# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1962_S54 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 1 54 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION Committee 2— Missions The convention resolved to intensify the evangelism program (TB 174,1), adopted a resolution containing proposals for an expansion program on the District level (TB 174,2), approved the establishment of a national church and an indigenous seminary in Latin America (TB 175,3), and thanked all men and women who work in the mission to the blind (TB 176,4). A resolution was offered (TB 177,5) to place a resident counselor in Europe and to continue subsidies and other assistance to various church groups in Europe. The last “Resolved” was amended to read that support be granted to the Polish Lutheran Church in Exile until it can be amalga- mated with the ELCE. It was pointed out that the implementation of the entire resolution would be sub- ject to the approval of the Fiscal Conference. The dis- cussion could not be completed. Honorary Presidency While Second Vice-President Wiederaenders was in the chair, it was decided to instruct Committee 13 to prepare a proper resolution naming Dr. Behnken Honorary President. Committee 3— Doctrinal and Intersynodical Matters The Committee on Doctrinal Matters proposed a res- olution memorializing the Lutheran Synodical Confer- ence to take immediate steps to form an international Lutheran Synodical Conference (TB 196,1). A motion to amend the resolution by inserting the Word “ortho- dox” on line 42 failed to carry. The resolution was then adopted. It was resolved to continue the graduate fel- lowships sponsored by the Committee on Doctrinal Unity (TB 197,2). After the word “Praesidium” had been changed to “President” in both “Resolveds,” a res- olution (TB 198,3) was approved to continue to send observers to various national and international conven- tions and conferences. A proposed resolution (TB 200,5) to approve acceptance of the invitation to participate in doctrinal discussions between Lutherans and Presby- terians was discussed at length. Later the committee was recalled, and discussion was continued but not completed. When the previous question was moved, the chair advised against it since a doctrinal matter was involved and ruled accordingly. No objection was offered to the ruling of the chair. Committee 13 — Miscellaneous Matters The convention received with gratitude the report of First Vice-President Harms (TB 192,1), of the Con- cordia Historical Institute (TB 192,2), of the Commit- tee on Church Architecture (TB 194,3), of the Lutheran Hour (TB 194,4), and of the Nominations Committee for Executive Secretaries (TB 195,5). Elections Committee The Elections Committee reported that 159 men had been proposed for the four vice-presidencies and that Dr. R. Wiederaenders had been elected by securing more than the required 75 percent of the votes. The nine highest remaining candidates were listed on the ballot which was distributed. After announcements the meeting was adjourned with the Apostolic Blessing by the chairman. Session 4 June 22, Morning President Gustav Karkau of the Eastern District served as liturgist for the opening devotion. “Thou Art the Man— Behold the Man” —the essayist, Prof. M. L. Koehneke, declared that these two statements of Scripture, representing Law and Gospel, summarize the burden of a confessing church’s message to the world. The Lutheran Confessions themselves stress the necessity of properly distinguishing between and prop- erly applying Law and Gospel. It is not much use but the proper use of the Bible that makes a church strong. The essayist pleaded that convention issues themselves might be brought into relationship with Law and Gospel. The minutes of the previous session were adopted. Elections Committee The Elections Committee informed the convention that Dr. Theodore Nickel had been elected to a vice- presidency and distributed ballots to fill the two re- maining vacancies. Committee 1— Colleges and Seminaries The convention adopted the following Handbook par- agraph revisions: 1.59, 2.147, 4.09, 4.109, 4.111, 4.113, 5.81, 6.03, 6.07 (amended to read “pastoral and teaching min- istries,” lines 12 and 13), 6.27. The committee itself held back action on 2.15, 5.23, and 6.23. Paragraph 2.09 was referred back to the committee for the purpose of clarifying “full-time employ.” The convention decided to implement immediately the provision of 6.27d (see TB 137,5 ff.). It was decided to defer the introduction of coeducational teacher education at Milwaukee (TB 163,17). The committee presented for action the general planning and operating principles (TB 159,16). After the first three propositions had been adopted, all re- maining propositions were read at one time. The mo- tion was then made and seconded to adopt the remain- ing propositions. The chair ruled that each point would now be discussed in order. Point 4 was discussed. An amendment was offered to proposition 5 to call for the elimination of all education on the high school level. The debate on this amendment was not completed. Committee 6— Constitutional Matters The convention took up again the proposed resolu- tion declaring the so-called Resolution 9 unconstitu- tional (TB 166,1). A motion to postpone action until later failed to carry. The previous question was moved since the point at issue in this resolution is a constitu- tional rather than a doctrinal matter. The chair de- clared that it was only on this basis that he would place the question to the convention, as requested, before all who had asked for the floor could be heard. Resolu- tion 1 was thereupon adopted. Dr. Behnken then asked