# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S802
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

800 CONVENTION MINUTES

Balloting showed that the following had been elected: as Board
for Missions to the Deaf, Pastors Ervin F. Schroeder, Ernest Drews,
Wm. Buege; and Messrs. John P. Miller and Gustav Kruse; to the
Board for European Affairs, Pastors Paul Koenig, E. L.’ Roschke,
Charles A. Behnke; and Messrs. O. A. Dorn and Louis Menking.

A motion to reopen the issue to give the page of Today’s Busi-
ness on which the characterizations of various candidates appears
was lost. Likewise was lost a motion to suspend business for five
minutes after the ballots have been passed out.

The session closed with the Apostolic Benediction.

Session 11
June 26, Evening

The eleventh session was opened with devotions conducted by
the President, the Rev. J. W. Behnken, D.D. The minutes were
adopted.

Under the direction of Committee 13, members of the Armed
Services Commission reported on the work which is being carried
on by our chaplains and service contact pastors. They stressed
especially the importance of spiritual services to the men and
women in our Armed Forces during peacetime, when temptations
become unusually severe. They referred also to the need of pro-
viding spiritual service for dependents of servicemen and for civil-
ian employees of our Government in foreign Jands. Since most of
our young people will be called into the Armed Services, what
happens to them spiritually while in the Armed Services is vital
for the future of our church. Our chaplaincies are the extended
arm of the local-parish.

On recommendation of Committee 13, Synod resolved to en-
courage the Armed Services Commission to continue its ministry
to our fellow members in uniform and urged pastors to maintain
contact with their members in the military. Contact pastors were
commended for their consecrated concern for our military service
people and patients in Veterans Hospitals. The Commission is to
intensify its efforts to secure competent men for service in the
Armed Forces. Provision is to be made also for the spiritual min-
istry to dependents of military personnel and civilians at overseas
military installations (TB:117-118, 10, 11, and 12). The Armed
Services Commission was commended for maintaining Service Cen-
ters (TB:118, 13). The faculty at Concordia Seminary was encour-
aged to continue its chaplaincy course. In connection with this
matter Synod voted its appreciation to Professors Piepkorn, Schar-
lemann, and Coyner (TB:119, 14).

On recommendation of Committee 2, Synod urged continua-