LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 176

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LATE REPORTS AND OVERTURES 179

The District Board for Education established new
policies and received a full-time executive secretary
when Dr. Nestor L. Beck was appointed for that position
during 1978. This brought also changes in the admini-
stration of the seminary, and the Board of Control made
every effort to adjust to the new policies.

Enrollment

The academic year in Brasil starts in March and
ends in December. There are two semesters, but until
now the seminary enrolled new students only at the
beginning of the academic year. The following numbers
of students were registered during these academic years.
For the first time we will have close to a hundred
students enrolled in the theological courses of the
seminary.

1977 1978 1979

Basic course ............. _ 31 33
Ist Theology ............. 22 _ 27
2nd Theology ............ 20 22 ~
8rd Theology ............. 18 20 21
4th Theology ............. 21 16 17
Colloquy .............06. — 1 1
Total ................ 81 90 99

The classes start to become larger for two reasons: (1)
the enrollment at the Instituto Concordia, Sao Leopoldo,
is becoming larger; (2) the seminary is accepting stu-
dents from other high schools and colleges through a
special entrance examination, through which candi-
dates are tested especially in their knowledge of Chris-
tian doctrine and the Bible. All need a recommendation
from their pastor to enroll at the seminary.

During the biennium the seminary placed in the
pastoral office a total of 34 candidates. There were 19 of
the 1977 class and 15 of the 1978 class. One-third of
these candidates were sent to the mission fields in
northern and central Brasil.

The student association developed a great activity
during the biennium. One of the major achievements
was the return of the student publication Nostra Vita,
which had been silent for more than 15 years.

At the end of 1978 the students received a helping
hand through the organization of the seminary guild
(ASAS) by a group of ladies from the parishes of Greater
Porto Alegre.

During the second semester of 1978 the Board of
Control authorized the introduction of physical educa-
tion. The students organized their teams and took
advantage of the facilities with new joy.

Faculty

As of Feb. 1, 1979, the faculty consists of 10 members,
since Prof. Arnaldo Schueler started his contract on
that date. During the years 1977 and 1978 there was no
change in the faculty except change of positions. Prof.
Dr. Martim C. Warth replaced Prof. Arnaldo J. Schmidt
as president on May 31, 1977. From November 1976 to
May 1977 Dr. Martim C. Warth was a guest professor at
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, during his sabbatical
year. Most members of the faculty are full-time profes-
sors. Only professors Mario L. Rehfeldt (church history),
Dr. Donaldo Schueler (New Testament), and Hans

Gerhard F. Rottmann (church music, liturgics) decided
to work only part-time for the seminary. During the
biennium 1977/78 Dr. Martim C. Warth (systematics)
was acting president, and academic dean. Prof. Walter
OQ. Steyer (missions) is vice-president and dean of
students. Prof. Acir Raymann (Old Testament) is dean
of admissions and records and served as secretary to the
faculty. Prof. Arnaldo J. Schmidt (homiletics, pastoral
theology) serves as director of studies. Dr. Johannes H.
Rottmann (New Testament) is librarian. Dr. Otto A.
Goer! (homiletics, symbolics) serves as director of re-
search. Prof. Arnaldo Schueler (symbolics, philosophy)
serves as director of literary production. Prof. Hans G.
F. Rottmann served as dean of the chapel.

Prof. Elmer N. Flor (Old Testament), of the Instituto
Concordia, served as guest professor during 1978. Rev.
Hans Horsch (New Testament) was guest lecturer in
1977. Rev. Vilson Scholz (New Testament, librarian)
and Rev. Paulo W. Buss (church history) were engaged
during 1978 to substitute for professors on leave. Part-
time instructors were Mr. Eli D. Thome (physical educa-
tion), Rev. Mario Lehenbauer (English), Rev. Valerio
Huwer (music), Rev. Carlos L. Feldmann (counseling),
and in 1979 Rev. Norberto E. Heine (counseling). Dr.
Walter G. Kunstmann is the only professor emeritus.
The Rev. G. Grasel will prepare a course in institutional
mission.

Since 1977 there are 25 pastors of the Greater Porto
Alegre area who serve as instructors of the fieldwork
program started with the second semester of 1977.

On sabbatical leave during the biennium were pro-
fessors Dr. Martim C. Warth, Dr. Donaldo Schueler, Dr.
Otto A. Goerl, and Mario L. Rehfeldt.

Academic Program

At the beginning of 1978, the 75th year of service to
the church, Seminario Concordia published its first
catalog. Until the middle of 1977 the seminary followed
a prescribed program for the classes, without much
choice for the students. Since the second semester of
1977 the seminary adopted the credit system, with some
flexibility and choice for the students. In view of the
small number of regular professors and the small
number of students, the options are not very great, but
they exist. This brought much change and many diffi-
culties at the beginning, but the faculty and the students
are getting accustomed to it.

At the same time the fieldwork was also organized in
such a way that all students are engaged each week in
one of the 25 parishes of Greater Porto Alegre. The
students are accepted in the parishes by a special
introduction ceremony. There are also special services
at the seminary for the students who complete their first
homiletics course and their worship course, to remind
them of the seriousness of the sermon and the distri-
bution of the Lord’s Supper. Since 1977 there is also a
special service for those who are assigned for vicarage
and those who receive their first call.

There are still too many credits required if one
compares with other college standards. But the faculty
decided to have students for more time in the classroom