# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S44 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 44 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION Board of Regents—Ann Arbor PASTOR James Nickel, Elkhart, IN (IN) Board of Regents— Austin PASTOR Marvin Lehnhardt, New Orleans, LA (SO) Board of Regents—Bronxville PASTOR Arthur Geidel, Palisades Park, NJ (EN) Board of Regents—Fort Wa yne PASTOR Donald E. Kirchner, Chestnut, IL (CI) Board of Regents—St. Louis PASTORS Edgar F. Rehwaldt, Richfield, MN (MNS) Neil R. Schmidt, St. Ann, MO (MO) Board of Regents—St. Paul LAYPERSON Ed Gensmer, Hutchinson, MN (MNS) Board of Regents—Selma PASTOR Howard Foard, Chicago, IL (NI) Those who were reported elected were then declared elected to the positions. Ballots for the remaining unfilled positions were distributed, and after balloting had been completed, the voting was declared closed. Point of Privilege Speaking on a point of privilege, a delegate asked that delegates age 65 and over be asked to rise. The request was granted. Missions, Evangelism, and Social Ministry Chairman Marcis of the Floor Committee on Mis- sions, Evangelism, and Social Ministry introduced Res. 1-10 (TB 41). The delegates adopted this resolution and thereby asked that the Synod support the second Great Commission Convocation scheduled for October 25— 28, 1984, in St. Louis, and asked the Districts to promote attendance at the convocation, plan for followthrough reporting of the convocation, and conduct District convocations, and urged the Circuits of the Synod to promote attendance at the convocation, and the con- gregations to send representatives to it. The convention also adopted Res. 1-11A(7B 168) which asked congrega- tions to renew their support for refugee sponsorship and resettlement. This resolution encouraged congregations which had sponsored and resettled refugees in the past to do so again, asked the Synod and District social ministry committees to continue to make available materials and guidelines concerning refugee sponsor- ship, resettlement, and Christian education to congre- gations, and asked the congregations to lend their complete support to the observance of “Refugee Con- cerns Sunday” on May 6, 1984. During the discussion of the resolution delegates were asked to remember the homeless who are abandoned in the cities and who live in its streets. By adopting Res. 1-12 (TB 43) the delegates expressed concern and support for the health and healing ministry of the church. Prior to the introduction of the resolution the floor committee had deleted the words “at home and” in line 37 (TB 43). The adoption of the resolution took place after it had been amended in line 32 (TB 43) by changing the word “ask” to “instruct” and replacing the words “encourage the preparation and distribution of” with the words “to prepare and distribute” in lines 32 and 33. The resolution was adopted as amended after the assembly had agreed to cease debate. Before intro- ducing Res. 1-13(TB 43), which affirmed the conviction of the Synod that Christians should take an active part in social, economic, and political issues and encouraged its members to become more informed on civil matters, the floor committee had removed the prefix “non” in the word “non-Christians” in line 74 (TB 43). The resolution was adopted as presented. After declining to remove lines 45 and 46 (TB 44) and agreeing to cease debate on the main resolution, the convention adopted Res. 1-14 (TB 44) which recommended certain approaches and resources in evangelism. Among these were Lutheran Open House activities on the District, regional, Circuit, or congregational level. The resolution also encouraged the Districts to sponsor Lutheran Open House activities on these levels and asked the Board for Evangelism Services to assist Districts in conducting Lutheran Open House events by providing guidance, training, and necessary materials. It also asked that the Synod commit itself to the principle that assimilation begins the moment a person first attends the services of a congregation and especially when a person enrolls in the adult membership class of that congregation. It further recommended that the resources developed by The Board for Evangelism Services and Concordia Publishing House be commended to the congregations, seminaries, and colleges of the Synod for their use in the church. Special Recognitions Mr. Franklin L. Jensen of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service was introduced to the delegates. In his remarks he pointed out that the Lutheran churches have been involved in resettling 4,600 persons. He introduced three families to the convention and pointed out that the children of all of them had been baptized. He acknowledged the leadership which had been given by Pastor Eugene Gunther to the efforts of resettlement, as well as those of August Bernthal. In recognition of all of this action, the delegates joined in the singing of the second stanza of the refugee hymn. Mr. Jensen stated that there were still 150 open cases which needed sponsorship within the next month or they would be. returned for resettlement by other groups. He reminded the delegates that there are still 216,000 refugees in camps in Southeast Asia, some of whom have been there for two to three years. Mr. Rodney Rynearson, director of the Lutheran School for the Deaf, was introduced to the convention In his remarks he pointed out that the goal of the school