# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1959_S75
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CONVENTION MINUTES 75

Session 7
June 20, Morning

Opening Devotion

In the opening devotion President G. W. Lobeck of the Iowa
District West spoke on 2 Tim. 4:1, 2: “Preaching the Word.” Presi-
dent A. E. Behrend of the Oklahoma District served as liturgist.

The minutes of Friday evening’s session were approved as read.
Pp

Doctrinal Essay

Dr. Bretscher finished his presentation on “The Source of the
Doctrine” and proceeded to point 3: “The Content of the Doctrine.”
Some claim that doctrine only sharpens differences and deepens
divisions. It is true, doctrine can be so meticulously formulated
that it becomes merely a mental exercise and overlooks the essen-
tially “I-Thou” relationship with God. Yet the doctrine must be
“sound,” as Scripture itself requires. But what is it? It is God’s
self-revelation in the Scriptures as the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost; Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. Justification by faith
in Christ is the heart of the doctrine.

Elections

The ranking of Vice-Presidents was announced: (1) Oliver
Harms, (2) Roland Wiederaenders, (3) George Wittmer, (4) Ar-
thur Nitz.

Vote Again on Biennial Convention

Secretary Birkner read a statement in which he called atten-
tion to the fact that in last evening’s session the resolution pro-
viding for biennial conventions (TB 193, 22) involved a constitu-
tional change which requires a two-thirds-majority affirmative
vote, but that no count had been taken to determine whether the
two thirds required for adoption had been obtained. President
Behnken therefore ruled that the resolution would be voted on
again.

A Ministering Church

By means of a filmstrip and a panel discussion the work of
various parish services was presented: Young People’s Work,
Armed Services Commission, Social Welfare, Television, and Parish
Education.

Nominations Committee

After the name of Marvin Borgelt of Minneapolis had been
added from the floor, the slate of candidates for the Board for
Missions in Foreign Countries was adopted.