# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1962_S56
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

56 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Committee 13— Special Ministries and Miscellaneous

The convention received with thanks the reports
of the Armed Services Commission (TB 213,6), of the
Commission on Fraternal Organizations (TB 213,7), and
of Valparaiso University (TB 245,12). The request to
increase the levy of congregations toward sharing the
cost of synodical conventions was referred to the Board
of Directors (TB 244,11). The convention declined the
memorial which had requested that the congregations
of Synod refrain from the financial support of Val-
paraiso University until certain alleged evils are re-
moved (TB 245,13). In this connection, Dr. Behnken
stated that the Praesidium had met recently with the
administration of the university to discuss the allega-
tions and had received reassurances.

Armed Services Commission

In a special ceremony several chaplains and mem-
bers of the Armed Services Commission were intro-
duced. Chaplain J. Floyd Dreith addressed the con-
vention.

The chairman pronounced the Apostolic Blessing.

Session 6
June 22, Evening
After a brief opening devotion by President Behn-
ken, the minutes of the afternoon session were adopted
as read.

Committee 4— Parish Education

The assembly adopted resolutions calling for a goal
of vacation Bible schools in 75 percent of our congrega-
tions (TB 225,11), proposing teacher training programs
through VBS workshops (TB 227,12), reiterating the
expectation that high school teachers attend District
conventions and use the regular excuse channels when-
ever this is not possible (TB 228,14), and endorsing the
“Train Two” Bible study program (TB 229,15). Certain
Handbook changes (TB 227,13) were postponed until
the Committee on Constitutions could be consulted.

Elections Committee

Dr. Oliver Harms took the chair. Ballots were dis-
tributed for the election of various officers and boards.

Electoral College

After adjournment the Electoral College met to fill
the vacancies on the Boards of Control of the colleges
and seminaries.

Session 7
June 23, Morning

In the opening devotion, in which President W. Harry
Krieger of the Michigan District functioned as liturgist,
Dr. Fred Kramer sketched the development of the
modern ecumenical movement, the organization of the
World Council of Churches, and a confessional church’s
attitude toward the same. A confessional church points
to the Scriptures as the source and norm of faith and
life and also judges all things according to the Gospel

of justification by faith in Christ. Accordingly, in con-
sidering the question of affiliation with the World Coun-
cil of Churches, a confessional church is constrained
to ask two questions: Can our attitude toward Scripture
be maintained? What happens to the Gospel of salva-
tion by grace through faith in Christ?

The minutes of the previous session were adopted
as read.

Elections Committee

The Elections Committee reported the following re-
sults: Secretary: W. C. Birkner; Treasurer: Milton
Carpenter; Board of Directors: Pastors William Buege,
E. T. Bernthal, William Kohn; laymen Jay Pfotenhauer,
Paul Friedrich, William Fenske, Walter Koch, and
Walter Hinck.

Committee 11— Finance and Stewardship

The convention accepted with thanks the report of
the Board of Directors with the exception of Section VII
(TB 373,1). Treasurer Martin Strieter introduced the
members of the finance department, who were thanked
by the convention. Mr. Strieter then read his Treas-
urer’s Report to the convention. The report was adopted
and Mr. Strieter was given a standing vote of thanks
for his services (TB 374,2). The convention received
with thanks the report of the Stewardship Staff (TB
374,3), of the Board of Trustees (TB 375,4), and of the
Pension Fund Accounting Department (TB 376,6). It
authorized the appointment of persons other than United
States citizens as trustees when national laws require
this arrangement (TB 376,5). The recommendations of
the Stewardship Department concerning corporate
stewardship (TB 377,7), mission education (TB 377,8),
and every-member stewardship visits (TB 377,9) were
approved. The recommendations, as amended by the
Floor Committee concerning every-congregation visits
(TB 378,11), training of circuit stewardship representa-
tives (TB 379,12), and District Fiscal Conferences (TB
379,13) were also approved. The convention adopted
the 1961 Fiscal Conference’s “proposal plan” as amended
by the floor committee (TB 378,10).

The newly elected Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod — seated (I. to r.}: Treasurer Milton Carpenter,
President Oliver R. Harms, Secretary W. C. Birkner; standing:
Dr. £. T. Bernthal, Jay Pfotenhauver, Rev. Wm. H. Kohn, Walter
Koch, Dr. Wm. A. Buege, William Fenske, and Paul Friedrich.

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