# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1959_S68
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

68 CONVENTION MINUTES

Election

The final ballot for president, with Drs. Behnken and O. Harms
as the final candidates, was distributed. A motion to hear the pre-
vious tallies failed to carry. By action of the convention Pastor
Oliver Harms was introduced to the delegates.

Committee 13 — Miscellaneous Matters

Resolutions were adopted calling attention to the importance
of the work of the Armed Services Commission and petitioning
the Government to abolish compulsory church attendance of mili-
tary personnel (TB 147A, 1 and TB 147A, 2). Congregations were
also urged to make wider use of the aids provided by the Board
for Audio-Visual Education. (TB 147B, 3)

Committee 1— Seminaries and Colleges

The convention adopted a table of academic requirements for
those who wish to qualify for the ministry by colloquy (TB 95, 1).
The resolution (TB 96, 3) setting up the requirements for licensing
Lutheran teachers to preach was tabled until the new special com-
mittee which is to study theological issues affecting our schools of
higher education has had an opportunity to report to the next
convention. The Synod discussed criteria for an exchange study
program. (TB 97, 4)

Election

During the previous discussion the Election Committee re-
ported the re-election of Dr. J. W. Behnken, who declared that
he would make a formal statement later. After the convention
had stood to sing Hymn 45, ballots were distributed for the write-in
primary for the four vice-presidential offices.

Miami Tornado

Vice-President Lichtsinn led the assembly in prayer for those
who are suffering in the wake of the Miami, Fla., tornado.

Committee 3 — Intersynodical and Doctrinal

Recognizing the progress that has been made, the delegates
resolved to continue to strive for greater unity in the Synodical
Conference (TB 102, 1). It was decided to invite the National
Evangelical Lutheran Church (Finnish) to establish organic union
with the Missouri Synod (TB 102, 2). Recognizing the blessing of
the conference of Lutheran theologians which had preceded this
convention, it was resolved to continue such conferences in the
future (TB 103, 3). The theological faculties were requested to
complete the urgently needed studies on prayer fellowship and
unionism (TB 104, 4), and the Synod’s Praesidiwm as well as all

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