# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1986_S50
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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NERA TINE Het weer

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 49

the election of two youth members. The chair referred the
question to the Commission on Constitutional Matters.
Res. 7-08A (TB 284), urging support for the oppressed, was
introduced. An amendment was introduced to delete lines
14-15, and in line 31 to delete “apartheid as well as other”
and add “all.” Time expired, and the convention declined
to extend time for 30 minutes to complete discussion of the
resolution.

Devotions

Chairman Mueller led the convention in prayer, fol-
lowed by closing devotions as found in the Worship Guide,
pages 38-40.

Session 14
July 25, Morning

Devotion

Chaplain Herbert Mueller led the opening devotion, us-
ing the Worship Guide, pages 41-43. He announced that
a freewill offering would be gathered later in the morning
for the lay delegate who recently lost his business and
home.

Devotional Essay

Dr. George Bornemann, retired president of the English
District, presented the Walther essay titled: “Alive in
Christ: The Pastoral Office.” The “Small Group Bible Study
Guide” is found on the inside cover of the Today’s Business,
July 25, 1986.

Announcement

The chairman asked each committee chairman to pre-
sent resolutions of highest priority to the convention dur-
ing the remaining convention time. The staff who produced
Today’s Business was thanked by the convention for ser-
vices rendered, as were the pages for their acts of love in
providing over 1,300 hours of service throughout the con-
vention.

Points of Order, Personal Privilege

A new standing order not to reconsider any motions
already adopted was approved by more than two-thirds of
the convention. The chairman asked the Communications
Department to provide slides to advisory delegates for use
in presentations on convention highlights. The convention
agreed that committees could read resolutions by titles
only but declined to adopt a resolution to close debate on
all questions before the convention at one time.

The convention adopted a resolution stating, “That
since one action of this convention has been misunderstood
by the public press and also by some women members of
our Synod and has caused offense to them; be it Resolved,
That the Synod in convention gratefully reaffirm the ser-
vice roles of all laypersons, both men and women, in our
church, and that we especially recognize the unique con-
tributions of these servants of God and that all components
of the Synod identify meaningful opportunities for service
and train our laity, especially women, for service in the
Synod as permitted and encouraged by the Scriptures.”

The convention also adopted the following resolution:

Wuereas, Our heavenly Father is deserving of the high-
est and best praise we have to give Him for His gracious
gift to us in Jesus Christ; and

Wuereas, This convention has been blessed by the ser-
vices of Mr. Mark Bender in leading us in such praises;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the convention delegates give thanks to
Almighty God for the gift given to us in Mark Bender; and
be it finally

Resolved, That we encourage all congregations of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in their praise and
worship of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to strive for
the kind of excellence we have experienced this week.

The chairman referred a question regarding restoration
of Perry County historical Lutheran sites to the Board of
Directors, suggesting this might be done as a part of the
Walther anniversaries celebrations.

Elections Committee

Chairman Barry reported results of the fourth ballot
for the Nominations Committee as follows:

PASTORS
Ballots cast 1,015, required for election 508
Behnken, Kenneth W. ......-.-.00ceee eee eee eens 2... S17
Mueller, Charles ..........-.. 0-2 e eee eee rere eee ees 315
Zehnder, Thomas ............2.e eee e cee eee e eee eeee 183
LAYPERSONS
Ballots cast 1,990, required for election 498
Erwin, Elloree ......... 2-0-0022 - cee cee ee cece eneeees 248
Kern, Alma .......... 000 c cece eect n cere teen eens 433
Koch, Milton P. 0.0.0.0. ccc cence nent enn ees 641
Noack, Art 02... 0... c cece cece ete eee eee nee ene eee 668

He announced that this concluded the work of the Elec-
tions Committee and thanked the convention on behalf of
the committee for the wonderful cooperation received from
the delegates. The convention adopted a resolution to dis-
miss the committee with thanks, and granted permission
to destroy the ballots. The entire Elections Committee
came to the platform and received a standing ovation.

Secretary Rosin read the opinion of the Commission on
Constitutional Matters which stated it was the opinion of
the commission that the youth delegates elected in this
convention would be allowed to serve their terms, since
they were elected before Res. 5-04 was adopted during the
convention.

Higher Education

Res. 6-01A (TB 271-272), providing direction and goals
for synodical higher education in the next triennium, was
adopted. The convention adopted Res. 6-05 (TB 166), in-
creasing the size of college boards of regents, after an
amendment to change the second resolve was declined.
Res. 6-25A (TB 299-302), changing the Bylaws for admis-
sion to the teaching ministry by colloquy, was adopted,
after an amendment was approved, page 300, line 20, to
insert after the word “college” the following words: “or with
pastors, teachers, and laypersons authorized by that col-
lege residing in the applicants’ geographical region.” Res.
6-26A (TB 276-280), changing the Bylaws for admission
to the pastoral ministry by colloquy, was adopted.