# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S815
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CONVENTION MINUTES

Session 16
June 28, Evening

The sixteenth session was opened with devotions led by
Dr. J. W. Behnken.

Committee 2 introduced Rev. H. Mayer, Executive Secretary
of Missions, who briefly spoke of the opportunities in France and
England. The following resolutions were thereupon passed: to
commend the Board of Directors for making $50,000 available for
the Church Extension Fund of the Free Churches of Germany,
to continue theological conferences with pastors of Free Churches,
support the theological seminary at Oberursel, and to encourage
systematic stewardship in the Free Churches of Germany (TB:
120, 24). Brethren in France and Belgium were commended for
their activity in mission work, which is developing a strong evan-
gelistic program, special recognition being accorded to Pastor and
Mrs. Michalk (1TB:120, 25). The Free Church of Denmark was
encouraged to keep striving for self-support (7B:120,26). The
work in Finland is to remain under supervision of the NELC
(TB:121, 27). Synod expressed joy over the progress of work in
England, promoted by various agencies (7B:121, 28), and ordered
special emphasis laid on the development of a native ministry,
encouraging the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England to con-
tinue consultation with the displaced people from Lutheran lands.
The Secretary of Missions is to report his findings in Europe to
the new Board for European Affairs, which is to study the necessity
of a full-time Executive Secretary for European Affairs and to
report its findings to the 1959 convention (TB:208, 29). The recom-
mendations regarding a full-time Executive Secretary for Medical
Missions were adopted as set forth in Today’s Business, pp. 69
and 70. The Lutheran Medical Mission Association was commended
and a vote of thanks given the Wheat Ridge Foundation for its aid
to medical missions (TB:71, 22). Thanking the pastors, teachers,
and congregations of the Espirito Santo-Minas Gerais Circuit for
their interest in the preparation of church workers, Synod returned
the property at Baixo Guando to the Brazil District with instruc-
tions to transfer ownership of the school to the circuit mentioned
before (TB:265, 37).

The resolutions proposed by Committee 3 on the question of
woman’s suffrage in the church were recommitted, because 93 votes
had been cast against adoption (TB:189, 22). On recommendation
of Committee 4, Synod resolved that the program of warning
_ against Lutheran-Catholic marriages be intensified and that study
materials be made available and guidance toward evangelical but
firm procedures be provided (1B:86,13). The resolutions to in-