LCMS. Commission on College and University Work

Although pastoral work on university campuses began much earlier than 1923, the Synod did not create a special committee for this work until 1923. That year it authorized the President to "appoint a committee of three which is to concern itself with the spiritual welfare of students from our circles who are attending non-Lutheran institutions."

Duties assigned in 1926 included: "To take a census of our students at non-Synodical institutions of learning, to study the situation and consider ways and means of meeting it, and to disseminate the information gathered at the best advantage." Liaison with the District Home Mission Boards or another board was also established in 1926. Although the convention of 1926 approved the calling of a full-time "General Student Pastor" to work under the Student Welfare Committee as it was originally known, this did not materialize when disagreement over the interpretation of the resolution developed with the Board of Directors. As a result, the Student Welfare Committee resigned.

The 1929 convention of Synod elected a new Board, but did not re-approve the full-time position. The Walther League aided the Student Welfare Committee by offering the services of its hospice secretary in 1932. Once more the elected chairman and secretary of the committee resigned for reasons not stated. A request in 1935 for an Executive Secretary was rejected. Finally in 1938 a full-time secretary was granted. However, the resolution made the approval of this office and its regulations contingent upon the Board of Directors, not upon the President as the Committee had requested.

Dr. Reuben W. Hahn was called in 1940. He established an office in Chicago where he remained in office until 1968, when he retired. The duties of the Secretary included: Coordinating the spiritual care of our students at non-Synodical institutions of learning; making contacts with the District Mission Boards, and sponsoring the University Pastor's Conference, etc.

By 1941 the work of the Committee, whose name was now changed to "Student Service Commission," broadened to the extent that it asked for and received an increased appropriation; The objectives of the Commission were expanded in 1947 to include not only the conservation of souls, but also the challenge of evangelism and missions at universities. The Commission reported close cooperation with Synod‘s Home Mission Board as well as the "Gamma Delta", which was organized in 1934 as the "National Association of Lutheran Students." The Synod encouraged each District to appoint a coordinator of student work. An "editorial assistant to the Executive Secretary" was added in 1953. That same year the convention resolved that the Board of Directors should make continued provision for long term loans to Districts so that they could carry on this work. In 1956 the Synod encourage the Commission to establish a maximum of 5 chairs of religion at strategic schools. In that year the Commission's name was changed to "Commission on College and University Work." In 1967 at the New York Convention, the Commission was placed under the auspices of the Board for Missions.