Education is also part 

Via the Internet, some 500 Lutheran school

of being in mission

teachers are taking doctrine and theology courses to

become certified as Ministers of Religion on the

An effort by Concordia College, Bronxville,

synodical roster. Halm estimates that 6,500 early

N.Y., is reaching beyond the campus, bringing

childhood personnel and 4,500 elementary and 

instruction to nine sites along the Eastern seaboard

secondary teachers are not graduates of synodical

and as far inland as Iowa. 

College President Viji George described

A   H I G H E R   E D U C AT I O N

the effort as a missional response:  There's a

D E V E L O P S   F U T U R E   S T R AT E G I E S

crying need to find people with ethnic back 

grounds to serve where new immigrants can

   Christ centered and Lutheran

be reached by the Gospel,  he explained.

   Producing professional church workers

 Wouldn't it be great to find leaders from a

   Striving for quality

variety of ethnic groups, teach them about

  Fiscally 

viable

what it means to be Lutherans as well as pro 

vide them with a strong Biblical foundation,

With a focus on those four points, the Synod's Board for Higher

and put them back to serve in their communi 

Education is developing strategies for the future of the 10 Concordia colleges

ty, not as pastors but as leaders? 

and universities.

Working with nine sites in eight LCMS

 They are fulfilling the traditional responsibilities in preparing and

districts, Concordia's Mission Training Center

providing church workers. It's a responsibility that won't go away,  said Dr.

uses video conferencing and Internet based

William F. Meyer, BHE executive director. Being a confessional church, he

courses to provide basic instruction in the

adds, is adhering to the statement,  We believe, teach and confess. 

Christian faith, Old and New Testament, wor 

This year, as the synodical budget was reduced, the colleges no

ship and Lutheran theology. More than 50

longer receive direct funding from the Synod.  We've never had so many

students are already enrolled. Many are immi 

Lutherans at our colleges,  Meyer added.  We have to build out [in facilities

grants who having been reached by Lutheran

and faculty] to meet that growth. There is no future if there is no financial

mission efforts now provide lay leadership in

support. 

their ethnic communities. Local pastors help

The institutions are being asked to operate on breakeven, Meyer said.

mentor these new Lutheran leaders.

 Some of the small institutions are being greatly affected by the current

The center is one of the efforts to make

decline of gifts and earnings from endowments. That's dollars for scholar 

higher education responsive to the church's

ships. 

needs, according to George.  Apart from

 To be of service to the church, we need to continue to be the

preparing teachers and pastors for the tradi 

Concordia University System,  Meyer stated. While the colleges need to be

tional ministry, we can also be a part of equip 

regionally located, the system, which was established in 1992, has enabled

ping leaders who can serve the mission and

cooperation and collaboration  in a very dramatic way,  he said.

ministry of the church in many ways,  he said.

Meyer noted that 41 percent of CUS enrollment are LCMS Lutherans

 In some instances, we must take education to

and 10 percent are from other Lutheran church bodies.

the people. That's where we can shine. 

CUEnet: Another facet 

colleges and frequently lack the basics of Lutheran

of the diamond

doctrine and theology. 

At another level, about 40 Lutheran high

Begun 10 years ago as a compressed video

schools have installed facilities to receive courses via

network that enabled the colleges to share faculty

CUEnet. Students receive college credit for taking

lectures among campuses, the Concordia University

courses like Old and New Testament, psychology

Education Network (CUEnet) now enables the col 

and anthropology classes that some high schools

leges to take education to Lutheran schools, high

may not have faculty to teach.

schools and even homes. 

The technological capabilities assist a new

 With college to college exchange of classes,

doctorate program for educators that is adminis 

we only scratched the surface,  said CUEnet

tered by Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. It

President Dr. D. Ray Halm.  We've always had a

taps faculty expertise at Concordias in Mequon,

diamond in our colleges and, now, a new facet is

Wis., Irvine, Calif., and Portland, Ore.

being seen. 

 The universities have designed the curricu 

(51) FEBRUARY 2003

23