ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Prompted by a financial crisis, the Waldorf Lutheran College Association has moved a step closer to selling Waldorf College to Columbia Southern University.

The association, who is the governing body of the school, is made up of 190 congregations from various Lutheran denominations.

At a recent meeting, representatives from 75 member congregations approved several resolutions that will open the door for the acquisition to take place.

Located in Forest City, Iowa, Waldorf College is a four-year liberal arts college founded in 1903 by the Rev. C.S. Salveson, pastor of what is now Immanuel Lutheran church.

They enroll approximately 650 students annually.

In February, the two schools signed a letter of intent and since then have been working together to come up with an agreement that would establish a formal relationship between CSU and Waldorf.

Some of the issues being discussed are development of several new academic programs and offering more on-line learning opportunities.

Columbia Southern University, based in Orange Beach, is one of the nation’s first on-line universities.  

According to a news release, the purchase would change Waldorf College to a for-profit status and would also mean changes in their relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). While CSU has no plans to relocate the college, they would no longer be affiliated with the ELCA.

Waldorf is one of 28 colleges and universities related to the ELCA. Although Waldorf’s relationship with the ELCA will change when the deal is made, the church wants to continue to be in contact with the institution and work with them in areas of church supports and campus ministry.

If everything goes as planned, Waldorf’s new for-profit status will be officially changed in the fall of 2009.