LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 320

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320 HIGHER EDUCATION

to give extraordinary service, because of the demands of col-
lege expansion and development. Continuity of board member-
ship has been and will continue to be of very great importance,
since the initiation of 4-year operation and ongoing institutional
development require board membership knowledgeability and
stability. The Board of Control is assisted by an Advisory Com-
mittee of clergy and lay representatives from East Coast Dis-
tricts.

Faculty and Staff. Seven faculty members completed service
appointments in 1973. Kenneth Doka, Roger Timm, and Paul
Weber (vicar) began service in 1973, and James Lawer, Sharon
Osenberg, Richard Seiler, and Patricia Shopland in 1974.
During the 2-year period doctor's degrees were earned by Clyde
Kaminska, Donald Miesner, Thomas Sluberski, and Roger
Timm. Two faculty members earned master’s degrees. Thirteen
faculty members were engaged in advanced studies, 10 in doc-
toral programs. Clyde Kaminska and Ronald Rockhill were
advanced in rank to professor, Bernhard Filbert and Thomas
Green to associate professor, and Alan Steinberg to associate
professor without tenure. Advanced from instructor to assistant
professor were Wally Borgen, Dianne Gadow, Florence Halter,
Ronald Jones, Constance Just, Jeanne Lowe, June Schassler.
and Philip Stahmer. Faculty members who, in addition to carry-
ing out teaching responsibilities, accepted administrative
appointments include Edgar Aufdemberge, director of teacher
education; Thomas Green, dean of students (succeeding Clifford
Peterson, who had served in that position for 10 years and now
serves as a division chairman); Ronald Jones, Media Center
director; Stephen Muller, director of placement, and Eric Walle,
director of interim and special programs. Sharon Osenberg was
appointed assistant librarian; Robert Fischer, assistant admis-
sions counselor, and Herbert Mueller, part-time controllership
consultant.

Students. In fall 1973—74 total enrollment was 494, including
49 pretheological, 154 teacher education, 8 deaconess, 23 social
work, and 260 general students: 60% of the student body was
from New York State, 23% from Mid-Atlantic states, 12% from
New England states, and the balance from other states and
foreign countries. In fall 1974—75 total enrollment was 559,
including 31 pretheological, 191 teacher education, 4 deaconess,
15 social work, and 318 general students: 67% were from New
York State, 20% from Mid-Atlantic states, 10% from New
England states, and the balance from other states and foreign
countries. Minority enrollment in both years was approximately
1.

The varied programs of cocurricular, worship, and religious
service activities have been developed as Concordia became a
4-year college. Students continued to address important ques-
tions about themselves and their Christian vocation and to
confront their potentialities, emotions, and fluctuating interests
and enthusiasms. There also has been a new kind of excitement.
especially with upper division students, as they approach
entrance into their chosen vocations. Concordia’s first senior
class is an outstanding one, and the church will be the richer
for the presence, dedication, and skills of these first Concordia-
Bronxville bachelor degree graduates.

Student financial assistance totaled $540,000 in 197374 and
$575,000 in 1974—75. Average annual financial aid allocations
for the 2-year period, by sources, were as follows: Lutheran
church membership and church service curriculum grants.
$195,000; federal assistance (work-study, SEOG, BEOG, $70,000:
state assistance, $85,000; assistance from synodical Districts.
$35,000: college scholarships and grants, $30,000; other scholar-
ships and grants, $15,000; guaranteed loans, $135,000.

Moving Forward to Meet Challenges and Needs

Events that have taken place within the Synod during the
past 2 years have created challenges and problems also for
Concordia. Theological controversies, ecclesiastical disputes
and dislocations, and the uncertainties related to the present
synodical situation, exacerbated by the economic downturn in
the country, have made student recruitment, maintenance of
faculty morale, and continuing institutional development very
difficult. Increasingly noticeable are negative effects in student
recruitment and retention of men for pastoral ministry and men
and women for teaching and other church ministries. A healed
and united church—one body, created and sustained by one

Spirit through Word and Sacrament. with one Lord. one faith,
in the service of one God and Father — is the only foundation for
hope to carry forward a unified mission and ministry. Such unity
is essential in the call to Christian vocation, effective recruitment
of ministerial and lay students, and maintenance of faculty spirit
and strength, as it is also essential in generating ongoing interest.
support, and confidence of the clergy and lay constituency of
a synodical college.

A united and unified Synod, with continuing commitment
to and support of its programs of higher education and a clear
vision as to the roles and functions of synodical institutions. is
essential not only for the schools but also for effective proclama-
tion and teaching, mission outreach and evangelization, and wit-
ness and service at home and abroad by our church body. The
blessings God has bestowed through the outreach, high service,
and educational programs of Districts and the Synod have been

‘achieved, in great measure. through the Christian formation

ministers and lay leaders have received at synodical schools.
Educational retrenchment now would have long-lasting weaken-
ing effects in all phases of our church body's mission and
ministry.

Strategically located at the center of the country’s most
populous region. with millions unchurched, Concordia. with
Districts and the Synod, confronts vast mission challenges in
urban ministry and Gospel outreach in the East. Concordia
offers a sound program of Lutheran higher education, serving
500 undergraduate students, half of whom are preparing for
full-time church service. Regionally identified. Concordia is
committed to help the church meet the needs of urban congre-
gations and minority groups. Regionally supported, with a 30-
acre campus and 16 major buildings valued at $7,500,000, three
quarters of which were provided by gifts of individuals, groups,
and congregations of eastern synodical Districts, Concordia
exemplifies effective partnership of eastern synodical Districts
and the Synod as a whole. Grateful for her 93 years of service,
Concordia recognizes that her continued service and develop-
ment depend, under God, on the prayers. confidence, and inter-
est of her eastern constituency and of the Synod in providing
necessary resources and a level of annual operating support
commensurate with her programs and services as a full 4-year
synodical college.

Board of Control
Rudolph P. F. Ressmeyer, Chairman
Robert V. Schnabel, Evecutive Officer

6-15
St. Paul's College. Concordia, Mo.

This biennial report of St. Paul's College to the Synod pro-
vides an opportunity to publicly express our thanks to the Lord
and His church, to share information on the activity of the
school, and to rededicate ourselves to carrying out the tasks
that have been given to us. The report is obviously not com-
plete in all details since it is impossible in a limited space to
reflect the process of Christian education that takes place on
the campus. Only one who lives there can understand and fully
appreciate the personal concern, the sharing of the Word of
God. and the living of the faith in the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ which occurs on a daily basis.

A Word of Gratitude

We are deeply grateful to our Lord, who has called us in
Christ and has given us the privilege of serving to prepare
young men and women on the high school and college level for
Christian service. This task is not ours alone, as the many
people who support the school demonstrate. In addition to the
subsidy received from the Synod. thousands of dollars have
been provided by the alumni and other supporting organiza-
tions as well as individual congregations and groups such as
the Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood.
We appreciate this support. since without it we could not con-
tinue to provide an excellent Christian education.

Program Facilities and Faculty

While continuing to place prime emphasis on the task of
preparing church workers, a secretarial and business program
was introduced on the college level during the past biennium.