Columbia Theological Seminary Bulletin, 52, number 1, January 1959

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Report of Committee on Survey of
Columbia Theological Seminary

Vol. LII January. 1959 No. 1

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Entered as second-class matter, May 9, 1928, at the post office at Decatur, Ga. under the Act of August 24, 1912.

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY AT DECATUR, GEORGIA

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SURVEY OF
COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

In the early part of 1958 President J. McDowell Richards ad-
dressed a letter to Rev. Charles L. King, Pastor of the First Presby-
terian Church in Houston, Texas, who had agreed to serve as Chair-
man of the Survey Committee, indicating that the other members
of the Committee would be: Dean E. G. Homrighausen of Princeton
Theological Seminary, Dr. Joseph R. Sizoo, Professor in the De-
partment of Religion in George Washington University, President
R. T. L. Liston of King College, Dr. 0. C. Carmichael, former
Chancellor of Vanderbilt and now with the Ford Foundation, and
Dr. James Ross McCain, formerly President of Agnes Scott College.

Dr. Richards, at the request of the Chairman, indicated the lines
along which the study was to be projected, however he made it clear
that no restrictions were to be placed on the Survey Committee.

Dr. Richards' letter suggested that studies be made along the
following lines:

1. Study of curriculum

a. How well is it designed to prepare men for the work of the
ministry today?

b. In what respect does it need revision?

2. What additions need to be made to the faculty in the early future?

3. In what respects does the administrative side of the seminary's life
need revision?

4. What are the needs of the library?

5. How should the seminary's relationships to its constituency be im-
proved?

6. What should the plans of Columbia Seminary be with reference to
the development of a program of graduate study, particularly in the
light of its membership in the University Center of Georgia?

7. What distinctive service can Columbia Seminary render to its section
and to the Presbyterian Church, U. S.?

3. In the light of this study, what financial support should be provided
for Columbia Seminary by its constituency

a. Through benevolent budgets

b. Through Capital gifts

The Committee met at the Seminary in the last part of July. The
major decision reached in the July meeting was that the Committee
should have before it a picture of what is going on in other theologi-
cal seminaries in the areas of faculty, endowment, income, buildings
on the campus, curriculum, scholarship funds, administrative forces,
etc. The Committee spent more than a day in the preparation of a
questionnaire which it believed would bring out the information
which it was seeking.

Professor Samuel Cartledge was asked to visit other seminaries,
seeking information that would help the committee in appraising the
situation at Columbia. The following seminaries were visited by Dr.
Cartledge in person: Union (Richmond, Va.), Princeton, Yale and
Emory. The information from Louisville and Austin was obtained
through the study of catalogues, annual audits and extensive corre-
spondence. The Committee desires to record its sincere appreciation
of the time and effort Dr. Cartledge invested in the task assigned him.
Without the extensive information he brought to the committee this
appraisal of Columbia would not have been possible. The Committee
also desires to express its sincere appreciation to the other seminaries
for their splendid spirit of cooperation.

A copy of Dr. Cartledge's report was placed in the hands of each
member of the Survey Committee several weeks before the fall
meeting on October 9th. Each member was asked to study the report
carefully and bring to the October meeting his written observations
for the consideration of the committee as a whole.

The Survey Committee, at the close of its work on October 9th,
decided that it should make a report to the administration, trustees,
and constituency of the controlling synods and a second report deal-
ing largely with curriculum matters to the administration and facul-
ty. The Committee likewise agreed on the outline of the report that
should be made to the administration, trustees, and Presbyterian
constituency.

There are several things concerning Columbia Theological Semi-
nary of which the Presbyterians in the Southeast may be proud.

I.

Things Concerning Which Presbyterians in the Southeast

May Be Proud

No attempt will be made toward dealing with the past. There are
many thrills in reading the past history of Columbia Theological
Seminary. The Committee is speaking now of the present.

Columbia Theological Seminary has an enormous territory from
which to draw. These states, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,
Alabama and Mississippi, cover 247,916 square miles of territory,
more than three and a half times the size of all New England. It
has abundant rainfall, great rivers, natural water power, good har-
bors, admirable climate, a great variety of minerals, versatile crop
soils, and wonderful forests. No other part of the country is better
fitted by nature for vast commerce or for successful industrial
development.

The 1950 census showed that the Seminary's territory had a
population of 13,573,567, and now it is estimated to have 15,583,-
000. The population per square mile is not crowded. It averages
57 people per square mile in contrast to 331 per square mile in
New England, for example. Relatively, land is abundant and produc-
tive; and these five Southern states might support 75,000,000
eventually, and would then have a density of only half that of
Rhode Island.

For our immediate purpose, it is significant that in the northeast
area, no greater than that of the Columbia territory, are situated 37
of the 73 accredited theological seminaries in this country, while
only four are located in the southeastern states, including, of course,
Columbia, Emory, Gammon, and the Lutheran Seminary in South
Carolina.

Related to the location of Columbia Seminary and its increasing
strength is the growth of Presbyterianism in its territory. In the
last ten years, the growth of our whole General Assembly has been
approximately 38 per cent, but in the synods supporting Columbia
it has been 47 per cent and still increasing rapidly. There are now
in this area 266,061 Presbyterians and by 1970 the number should

be at least 400,000.

The location of the Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, not more than
five or six miles from the heart of one of the great cities in the South
is a tremendous asset to the Seminary. Atlanta Presbytery is the
largest Presbytery in our General Assembly.

In order to provide strong leadership in this vast and rapidly
developing section of the South, Columbia Theological Seminary
ought to be the best equipped and financed institution of its hind
in all the eastern part of the country. The facts show that this is
not yet by any means true.

Presbyterians in the Southeast may be proud of the beautiful
campus of fifty acres. Few other institutions have a campus so
dotted with hills, valleys and woodlands.

The Committee was impressed with the academic preparation of
the faculty. A survey of the degrees held by the members of the
faculty, as well as their writings, leaves the feeling that these men of
God are well qualified for the task committed to them.

Too much praise cannot be given the present administration for
its efforts toward keeping the seminary on a sound financial basis.
The Committee wonders if the Presbyterians in the Southeast realize
what sacrificial efforts have been put forth along this line by many,
especially President Richards and Miss Virginia Harrison. For years
these two individuals have been doing work that four or five are doing
in other institutions.

The Commitee learned that a large percentage (approximately
50%) of the missionary force of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States, during the last ten years had been trained at Columbia
Seminary. This is an additional fact concerning which Presbyterians
in the Southeast may rejoice.

The Seminary has done and is doing excellent work with the means
at its disposal.

The Committee must point out to the faculty, trustees and the
Presbyterian constituency certain things concerning which they
should give serious thought.

II.

Things To Which the Faculty, Trustees and Constituency-
Should Give Serious Thought

The Commmittee would recommend to the Presbyteries that they give
thorough going tests to the young men applying to be taken under
the care of Presbytery. Presbytery would do well to require from
each young man applying to be taken under its care as a candidate a
report from a competent Christian psychiatrist to the effect that the
applicant has no handicaps that would make it impossible for him to
be an effective minister.

The Committee believes that the presbyteries in the controlling
synods are sending to their seminary too many men without a college
degree. The survey of Dr. Cartledge reveals that approximately 10%
of the present undergraduate enrollment are without college degrees.
These students, by reason of a lack of preparation, are forced to take
specialized courses. The entire seminary course extends over only
twenty-four months in residence. If much of the student's time is
taken up with courses that he should have had before entering the
seminary he is not getting the theological preparation he should
have before being ordained to the ministry.

Special study should be given to ways and means of encouraging
a high level of scholarship. At present certain fellowships are
available for graduates. We would like to see other and more
general stimuli.

Something akin to the Honors Program in strong colleges might
be effective. Testing from year to year by means of the Graduate
Record examinations or similar tests in universities might be ar-
ranged. Perhaps oral examinations with outside people from other
institutions to conduct the testing might help. This would encourage
independent study and improve the tone of scholarship.

Far too much latitude in supplying vacant churches is being
given to the students. An occasional opportunity for preaching should
be welcomed, but no student can be a regular supply for a vacant
church, and in some instances live in a manse a considerable dis-
tance from the Seminary, and receive the theological preparation

the church has a right to expect. Additional scholarship funds would
assist in remedying this situation since much of the supply work
is hy reason of economic need.

The Committee would record its judgment that the faculty is far
too small for the present curriculum undertakings of the seminary.
The survey of other theological seminaries reveals that Columbia,
with a faculty no larger than certain of the other seminaries, is
offering a far greater number of courses. The Committee would
recommend to the trustees and the administration that they not
only reduce the number of courses being offered, but at the same
time increase the number of professors by at least four.

In this connection the Committee would recommend that the cata-
logue be thoroughly revised, eliminating courses not being given

Seminary

Endowment

Endowment
Income

Income

From

Students

%

COLUMBIA

$1,541,000

$ 65,000

$ 81,000

UNION

l Richmond, Va.)

4,500,000

260,000

77,000

AUSTIN

1,643,000

88,718

LOUISVILLE

2,000,000

79,979

42,000

EMORY

50,000

100,000

YALE

3,293,000

167,000

333,305

PRINCETON

6,668,000

207,000

323,000

Note: Al
almost th
has endoi

istin, with 100 1
e same budget
vment three ti

ewer students,

Union ( Rich

mes that of C<

l

ir

and placing courses in their proper departments.

The Committee must point out to the Presbyterian constituency
of the Seminary the inadequacy of income and equipment.

This inadequacy reveals itself in the salaries for professors, which
are the lowest of all the seminaries studied. Without the income
from supply preaching, in some cases every Sunday preaching over
a period of months, certain of the professors could not support
themselves and their families. The Committee believes that occasional
preaching engagements on the part of a professor are good for him
and the institution, but that too heavy a load on the outside is to
the detriment of the professor, the students, and the institution.

The following charts confirm the Committee's insistence that
Columbia's financial support is far from adequate.

'enevolences

Other

Total
Income

Budget

Scholarships

IS umber
Students

$ 80,000

$ 39,000

$ 266,000

$ 255,000

$ 21,000

247

75,000

57,000

469,000

539,000

66,000

295

102,000

236,000

255,000

32,000

147

37,848

54,569

225,000

273,000

11,000

164

150,000

65,000

365,000

607,000

145,000

422

6,400

294,972

801,677

681,000

98,000

180

261,000

231,000

1,022,000

1,212,000

98,000

551

s larger endowment than Columbia and
nd, Va. ) , with only 48 more students,
mbia and a budget more than double.

The inadequacy of income results in the most meager adminis-
trative force of all the seminaries studied. This has already been
mentioned.

The inadequacy of income further results in the meager equipment
of the seminary.

The present library is a beautiful building and adequate for the
present student body but if the student body continues to increase
as it has over the past few years the library will have to be enlarged.

The present dormitory is a substantial building, but was not con-
structed for housing married students. The practice of putting four
married couples in such close proximity, using a single bath, is far
from wholesome. These married couples should be provided with
a dormitory, releasing their rooms to single students. Every student
entering a theological seminary should have his own room in which
to work and to cultivate his spiritual life.

Columbia Seminary is not equipped to provide properly for the
needs of married students with children a group which today must
be considered by all educational institutions doing work at the
graduate level. The seminary has eighteen modern apartments
located on its campus, and owns several frame buildings at various
points in the city which provide makeshift apartments for twelve
other students. Far too many married couples with children are
having to live away from the campus, thus missing the benefits of
close association with other members of the seminary community.
The church cannot be proud of the type of accommodations now
available for these families.

The present administration building would be a credit to any
campus but the time has come for the remodeling of this building,
making of it an administration and classroom building. The chapel
now in the administration building is too small for the present stu-
dent body and faculty. There is need for more and larger classrooms.
Provisions should be made for a chapel on the campus adequate for
convocations as well as other meetings open to the public.

LIBRARY

Seminary

Square
Feet

Books

96

k
h

O

Books

Added

Each

Year

Periodicals

Staff

Salaries

Columbia

19,000

52,000

32

$4,800.00

$ 531.00

2

$12,600.00

Austin

30,000

42,000

36

9,000.00

1,000.00

2

Figures not
Available

Louisville

12,000

33,000

8

4,000.00

500.00

3

13,068.00

Union

(Richmond, Va.)

40,000

82,000

83

6,000.00

2,000.00

7 full
5 part

22,000.00

Emory

30,000

55,000

15

14,000.00

Included
in books

4

18,000.00

Princeton

70,000

198,000

48

14,000.00

Included
in books

12

38,000.00

Yale

50,000

200,000

98

14,000.00

Included
in books

12

52,220.00

III.

The Present Needs Of the Seminary

The Committee sees the present needs of the Seminary, without the
increase of a single student to be as follows:

A. Buildings

Apartment dormitory for married couples now living in

the dormitory and off the campus $ 400,000.00

Apartments for couples with children now living off

the campus 500,000.00

A gymnasium (with swimming pool, if possible) . . 200,000.00

Four faculty homes for the additional members recom-
mended above 150,000.00

Student Center, including kitchen, dining hall, lounges,

etc 300,000.00

Chapel 500,000.00

Remodeling Campbell Hall for more and larger class

rooms and additional offices 100,000.00

$2,150,000.00

B. Endowment

Endowment to care for the adding of four faculty

members . . . $1,000,000.00

Endowment for the increase in salaries of present pro-
fessors and librarians, and for the increase in the annual
cost of a business manager, a first class maintenance
man, two additional secretaries and additional janitors
and yard men, and an increase in scholarship funds . 2,000,000.00

Total $5,150,000.00

IV.

Planning For Future Needs

The Committee has undertaken to estimate the number of students
the Seminary will have by 1970. This estimate takes into considera-
tion the projected Presbyterian constituency in 1970, which will be
400,000. It does not take into consideration the vacant churches in
the controlling synods. It does not take into consideration the number
of vacant churches in 1970. It does not take into consideration the
imperative need for a larger number of ministers if new fields are
to be adequately occupied. The judgment of the Committee is that
the Presbyterians in the Southeast should be preparing for a mini-
mum student body of 400 by 1970. The Presbyterians of Florida
have agreed to set up a Presbyterian College at St. Petersburg, and
this is to be under the joint auspices of the United Presbyterian
Church and our own Presbyterian U. S. denomination. Its graduates
of both denominations will undoubtedly look to Columbia Seminary
if they wish theological training. The United Presbyterian Church
has many members and very strong churches in the Seminary's
territory, and some thought ought to be given as to how to provide for
such a need. It is interesting to note how Austin Theological Semi-
nary will double its assets through cooperation between these denom-
inations, without any thought of union between them.

While it is impossible to forecast the exact needs of a possible in-
crease in student body of 160, the judgment of the Committee is
that what is found below as to buildings and endowments, and for at
least six additional professors and for additional library help, and

for additional scholarships, and for additional administrative costs
will be found very conservative.

V.

Financial Needs In Connection With An Increase of
160 Students

A. Buildings

Two dormitories for 80 single men S 400,000.00

Apartments for 80 married couples, some with children 1.000.000.00

Faculty housing for 6 additional professors 250.000.00

Enlargement of Library 250,000.00

SI. 900,000.00

B. Endowment

Endowment to provide for 6 additional professors and

additional librarians $2,000,000.00

Endowment to provide for increased administration,

operation and maintenance costs 1,000,000.00

Endowment to provide for scholarship aid .... 1,000,000.00
Total S5.900.000.00

The Trustees and the constituency will realize of course that
with increased benevolent budget gifts the amount of the endowment
might be reduced. The Committee is convinced that the annual bene-
volent budget contributions should be increased at this time by 50' , .
One of the members of the committee, in making a detailed study
as to the contributions of the churches in the synods to other causes,
discovered that these churches are contributing five times as much
to the orphans' homes as they are contributing to the theological
education of their ministers. There is no doubt that the orphans'
homes need every dollar they have been receiving. The point is
that the contributions to the Seminary should be doubled.

VI.

Some Long Range Responsibilities

1. One of the great needs in the area of the Seminary's service is
for graduate training of a high order something akin to the

Ph. D. degree in the best universities. Under the rules of the
Association of Theological Schools, the Ph. D. degree may not
be given by a seminary unless it is attached to a university.
Since 1939 Columbia Theological Seminary has been an integral
part of the University Center of Georgia and so related to
Emory University in cooperative procedures that it probably
would be eligible to give the Ph. D. degree, possibly in the name
of Emory, but actually under the control of Columbia.

This is a matter that ought to be explored and carefully studied.
It would be of great assistance to the educational life of our
denomination if competent scholars might be trained in the
areas of religion.

2. Another great need in our Church is for well trained Directors
of Christian Education. The territory of the Seminary is well
removed from the Training School in Richmond, and it cannot
possibly serve the churches in the five synods in any adequate
manner. The Directors and faculty of the Seminary ought to
explore this field of service. The fact that the Divinity School
of Emory is doing an extensive training program of this sort
might enable Columbia to correlate some of the education that
is not distinctly denominational. This probably needs immediate
attention.

3. If any of the items in this section should be adopted as real
objectives, it is obvious that additional staff and buildings and
money will be needed. We think that this fact should not prevent
serious study. We are confident that there is ample money in
the hands of Preslyterians in the five synods to support any
program that is really needed. It would take time and patience
to find the money and enlist it.

The Survey Committee brings its work to a close with the firm
conviction that Columbia Seminary deserves the liberal support of
the Presbyterians in the controlling Synods. Some of the things con-
cerning which the committee has been critical can be corrected only
by the Presbyteries of the controlling Synods. Other weaknesses

could be corrected immediately had the Seminary adequate funds.
The Synods have a good Seminary. They must determine as to
whether they will he content with a good seminary or dissatisfied
until their seminary is second to none in the nation. The results
of the present campaign for funds will indicate the decision.

Charles L. King, Chairman
R. T. L. Liston
0. C. Carmichael

E. G. HOMRIGHAUSEN

Joseph R. Sizoo
J. R. McCain