# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1986_S32 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 32 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION Session 7 July 22, Morning Devotion Chaplain Herbert Mueller led the convention in the opening devotion, using the Worship Guide, pages 23-24. Devotional Essay Continuing the Walther essay series, Dr. Samuel Nafzger, executive secretary of the Commission on The- ology and Church Relations, presented the essay “Alive in Christ: The Church and Its Mission.” The “Small Group Bible Study Guide” is found on the inside cover of Today’s Business, July 22, 1986. Introduction and Announcements Chairman Bohimann introduced Dr. Robert King, Third Vice-President of the Synod, and his wife Jean. Another announcement dealt with the special resolution regarding several publications. Since synodical Bylaw 2.19 c deals with the Synod’s policy on overtures which may have legal ramifications, review of the special resolution by legal counsel was taking place. The convention determined that Res. 5-03 would first be considered when Committee 5 would next appear before the convention. A decision to hold a special session on Tues- day evening was postponed until Tuesday afternoon. Congregational Ministries Committee 2 introduced Res. 2-01A (TB 315), to propose a vision for the congregations of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod. During discussion a number of amend- ments to 2-01A were accepted: On page 316, line 13, the following words were added as a fourth way of dealing positively with conflict: “Cultivating of theological consen- sus through the study of God’s Word”; on page 315, lines 59-62 were deleted; and on page 315, line 21, a new item 1 was added: “Continuing strong in Word and Sacrament.” The convention declined an amendment to change line 4 on page 316. Discussion was discontinued when there was a call for the orders of the day. Prior to returning to the orders of the day, Dr. Herbert Mueller, former secretary of the Synod, made a statement indicating he was certain the delegates agreed that the deletion of lines 59-62 was not intended to diminish the support for the wonderful contributions of women to the work of the church. The delegates indicated their agreement. American Bible Society Sandy Thompson, a member of the ILWML, spoke on behalf of the American Bible Society. She told of challenges in distributing the Bible in countries such as Haiti, Russia, Ghana, and China. She thanked the convention for re- membering the important work of the American Bible So- ciety in their prayers for achieving a goal of the American Bible Society, which is that everyone have a Bible. Christus Magister Award Mr. John Laabs, vice-president for Public Relations and Membership of the Lutheran Education Association, brought greetings. He invited delegates to consider at- tending the LEA convocation to be held in March 1987 in St. Louis. Mr. Laabs introduced Dr. James Kirchoff, past president of the Lutheran Education Association, to pre- sent the 27th Christus Magister Award, given for outstand- ing contributions to Lutheran Education. The award for 1986 was presented to Mr. John Brazeal of Christ the King Lutheran School in Chicago. Information The chairman shared requests from delegates of the convention regarding: (1) the display of gifts received from “Big Joe”; (2) the suggestion that committees presenting a resolution state first the Today’s Business section, fol- lowed by the page number and resolution number; and (3) that committees not use abbreviations or acronyms when referring to boards and commissions. Theology and Church Relations Vice-President George Wollenburg assumed the chair. The convention adopted Res. 3-06 (TB 66), to express thanks and reaffirm altar and pulpit fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church Synod of France and Bel- gium. Res. 3-07 (TB 67), to study the nature and impli- cations of the call, was adopted. The convention adopted Res. 3-08 (TB 67), to maintain the practice of close Com- munion, after declining an amendment to add the words “be encouraged to” after “Missouri Synod” in line 59 and to refer the resolution back to committee. The convention declined to dispense with the reading of the whereases of resolutions. Res. 3-09 (TB 68), reaffirming the position of The Lu- theran Church—Missouri Synod on service of women in the church, was discussed, followed by a decision to post- pone making a decision on the resolution until Committee 3 again is before the convention. Res. 3-10 (TB 68-69), reaffirming the position of the Synod on the ordination of women, was introduced. A substitute resolution, Overture 3-40 (CW 121), was moved, but the convention declined to consider the substitute resolution. Devotions Prior to balloting, Dr. Richard Dickinson, executive sec- retary of the Commission on Black Ministry, led the closing morning devotion, using the Worship Guide, page 24. Election Chairman Barry introduced the balloting procedures for remaining positions, after which balloting took place. Session 8 July 22, Afternoon Devotions Dr. Edward Westcott, executive secretary of the Board for Mission Services, led the opening devotions, using the Worship Guide, page 25, and LWCC, page 67. Minutes The minutes were adopted for Sessions 3 and 4, July 20, 1986, with two corrections: Line 44, page 331, of To-