# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S135
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

TASK FORCE 135

of Directors to conduct a feasibility study on correlating
communications and reports to the next convention; and

WHEREAS, Numerous studies during the past 15 years have
recommended better coordination of communications respon-
sibilities, including:

—1967: ‘Mass Media in Mission Survey” resulting from the
request of the 1965 convention. Recommended that Board
of Directors convene all representatives “in order to
structure the coordination of efforts...”

—January 1969: Mass Media Study Subcommittee Report.
Group ‘‘deliberately excluded structural questions .. .
[but]... this forces us to state flatly that an advisory body
or conciliar structure won’t get the job done.”

—1970: Meredith S. Conley, Inc., Study, Evaluation, and
Recommendations for the Department of Public
Relations. “‘The current organization of the Division of
Communications . .. with an overlapping of authority
and responsibility is too cumbersome and unwieldy.”

—1970: Report by “Task Force Study Group” to 1971
convention at the direction of the 1969 convention. ‘‘The
central goal was to make concrete proposals for action...
not just to make another study of previous studies and
thus add yet another study in a series of studies.”

—1973: ‘Report of the Division of Communications.”
Recommended the Synod establish a Council for Mass
Communications to “plan and initiate cooperative efforts

—dJuly 1973: Convention passed Res. 10-14A calling for a
Board for Communications “suitable for correlating the
internal and external communications of the Synod” for
adoption at the 1975 convention.

—1974—75: The Commission on Organization studied New
Orleans Res. 10-14A but offered no solution.

—April 1977: Qualitative research study for the Board of
Directors by Dan J. Forrestal, Forrestal and Associates,
Inc. Among the recommendations: ‘“‘One board or com-
mission should have authority, responsibility, and ac-
countability for both internal and external communi-
cations”;

WHEREAS, The Board of Directors reviewed the internal and
external communications of the Synod, including meeting with
the executive secretaries and/or the board chairman of the
Editorial Commission for Official Periodicals and the boards
for Public Relations, Lutheran Radio, Missions, Higher Educa-
tion, and Stewardship; and

WHEREAS, The board after its further research concluded
that internal and external communications could be most
effectively conducted through one Board of Communications
with responsibility for news, information, and interpretation
designed for individual use with the programmatic boards
retaining responsibility for educational materials designed for
group use and communicating the work ofa particular program
area; and

WHEREAS, The board shared its recommendations with
Task Force II, and the Task Force supported the recom-
mendations and developed bylaws compatible with other Task
Force recommendations; therefore be it

Resolved, That Board of Directors recommend to the 1981
synodical convention that a new appointed Board for Com-
munications be established from the membership of and
replacing the present appointed Board for Public Relations
and the appointed Editorial Commission for Official Periodi-
cals; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Directors support and endorse
the bylaw recommendations of Task Force II for a Board for
Communications; and be it finally

Resolved, That if for any reason the total recommendations
of Task Force II are either delayed or fail to be adopted, that the
convention be requested to adopt the bylaws for such a board
as detailed in the Task Force II recommendation and to
authorize the Board of Directors to immediately proceed with
the implementation of a Board for Communications.

Board of Directors
Herbert Mueller, Secretary

2-22

To Enlarge Committee
for Convention Nominations

WHEREAs. There is an increasing need for broad representa-
tion in synodical positions from every geographical area
within the LCMS: and

WHEREAS, There is also the desirability of having members
of the Committee for Convention Nominations come from the
various geographical areas of the LCMS: and

WHEREAs. There is also a desire of continuing to ensure the
representation of pastors. teachers. and lay persons on this
committee: and

WHEREAS, It would be helpful for the members of the
Committee for Convention Nominations to have personal
acquaintance with persons nominated and with their previous
experience within District. Circuit. and congregational struc-
tures: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Southeastern District request the Synod
to change its Bylaws so that the Committee for Convention
Nominations contain one individual from each District of the
Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Districts of the Synod be divided alpha-
betically into three equal groups. and that each group alter-
nately and sequentially at consecutive District conventions
elect a pastor. a teacher. and a lay person to serve on this
committee: and be it further

Resolved. That the District members of the synodical
nominating committee be elected by the Districts in conven-
tion: and be it finally

Resolved. That this group be instructed to nominate candi-
dates from a broad spectrum of the Synod.

Southeastern District
Ralph E. Wiechmann. Secretary

2-23

To Continue Electing
Committee for Convention Nominations
at Synodical Level

WHEREAS, The Committee for Convention Nominations has
a responsibility to the entire Synod; and

WHEREAS, The primary way to hold the members of any
elected board or committee responsible for the conduct of their
office is the ballot box; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its desire to elect the
members of its Committee for Convention Nominations; and
be it further

Resolved, That the recommendations of Task Force II
regarding “District Representation on Nominating Commit-
tee” be respectfully declined.

Memorial Lutheran Church
Houston, Tex.
Geo. Knudsen, Pastor

2-24A

To Change Deadline for Submitting Names
to Committee for Convention Nominations

WHEREAS, The Committee for Convention Nominations is
charged with developing some 120 candidates for the offices to
be filled at a convention: and

WHEREAS, These candidates are suggested up until six
months prior to aconvention by sources within the church and
are later qualified by the committee; and

WHEREAS, This qualification procedure involves consider-
able communication as information is gathered and candidate
acceptances, biographical material, and other responses are
assembled; and

WHEREAS, The increasing response in suggesting candidates