Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 342
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 342

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

342 HIGHER EDUCATION

6-82

To Protest Use of Name
“Concordia Seminary” by Seminex

WHEREAS, Confusion about the location of Concordia Semi-
nary has been caused by a group who formed the operation
they call “Concordia Seminary-in-Exile” or ‘‘Seminex”’; and

WHEREAS. The use of the name ‘Concordia Seminary” by
Seminex is illegal; and

WHEREAS, That illegal use by Seminex has resulted in great
confusion within the Synod, leading especially to the loss of
funds (for example: the taking by Seminex’s “World Mission
Institute” of over $20,000 in Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League funds designated for Concordia Seminary); therefore
be it

Resolved. That the Synod assembled in convention request
the Seminex institution that it is no longer to consider itself
Concordia Seminary; and be it further

Resolved. That all boards, synodical schools, and officials
of the Synod identify The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod
seminary in St. Louis as “Concordia Seminary.”

St. James Lutheran Church
University City, Mo.

John Essen, President

Carl Meinecke, Secretary
Tom Baker, Pastor

6-83

To Protect Accreditation and Good
Name of St. Louis Seminary

WHEREAS, Accreditation is of considerable importance to the
program of theological study of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod: and

WHEREAS, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, was placed on
probation by the Association of Theological Schools in 1972; and

WHEREAS, The President of the Synod took immediate action
to protect the accreditation of Concordia Seminary by appoint-
ing a special task force: and

WHEREAS, The Synod and the Board of Control accepted the
recommendations of the special task force and implemented
them, so that the concerns of the Association of Theological
Schools were met and the probation lifted: and

WHEREAS, The walkout of faculty, students, and staff of
Concordia Seminary created a situation that prompted the Com-
mission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools
to propose a new probation of 18 months: and

WHEREAS, The Board of Control’s efforts to answer the con-
cerns of the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of
Theological Schools and to demonstrate that probation was
unwarranted were unseccessful: and

WHEREAS, The Board of Control, the administration, and the
faculty of Concordia Seminary believe they have always met the
ATS standards and continue to make every effort to maintain
a program that meets and exceeds the ATS standards: and

WHEREAS, The Board of Control is satisfied that the actions
of the Association of Theological Schools have not always been
professional, as is evident from the resolution passed at the
Atlanta convention of the ATS in 1974: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled authorize
and direct the Board of Control of Concordia Seminary, Saint
Louis, to take any action that may be necessary to protect the
accreditation of Concordia Seminary and to protect its good
name with other accredited theological seminaries: and be it
further

Resolved, That the Board of Control of Concordia Seminary
be authorized and directed to seek appropriate judicial remedy
if the present probation is not lifted.

Board of Control

Concordia Seminary

St. Louis, Mo.

Ralph Bohlmann, Acting Executive Officer

6-84

To Maintain Accreditation

WHEREAS, The Synod is committed to a program of quality
education at its seminaries, colleges, and universities; and

WHEREAS, Accreditation by regional and professional agen-
cies is a recognition of the achievement of academic standards:
and

WHEREAS. Accrediting agencies have given repeated assur-
ances that it is not their intention to infringe on the confessional
position of the Synod or its rights and privileges; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Board for Higher Education, Boards of
Control, and the faculties of our educational institutions be en-
couraged to maintain academic standards for accreditation
and to correct any circumstances that place in jeopardy the
accreditation of any of our educational institutions.

English District
Robert L. Landeck, Secretary

6-85A

To Explore Other Accreditation

WHEREAS. It is the right and sacred duty of the Synod to
exercise doctrinal supervision over its colleges and seminaries;
and

WHEREAS, In putting Concordia Seminary on academic
probation in 1972 in response to the synodical President's ap-
pointment of a Fact Finding Committee, the Association of
Theological Seminaries (ATS, formerly AATS) has shown itself
to be both irresponsible and manipulable by a certain partisan
doctrinal faction within our Synod: and

WHEREAS. This irresponsible and partisan interference was
underscored by certain hostile resolutions it adopted at its
Atlanta conference last year; and

WHEREAS. The ATS has also raised serious doubts about
its professional standards when it granted associate accredita-
tion to Seminex in spite of the fact that Seminex was: (a) but
a year old, (b) had no facilities of its own, (c) had no library of
its own, and (d) had a “board of control’ which was essentially
a mere creature of its faculty: and

WHEREAS, Our Synod’s rights of doctrinal supervision seem
threatened and the standards of academic quality seem poorly
served by our relationship to the ATS: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Boards of Control of our two seminaries
be encouraged to assert and maintain before the ATS our
Synod’s right of doctrinal self-control: and be it further

Resolved. That these two boards be encouraged to investigate
other avenues of accreditation (e.g., the North Central Asso-
ciation of Colleges and Secondary Schools, which now also
accredits theological seminaries), such avenues as would main-
tain high professional standards of accreditation and would
not amount to a doctrinal Trojan horse in our seminaries.

Christ Lutheran Church
Waverly, Il.

Emery Seiz, President
Marvin Duewer, Secretary
E. A. Bielefeld, Pastor

Identical or similar:

6-85B

St. James, University City, Mo. Tom Baker

6-86A

To Certify LCMS Students at Lutheran
Theological Seminary, Saskatoon

WHEREAS, The Synod has authorized the establishment of
a theological chair on the faculty of Lutheran Theological