# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1989_S22
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

22 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

convention. Their work enables the delegates to be about
the Lord’s business in an effective and efficient manner.
Dr. Mohr requested that President Bohlmann extend a
word of appreciation also to the mayor of Wichita and to
the governor of the state of Kansas.

Greetings and Introductions

President Bohlmann indicated that special greetings
will be extended to the delegates from other dignitaries as
the days pass. He also noted that a video greeting will come
from the President of the United States.

Dr. Bohlmann introduced the following individuals: Dr.
August Mennicke, first vice-president of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; Dr. George Wollenburg, second
vice-president; Dr. Robert King, third vice-president; Dr.
Walter A. Maier, fourth vice-president; Dr. Guido Mer-
kens, fifth vice-president; Dr. Walter Rosin, secretary of
the Synod; Dr. Norman Sell, treasurer of the Synod; the
members of the Board of Directors of the Synod; the mem-
bers of the Council of Presidents; Dr. Arnold Kuntz, con-
vention chaplain; Dr. D. Ray Halm, assistant secretary for
the convention; and Mrs. Angeline Haines, convention
parliamentarian.

Dr. Bohlmann invited the delegates to contact Mr. Les
Stroh or Rev. Art Kuehnert, his assistants, if special needs
arise. Ms. Jean Buettner, the president’s administrative
assistant, and other staff members were also acknowl-
edged.

Housekeeping

Mr. Marvin Siebels, convention manager, made some
comments of introduction to the Wichita events and offered
assistance to the delegates in meeting needs which might
arise.

President’s Report, Part III

Prior to beginning the third part of his report to the
delegates, President Bohlmann led the assembly in the
singing of the Doxology.

Dr. Bohlmann noted that the first two parts of his report
already been printed and disseminated; Part I, dealing
with organization and administration on pages 1-6 of the
Convention Workbook, and Part II on pages 24—28 of To-
day’s Business. He stated his hope that all the delegates
would exercise carefully their responsibilities at this con-
vention and assured them that he holds them in his
prayers.

Referring to specific portions from the first two parts of
his report, President BohImann underscored the gratitude
all of us feel for the ministry of those who have been called
home during the past triennium.

. President Bohlmann went on to describe the role of his
office, that is, to guide and counsel the leaders of the church
body. The responsibility of the synodical president is that
of pastor to the church. Dr. Bohlmann noted that it is with
humility that he seeks to fulfill the office to which previous
conventions have called him.

On another subject, Dr. Bohlmann described the role of
the synodical president with regard to church discipline.
He pointed out that it is not within the president’s au-
thority to remove people from office unilaterally. The

church in its wisdom has devised a program of careful
disciplinary review which includes the involvement of the
vice-presidents and the district presidents. In reality, dis-
cipline involves the matter of correction by teaching.

President Bohlmann pointed again to his conviction
that the first priority of this church is spiritual growth.
He encouraged all delegates and visitors to assume the
responsibility of carrying this message home to their re-
spective congregations.

Dr. Bohlmann reminded all delegates that another key
subject before this church body is that of visioning, of rec-
ognizing what this church could be if we were truly faithful
in carrying out the Great Commission given to us by our
Lord Jesus. President Bohlmann’s vision includes part-
nership with confessional churches throughout the world
in mission endeavor. By 1995 the funding of mission work
will increase significantly, according to the dream which
he holds. By 1995 he sees the congregations supporting
the planting of far more new congregations than we have
in the past, although our plantings in recent years out-
number those of other Lutheran bodies.

President Bohlmann envisions a significantly increased
number of congregation members in Bible study and in
attendance at Holy Communion. He dreams of a church
body with an urgent desire to grow in the Lord, a church
body led by faithful pastors and peopled by those who know
the wondrous love of Christ and the changeless power and
providence of the Father. Dr. Bohlmann urged all to admit
their sins, to humble themselves before an all-forgiving
God, and to rise up in His power to be what His Spirit is
leading them to be. If we have a goal, it is this: that we
“Tell everyone what He has done.” President Bohlmann
closed his report with a quotation from C. F. W. Walther:

Let us now go to work in the name of the Lord. May God’s
Word, the sole judge of all controversies, also be our only judge
and guide; may the church of God be our witness; may the
glory of God and the salvation of the redeemed be our sole
objective; may the awareness of God’s presence, genuine and
pure brotherly love, unhypocritical humility, and inexhausti-
ble patience govern our every word; may the promise of God
to hear our prayer for light and wisdom and to grant success
to the upright in heart be our comfort; but let all bitterness
and obstinacy be far from us. Then Jesus Christ, the invisible

Head of His church, will graciously be present with us and

will bring our work—which of course is not our work but His

work—to a glorious conclusion and will soon turn our present

sighs in the midst of testing into joyful psalms of praise and
thanksgiving for His help.

Electronic Response System—Becoming Acquainted

Dr. Alvin Kollmann introduced the delegates to the elec-
tronic voting system, which is being used for the first time
by an LCMS convention. The system will provide for im-
mediate vote tally. He instructed the delegates that it is
mandatory that the electronic voting pads be validated at
those points during the course of the convention when elec-
tions for office are to take place. Delegates will be notified
in advance.

The Elections Committee chairman led the delegates in
a demonstration of the equipment. Delegates are invited
to speak personally with Dr. Kollmann or any member of
his committee if there is question.

The delegates were asked to vote to indicate their will-