# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S436
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOCAL LUTHERANS INVOLVED
IN ST. LOUIS CONVENTION

ST. LOUIS--Local church members were delegates to the July 3-10 convention
of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, which is North America's second largest
Lutheran body, with 2.7 million members in over 6,000 North American
congregations.

Among the 1,100 voting delegates in sessions at the Cervantes Convention
Center here in the church's headquarters city were , lay
delegate from , and , pastoral delegate
from .

The 1981 LCMS convention elected a new president, vice presidents, and 115
other officers, and took action on 170 resolutions ushering in what was often
referred to as "a new era" for the Synod.

Dr. Ralph A. Bohlmann, president of the Synod's Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, was elected president. On September 27, he will succeed Dr. J.A.O.
Preus, who is stepping aside after three four-year terms in office.

Preus' administration has been noted for its steady guidance of the church
through a controversy over interpretation of the Bible during the 1970's. The
result was re~affirmation of the LCMS posture upholding its historic Lutheran
stance on that issue.

Bohlmann, in his acceptance speech, praised Preus' leadership and noted
that the Missouri Synod had also emerged from this period with a progressive
thrust in programs.

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