Concordia University Texas

[Dave Benke]

Thanks for that very thorough report, Mark!

The relationships inside the synodical umbrella are complex, aren't they.  Things have been stratifying and strategized around the "donor-designated" category for a long while already. 

When the old college system began and the buildings kind of all looked the same from the 1880s, and the heat bill was at 3 cents a gallon with the 12 foot ceilings, the "direct subsidy" for those schools (and you could add hospitals and Altenheims) based on the immigrant church body's needs seemed endless, I'm sure.

Speaking with retirees whose parents and grandparents went through that "system" in the LCMS, there is (finally?) clarity that those days are over.  And have been.  And have been for decades.  But the memories linger on.  When Concordia Bronxville went up for auction, the names of those forebears were closed to history - there will be no more Feth or Romoser or Ressmeyer Halls.  Irish names will prevail on the Iona grounds.  Even as when Concordia Milwaukee moved to Mequon long ago, Wunder and Pritzlaff in the old campus became part of the Potawatomi tribe.

It can and is and probably should be mourned.  But those days are indeed done, as is "direct subsidy."

Dave Benke

[Dave Likeness]

Yes, we can admit LCMS, Inc. "direct subsidy" to our Concordia Universities
is over.  This has added a new challenge to a Concordia University President.
He must be an excellent fund raiser and build up financial endowments.  Even
during his 15 years as President of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Dr. Dale
Meyer was recognized for his excellent fund raising ability.

[peter_speckhard]

Yes, we can admit LCMS, Inc. "direct subsidy" to our Concordia Universities
is over.  This has added a new challenge to a Concordia University President.
He must be an excellent fund raiser and build up financial endowments.  Even
during his 15 years as President of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Dr. Dale
Meyer was recognized for his excellent fund raising ability.

The issue, though, becomes what happened with Valpo over the years. St. Paul's, Munster was a big Valpo supporting congregation from the very beginning. Booster club, "Valpo Sunday", the whole spiel. But when Valpo began to part ways with the LCMS, they still hearkened back to the "special relationship" they had with the LCMS when it came to fundraising directly from individual members of LCMS congregations. But they insisted strongly that they were not and never were an LCMS school when it came to policies and teachings. I have a lot of older members and long time donors who are extremely perplexed about and disappointed in Valpo.

I think that same dynamic could be in the works with some of the Concordias that are looking for their independence. The LCMS becomes a good friend and partner to them in certain company but a mere acquaintance in other company.   

[Mark_Hofman]

Perhaps we ought to admit that we no longer believe or confess that God provides what His mission requires through each of his baptized children, and that it takes charismatic and effective human intervention - through a position like a school president who is good at fundraising - to fill the gap. And glossy brochures.  God just can't or won't provide, so it's up to us and our ability to be independent as we go about doing what is really needed to get what we believe we should have.

[Mark_Hofman]

It can and is and probably should be mourned.  But those days are indeed done, as is "direct subsidy."

Dave Benke

Like I shared with a dear faithful and mission-minded friend in the nowhere fields of Iowa, "The real glory days are always ahead of us, not behind us."  We have no need to mourn if our hope is in the LORD.

[Noah Hahn]

The issue, though, becomes what happened with Valpo over the years. St. Paul's, Munster was a big Valpo supporting congregation from the very beginning. Booster club, "Valpo Sunday", the whole spiel. But when Valpo began to part ways with the LCMS, they still hearkened back to the "special relationship" they had with the LCMS when it came to fundraising directly from individual members of LCMS congregations. But they insisted strongly that they were not and never were an LCMS school when it came to policies and teachings. I have a lot of older members and long time donors who are extremely perplexed about and disappointed in Valpo.

I think that same dynamic could be in the works with some of the Concordias that are looking for their independence. The LCMS becomes a good friend and partner to them in certain company but a mere acquaintance in other company.

At a certain level, all of this is fine; the beauty of America is that if the people in power change institutions, the people with the money can build and study elsewhere. The church will have her schools, one way or another. My concern is mostly for the students, faculty, and donors who will get caught in the crossfire of changing loyalties, and for the souls of any who engage in deception to keep them there.