
is the rightful possession of Concordia Seminary and that its
present use by Seminex is improper. However, rather than
seeking an injunction against further illegal use of the name at
this time, the Board of Control has endeavored to dissuade
Seminex officials from further use through letters, personal
appeals, and the persuasive efforts of the synodical Board of
Directors. As of March 10 these efforts have been unsuccessful.
The Board of Control is concerned that continued use of the
name Concordia Seminary by Seminex will cause confusion in
the mind of the general public, contribute to the misdirection
of gifts intended for Concordia Seminary, and inflict other
damages upon our institution. The claim is frequently advanced
by Seminex personnel that they are the genuine Concordia
Seminary. For example, the worship folder for the opening
service of Seminex in September 1974 claimed that the service
was for the 136th year of “Concordia Seminary, now in Exile.”’
It is clear from Seminex publications and statements that
Seminex personnel consider themselves to be Concordia
Seminary, and that this claim underlies the attitude of several
Seminex persons toward the use of the property and facilities
of Concordia Seminary. The Board of Control is persuaded that
firm action may be necessary in order to protect the name and
identity of Concordia Seminary if present efforts to dissuade
Seminex are unsuccessful.

Reconciliation Efforts. The former faculty and students
of Concordia Seminary who formed Seminex have frequently
employed strong language in describing the actions of Con-
cordia Seminary’s board and administration. We have been
accused of silencing the Word of God, raw legalism, as well as
evil, injustice, and immorality. In letters, resolutions, and public
statements, Seminex persons have spoken the judgment of God
upon Concordia Seminary. Such strong statements about Con-
cordia Seminary have made efforts at reconciliation extremely
difficult. Nevertheless, the Board of Control has participated in
all reconciliation efforts initiated by others, and has itself taken
the lead in seeking to arrange discussions with the former
faculty. A committee created by the Board of Control in May
1974 was successful in arranging meetings with Seminex faculty
members and others to discuss the implications of Res. 3-09.
Letters have gone from seminary administrators to Seminex
faculty members to determine whether any of them might be
interested in being considered by the Board of Control for
faculty appointments. To date, such reconciliation efforts have
not been successful. The Board of Control. however, continues
its willingness to discuss the issues with Seminex personnel and
prays that God will grant such efforts the blessings of His Holy
Spirit so that they may lead to true reconciliation on the basis
of the Word of God.

Recommendations

The Board of Control and the faculty of Concordia Seminary
have submitted overtures to the 1975 synodical convention con-
taining recommendations on the following subjects: constitu-
tional provisions for ministerial certification and placement,
congregational violations of Bylaw 4.01 a, protection of the name
“Concordia Seminary,’ membership in ELIM, recognition and
subsidy for Concordia Journal, developing and supporting our
Graduate School programs, developing a unified synodical pro-
gram of ministerial recruitment, the preferred route for minis-
terial training. a program for the certification of Seminex
graduates, action to retain accreditation, ministering to the
former faculty majority. and theological continuing education.

Conclusion

The Board of Control has had to deal with some very difficult
and sensitive problems during the past biennium. On several
matters members of the board have had sharp disagreements
with each other concerning the appropriate course of action.
The board recognizes that it may have made mistakes in the way
it handled certain matters, but at the same time the board
assures the Synod that it has always endeavored to act in a
fraternal, evangelical. and responsible manner, mindful of the
high trust that has been placed upon it by The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod.

We are grateful that God has richly blessed the rebuilding
program of Concordia Seminary. The board, faculty, staff, and
students have combined their efforts to offer the Synod a
seminary program that is characterized by an emphasis on the