LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 322

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322 HIGHER EDUCATION

creasing subsidy from the Synod for current operations. Activi-
ties of private, church-related schools appear to be receiving
more open support, both morally and financially. by the public
and the government of Alberta. Although there are many en-
counters before us. we are encouraged to continue planning for
greater realms of service.

We are grateful to God for His many blessings on our efforts
in the past. We also want to express our thanks to God's people
for their prayers and support. We look ahead, confident of our
Lord’s strong and steady guiding hand and reliant upon His
gracious promises.

Board of Control
Walter A. Ritter. Chairman
Alfred R. Roth. Executive Officer

6-17
Christ College Irvine. Calif.

The West Coast of the United States has frequently been
designated by The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod as the
place for a major 4-year educational institution to prepare
Kingdom workers for the church. Christ College Irvine is the
culmination of efforts by Lutherans in the Pacific Southwest
to provide the Synod with such an institution. In July 1973
California Concordia College at Oakland. which had been in
continuous operation since 1906. was closed as a synodical
college. Christ College Irvine. when it opens, will assume the
educational continuity of the Oakland school on the West Coast.
Already in 1962 (Cleveland) and 1965 (Detroit) synodical conven-
tions authorized college construction, and during these years
Property was purchased and architectural plans were com-
pleted. In 1971 (Milwaukee) The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod authorized Irvine as the Synod’s major 4-year college in
the western states and authorized $2 million for construction.
In 1973 (New Orleans) The Lutheran Church ~ Missouri Synod
authorized the borrowing of capital funds for construction,
that the educational program might begin. The church's Board
for Higher Education and Board of Directors have responded
generously to meet the educational needs of the West Coast.
In July 1974 $1 million was released for site work, and in January
1975 the construction contract to build the Living-Learning
Center and the site work was approved by the Synod's Board of
Directors. Construction on the site is presently taking place,
with completion scheduled for fall 1975. The Board of Control
wants to express its thanks to all of the synodical boards that
have provided help to bring Christ College into existence.

In 1973 Christ College noted in its synodical convention
report that the educational purpose of the college states that
the school “will interpret the historical Christian motif to ethnic
and international communities.” Consequently, the academic
planning committee has incorporated educational planning that
would not exclude non-Western cultures. When these educa-
tional perspectives in evangelism and world mission were
reviewed by the Synod’s Board for Evangelism and Board for
Missions in 1974, the result was endorsing resolutions. The
Board for Missions resolved to “commend Christ College Irvine
for the world mission emphasis in the educational program...
{and} to develop programs of educational cooperation and
exchanges with the colleges and seminaries of its missions
and sister churches overseas” (8/24/74). The Board for Evan-
gelism resolved to thank ‘Jesus Christ for providing His church
with this college that puts evangelism and world mission as
the first priority .. . and to remain faithful to the Great Com-
mission of Jesus Christ as it develops its educational curriculum
and faculty” (5/14/74). Consequently, the “Great Commission”
has become the theme of the college: “Go and make disciples
of all nations . . . teaching them.” as Christ College prepares
full-time teachers and pastors for the church both here and
abroad.

Christ College operates with a limited budget and staff.

rof. Charles L. Manske, serves as the acting president, and
Mr. Chris Culpepper serves as the director of development.
The Christ College Irvine Board of Control consists of the
following members: Dr. Arnold G. Kuntz (chairman), President
of the Southern California District. The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod: Rev. Elmer Matthias (vice-chairman) Vice-
President, Southern California District: Glenn Molyneaux,

M.D. (secretary). president of the American Society of Internal
Medicine: the Rev. Edw. Westcott. pastor in Arizona: Mr. Carl
Schroeder, president of First National Bank of Orange County:
Mr. Robert Barnes principal of Lutheran High School. Los
Angeles: Dr. John A. Greenlee, president of California State
University, Los Angeles. Christ College has worked on various
phases of academic planning through a committee chaired by
Dr. John Greenlee. It has continued its conversations toward
accreditation as a 4-year educational institution with the Western
Association of Schools and Colleges. submitting both reports
and payments. Further the college has offered accredited
courses during 1975 through a joint effort with Concordia
College. Seward. Further educational relationships are en-
visioned with our sister synodical institution at Seward—
particularly in the area of educating teacher training students.

Another area has been the Institute of Evangelism and
Research, sponsored by the Christ College Irvine Foundation.
In the spring of 1975 Dr. James Gamaliel from India taught
courses in Southern California for the college. Dr. Gamaliel
is the director of the Institute of Evangelism and Research
in Nagercoil. sponsored by the India Evangelical Lutheran
Church through Concordia Seminary. Both Christ College and
Concordia Seminary are studying proposals to jointly sponsor
the Institute in India, which is providing programs in witnessing
to non-Christian religions. A major concern for Christ College
has been the need to provide financial assistance for construc-
tion and operational programs. The Christ College Irvine
Foundation (Mr. Ray Grimm, chairman) has provided the
leadership and funds for a major fund raising effort known as
‘Share Christ Worldwide.” With a goal of $1.4 million, the drive
is expected to surpass the halfway mark in gifts and pledges
by June 1975. These efforts are led by distinguished professional
and business leaders on the West Coast but have involved the
participation of countless thousands who have supported the
college with their prayers and offerings.

The Synod's College on the West Coast has a bright future
in its efforts to prepare workers for the church. There is a solid
base of lay and clergy support for Christ College. Christ has told
us: “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will
give it you.” We have asked God for a college in the name of
His Son. God has a way of keeping His promises! Therefore this
report reflects both the joy and the promise of working with
synodical boards to bring about the fulfillment of God's plan
for the Great Commission in our time.

Board of Control
Arnold G. Kuntz, Chairman
Charles L. Manske, Erecutire Officer

6-18

Concordia College, Milwaukee, Wis.
Type of Institution

For the 1974~75 school year the motto of Concordia was
“Challenged by Change.’ This seemed especially apropos in
view of the many changes that have occurred in higher educa-
tion generally but also specifically at this institution. After
80 years of uni-purpose pastoral training on the high school
and junior college level, the first major change was the intro-
duction in 1961 of the Lutheran Lay Ministry program, which
has since that time continued and flourished on our campus.
Then in 1965 women teacher training and deaconess and social
work students were admitted: in 1969 the college curriculum
was decidedly broadened and more “general education” stu-
dents were recruited. In 1973 the last high school class was
graduated. and thus Concordia became exclusively a junior
college. In 1974 Concordia's consortium partner, Spencerian
College of Business, decided to discontinue its academic pro-
gram and the Board for Higher Education approved Concordia‘s
introduction of business administration and secretarial courses
for the second semester. Thus as the North Central Association
Review Committee visited the campus in April 1975 for its 10-
year review, Concordia presented itself as a multipurpose
Junior college but still with the primary function of preparing
students for the professional ministries of the church.