# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1986_S33
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 33

day’s Business should read “Afternoon” rather than “Morn-
ing,” and on page 334, line 24 should read “Evening”
instead of “Afternoon.”

Announcements

The chairman announced that he was declining to pre-
sent the resolution regarding certain publications, an ac-
tion taken with no blame or fault on the part of the mover
or seconder of the resolution. Legal counsel had advised
the President and the Board of Directors that there were
problems with the resolution in written form. The Presi-
dent made the decision that the resolution should not be
presented in any form because of legal vulnerability. In
addition to the legal problems, one party had raised a
moral question. The President’s decision was made on the
basis of Bylaw 2.19 2 c, which states that overtures which
on the advice of legal counsel may subject the Synod or its
corporate officers to civil action for libel or slander are not
to be accepted for convention consideration. The chairman
pointed out that in parliamentary procedure when a mo-
tion is moved and seconded, it is not before the convention
until placed before the convention by the chairman. That
had not been done and will not be done. In effect, this
neutralized the resolution. It was pointed out that if the
maker of the motion wished to seek further information,
he had permission to seek it from legal counsel for the
Synod.

Comments of concern were made by one individual nom-
inated for a synodical board whose name appeared on a
recommended voting list without his consent. The conven-
tion declined to limit debate to one minute per speaker
with a maximum of three speakers for and three speakers
against a resolution.

Witness and Outreach

Committee 1 introduced Res. 1-02 (TB 32), about ad-
dressing our church’s mission spirit, after deleting the
word “all” and changing the word “church” to “Synod” in
line 54, and changing the word “church’s” to “Synod’s” in
line 60.

The committee introduced Res. 1-03 (TB 33), which
called for focusing the attention of all congregations of the
Synod on outreach and membership conservation. The fol-
lowing changes were made: In lines 34 the word “mem-

bership” was moved to follow the word “and”; at the end
of line 38 the words “for outreach and membership con-
servation” were added; in line 39 the word “provided” was
deleted; the first resolve, lines 27-35, was replaced with
“Resolved, That the Synod commit itself to making the
proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, especially to
those who may not yet know Him as Savior and Lord, a
top priority, and recommend that each individual congre-
gation commit itself to this also, and be it further”; in line
27 the new first resolve was changed to read: “The Synod,
informed and inspired by the Holy Spirit, commit. . . .” This
action was taken after the delegates had agreed to elimi-
nate the six-year period previously included in the amend-
ment. The resolution was adopted as amended.

Res. 1-04 (TB 33—34), which called for increased mul-
ticultural awareness and ministry, was accepted with the
addition of a resolve in line 72, “Resolved, That all con-
gregations strive for multicultural inclusiveness.”

Committee 1 introduced Res. 1-08 (TB 35-36), to thank
God for the Nehemiah plan, but the orders of the day were
called before action could be taken.

Announcement

Chaplain Herbert Mueller reported that a new supply
of Worship Guides was available for the delegate’s use.

St. Martin of Tours Award

Chaplain James E. Shaw, associate executive secretary,
Ministry to the Armed Forces, Board for Mission Services,
was introduced for presentation of the Silver St. Martin of
Tours Award to Chaplain Milton Ernstmeyer, captain (re-
tired), US Navy chaplain, D.D. The citation was read by
Dr. Edward Westcott, and the citation conferred by Presi-
dent Ralph Bohlmann. Others present for the presentation
were Mrs. Muriel Ernstmeyer, Rev. Jack Heino, member
of the standing committee on Ministry to the Armed Forces
and US Naval Reserve chaplain, and Chaplain Ernest
Wentzel, secretary to the standing committee, Ministry to
the Armed Forces, Board for Mission Services, and direc-
tor, Ministry-by-Mail Program. The award ceremony was
concluded with the convention singing “America the Beau-
tiful.”

Leadership and Organization

Committee 5 presented Res. 5-03 (TB 147-148), which
called for revising the nomination process. After amending
line 56 by adding the word “parish” between the words
“five” and “pastor,” amended Res. 5-03 was approved.

Committee 5 reintroduced Res. 5-02A (TB 244-246),
Section A. After defeating a motion to refer the resolution
to the Board of Directors of the Synod, to consider a sub-
stitute motion, and to amend line 64, Section A, Res. 5-
02A was adopted.

Recognition

The chairman asked Dr. Robert Sauer and his wife
Joyce to come to the platform. Mr. George Mohr, a member
of the Board of Directors, thanked Joyce Sauer for her
service to the Synod. After receiving a bouquet of flowers
from Mr. Mohr, Mrs. Sauer addressed the convention
briefly. President Bohlmann introduced Dr. Sauer, who