# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1962_S51
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

President John W. Behnken (left), First Vice-President Oliver R.
Harms, and Executive Director Walter F. Wolbrecht discuss
church growth charts after Dr. Wolbrecht had addressed the
convention.

Business 134), adopting the reports of the Committees
on Pastor and Teacher Colloquies (TB 152, 6 and 7),
authorizing certain changes in the requirements of min-
isterial training in Brazil (TB 155, 12), approving a sixth
professorship at the seminary in Porto Alegre (TB 156),
ceding the Crespo property to the Argentine District
(TB 157), and approving the revised preministerial pro-
gram in Obera, Argentina (TB 158).

Survey Commission

The Survey Commission reviewed the assignment
given it by the previous convention.

Elections Committee

Since no majority had been established, the Elections
Committee distributed another ballot for President con-
taining the names of O. Harms, O. Hoffmann, and R.
Wiederaenders.

A motion to hear the number of votes cast for each
candidate on the previous ballot failed to carry.

Committee 6 — Constitutional Matters

Committee 6 introduced a resolution declaring un-
constitutional the resolution adopted by the 1959 con-
vention, the so-called Resolution 9 (TB 166, 1). Discus-
sion was not completed.

Elections Committee

The Elections Committee reported that a final ballot
for President would be necessary containing the names
of O. Harms and R. Wiederaenders.

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 53

Appeals Case

The chair stated that it was still puzzled by the
point of order raised concerning the appeals case and
wished additional time for consideration.

After various announcements the session adjourned
with a table prayer spoken in unison.

Session 3
June 21, Afternoon

The opening devotion was led by First Vice-Presi-
dent Oliver Harms.

The minutes of the morning session were approved
as read. Various greetings were brought to the atten-
tion of the Convention. A woman doctor from India,
Dr. Victoria James, and a nurse from New Guinea,
Marianne Denman, made presentations to Dr. Behnken.

Elections Committee

The Elections Committee distributed the final ballot
for President.

After the Committee on Missions had started pre-
senting its resolutions, the Elections Committee re-
ported that Dr. Oliver Harms had been chosen by the
convention as the new President of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod. The assembly rose to sing
a hymn (No.2). Dr. J. W. Behnken congratulated Dr.
Harms, who responded briefly but declared that he
would make a more detailed statement later. The con-
vention proceeded to the write-in primary for Vice-
Presidents.

Immediately after his election as President of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod, Dr. Oliver R. Harms (left) shares
a special convention greeting with retiring President Behnken.