# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1989_S44
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

44 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Synod’s stance on abortion.

A substitute motion was offered to consider the first
resolve from 3-09, page 55. The assembly voted not to con-
sider the substitute motion.

An amendment was offered of considerable length,
which the Chair could not interpret as to whether the pro-
posed wording was an amendment or a substitute motion.
Therefore, the Chair asked the house if it wished to con-
sider the proposed words. The house declined to consider
the wording.

An amendment was proposed to line 47, page 173, to
add a resolve: “That the members of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod congregations be encouraged to
support Lutherans for Life.”

Question was called on both the amendment and the
resolution and was sustained. The amendment was
adopted. The resolution was adopted without dissenting
vote.

The committee introduced Res. 3-05A, Today’s Busi-
ness, page 150, which calls for the adoption of recommen-
dations of the Lay Workers Study Committee Report as
amended. (This resolution had previously been before the
house and debate had to be delayed until this time.) The
committee asked Dr. Samuel Nafzger, executive secretary
of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, to
speak to the needs in the church addressed by 3-05A.

An amendment was offered for line 24, page 153, to
strike the word ordinarily; also on line 34, page 154, to
strike the words whenever possible; also on line 41, page
154, to strike or in emergencies; also in line 42, page 154,
to insert the words for a prolonged period of time after the
word sacrament; also in line 43, page 154, to add the words
and the District President after the word pastor. Debate
on the amendment was delayed until after lunch.

Noonday Prayers

Delegates were led in noonday prayers by Chaplain
Kuntz.

Session 12
Afternoon, July 13

Opening Devotions

The delegates were led in an opening devotion by Dr.
Arnold G. Kuntz, convention chaplain.

Witness and Outreach (1)

The committee introduced Res. 1-05A, Today’s Busi-
ness, page 227, which calls for an evaluation of our Synod’s
name in view of our church’s mission to “Tell everyone
what He has done.”

The question was called and was sustained. The reso-
lution was adopted.

The committee introduced Res. 1-11, Today’s Business,
page 36, which praises God for missionary service. The
committee noted two editorial corrections: line 12, page 37,
add “evangelistic” after “sending”; and, line 13, correct “W”
to “T.” The resolution was adopted by a unanimous stand-
ing vote, which also recognized the several foreign mis-
sionaries present.

The committee introduced Res. 1-06, Today's Business,
page 34, which encourages urban ministry planning. The
resolution was adopted.

The committee introduced Res. 1-08, Today's Business,
page 35, which calls for increased distribution of Lutheran
Witness. The committee noted one editorial change: to re-
place “and” in line 49 with “comma ( ,) with.” The resolution
was adopted.

The committee introduced Res. 1-09, Today's Business,
pages 35-36, which calls for a comprehensive marketing/
communications plan. The resolution was adopted.

The committee introduced Res. 1-10, Today’s Business,
page 36, which encourages congregational participation in
support of missionaries. The resolution was adopted.

The committee introduced Res. 1-07, Today’s Business,
page 35, which encourages rural ministry outreach. The :
committee noted an editorial correction that in line 21 calls a
for “are” to be replaced with “is” in both instances, and in
line 36 “these” replaces “those.” The Chair asked if the
delegates were ready to vote. They indicated that they were
so ready, and they adopted the resolution.

The committee assisted the convention in recognizing
the many years of ministry offered by Dr. W. Leroy Bie-
senthal, Marie Biesenthal, Dr. Richard Dickinson, Dr. Er-
win J. Kolb, Dr. Philip H. Lochhaas, and Dr. Edward A.
Westcott, Jr., who are retiring from their respective po-
sitions of synodical leadership this year.

Structure and Organization (5)

The committee introduced Res. 5-07, Today’s Business,
page 74, which calls for amendment to the Bylaws for fill-
ing board and commission vacancies. The question was
called and was sustained. The resolution was adopted.

The committee introduced Res. 5-08A, Today’s Busi-
ness, page 131, which calls for a revision in the Bylaws
relating to commencing action to terminate membership
of a congregation or an individual. The committee noted
an editorial change in line 26, correcting “should” to read
“shall.”

An amendment was proposed to delete the words which
shall terminate the matter in line 32; also in line 32 add
the words determines not to proceed or after the word Prae-
sidium; on line 33 add the words complainant may present
charges to the appropriate District or synodical Commis-
ston on Adjudication in place of the the words complaint
shall be deemed denied, which shall likewise terminate the
matter.

Question was called on both the amendment and on the
resolution and was sustained. The resolution was adopted
without amendment.

A motion was made that the “Resolves” for the motions
from Committee 5 not be read. The motion carried.

The committee introduced Res. 5-09, Today’s Business,
pages 75—76, which calls for an amendment to the Bylaws
for recognized service organizations. The resolution was
adopted.

The committee introduced Res. 5-10, Today’s Business,
page 77, which extends the 1986 convention action re-
garding auxiliaries. The committee noted a correction in