# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1989_S35
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 35

Presentation of Corporate Officers

President Bohimann introduced to the convention the
corporate officers of the Synod, Rev. Dr. August T. Men-
nicke, First Vice-President; Rev. Dr. Robert H. King, Sec-
ond Vice-President; Rev. Dr. Robert C. Sauer, Third Vice-
President; Rev. Dr. Eugene W. Bunkowske, Fourth Vice-
President; Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier, Jr., Fifth Vice-Pres-
ident; Rev. Dr. Walter L. Rosin, Secretary; and Dr. Norman
E. Sell, Treasurer.

Concordia Seminary—150th Anniversary Recognition

The Rev. Dr. Karl Barth, president of Concordia Sem-
inary, St. Louis, led the delegation in a celebration of the
anniversary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s
oldest seminary. A special video, Light of Our World, was
enjoyed by the assembly.

The Rev. Dr. George Beto, Ph.D., who was awarded the
honorary doctor of divinity degree, addressed the
convention.

Noonday Prayers

Delegates were led in noonday prayers by Chaplain
Kuntz.

Session 8
Afternoon, July 11

Minutes

The minutes of sessions 5 and 6 were approved as dis-
tributed in Today’s Business 5, pages 211-14.

Planning and Administration (8)

Dr. O’Shoney’s committee moved Res. 8-03, Today’s
Business, page 108, which calls for a planning council to
assist networking among congregations and districts and
would thus enhance Synod’s design for short- and long-
range planning. Dr. Bohlmann relinquished the chair to
Rev. Dr. George Wollenburg in order to speak to this res-
olution. Dr. BohImann pointed out that the Planning Coun-
cil, which will enjoy broad ethnic representation, will serve
to advise the church body in setting its vision. Rev. Dr.
Henry Koepchen, member of the committee, also noted
that this resolution does not establish a new layer of ad-
ministration, rather it defines and clarifies the nature of
the Planning Council, which already exists.

A motion to refer back to committee was offered. The
question on the motion to refer was called and was sus-
tained. The motion to refer was placed before the house
and was defeated.

The original motion was again placed before the assem-
bly. A substitute motion was introduced, and the assembly
declined to consider the substitute motion.

Once again the original motion was before the conven-
tion.

Question was called to close debate and was sustained.
Res. 8-03 was adopted.

Res. 8-05, Today’s Business, pages 109-110, was intro-
duced, calling for clarification of the title of treasurer as
Synod’s vice-president—chief financial officer and allow

for appointment of other vice-presidents not in line of
succession.

A motion was made to refer the resolution to the Com-
mission on Constitutional Matters for clarification regard-
ing the constitutionality of using the term Vice-President
for a corporate officer not in line of succession and not a
member of the clergy of the church.

A motion to close debate on referral was called and was
sustained. The motion to refer was defeated.

The original motion was again placed before the con-
vention. An amendment was offered to strike lines 41-46.

The convention chairman called for the orders of the
day. The proposed amendment will again come before the
convention when Committee 8 returns to the podium.

Higher Education (6)

Committee Chairman Erhardt Bauer presented Res. 6-
03, Today’s Business, page 90, authorizing synodical as-
sistance in the development of Concordia College, Selma,
Ala. Dr. Julius Jenkins, president of Concordia College,
Selma, delivered an address in support of the resolution.
He pointed out that Concordia is responsible for educating
more than 50 percent of the black pastors currently serving
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

By common consent line 21 was changed to read, “...
the Synod endorse the Board of Directors action authoriz-
ing...”

The question on Res. 6-03 was called and was sustained.
The delegates rose to vote unanimously in support of the
development of Concordia, Selma.

Res. 6-04 Today’s Business, page 90, was moved, calling
for the Synod to receive the report of the Task Force on
Higher Education for Black Students in Synodical Higher
Education. The resolution was adopted.

The committee called upon Dr. Michael Stelmachowicz,
executive secretary for Higher Education, to introduce the
presidents of the colleges (and university) of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod.

Res. 6-05 Today’s Business, page 90, calling for long-
term planning in higher education, was placed before the
convention and was adopted.

Res. 6-08 Today’s Business, page 93, calling for revision
in the eligibility requirements of the pastoral colloquy pro-
gram, was placed before the convention.

An amendment was proposed to delete the first
“Whereas” and was carried.

The amended resolution was again placed before the
delegates. President Bohlmann asked the convention
whether the delegates wished to vote on the amended res-
olution. The vote was in the affirmative, and the amended
resolution was adopted.

Special Greetings

The Rev. Dr. Ed Lehman, president of the Lutheran
Church—Canada, addressed the delegation, bringing
greetings from the many congregations of the “daughter”
synod of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The Lu-
theran Church—Canada was formed Jan. 1, 1989. Presi-
dent Lehman underscored the youth and energy of the new
church. At the conclusion of his remarks, he presented The