# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1962_S64
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

64 . MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

failed to carry. A motion was finally made to close
debate. The substitute motion was then lost by a stand-
ing vote of 295 for and 333 against. The original Resolu-
tion 16 was then taken up again. After the motion to
close debate had been adopted, the last speaker on the
list moved to recommit the resolution. This motion was
passed.

Committee 8— Church Literature and Publications

The convention accepted the report of the General
Literature Board (TB 479,13) and of the Editorial Com-
mittee of Advance magazine (TB 481,16). It arranged
for the publication of Dr. Walther’s writings (TB
480,14), for the production of reading materials against
communism (TB 481,15), and for the review of the re-
vised edition of Adventuring in the Church (TB 482,17).
This finished the work of Committee 8. During this
presentation Vice-President George Wittmer took the
chair.

Committee 2 — Missions

In Church Extension Fund matters it was resolved
that annual loan goals be set in the various Districts
(TB 539,24), that uniform management principles and
procedures be developed (TB 540,25), and that the
capital-account portion of the Synod’s fund be increased
annually (TB 541,26). The assembly adopted various
proposals for College and University Work (TB 542,27)
and gave a rising vote of thanks to the Lutheran
Women’s Missionary League (TB 543,28).

The meeting adjourned with a table prayer spoken
in unison.

Session 17

June 28, Afternoon
President Paul Jacobs of the California-Nevada Dis-
trict had the opening devotion. The minutes of the
morning meeting were adopted as read. Mrs. Walter
Hoppe, president of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League, addressed the convention.

Committee 10 — Pensions

The .convention decided to appoint a committee to
study a proposed housing plan for pastors and teachers
(TB 596,5, corrected), to encourage employers to as-
sume the workers’ share of pension fund payments (TB
598,6), to accept the report of the Lay Retirement Board
(TB 528,3), and to refer to the responsible boards the
question of increasing the minimum pension benefits
(TB. 596,4).

Committee 7— Social Welfare and World Relief

The assembly commended various social welfare
programs (TB 454,5), reaffirmed the Synod’s resolutions
on race relations (TB 456,7), adopted a resolution on
the Christian’s responsibility in social action (TB 468,9
replacing TB 249,18), and recommitted Resolution 8
(TB 457).

Committee 2— Missions

After deleting lines 24 to 26 concerning a resident
counselor in Europe, the delegates adopted Resolution 5

on mission work in that part of the world (TB 177).
The convention emphasized work among Spanish-
speaking people (TB 178,6) and decided to abandon the
term “subsidized Districts” (TB 495,12). Committee 2
was dismissed with thanks. -

Committee 6 — Constitutional Matters

Dr. Oliver Harms took the chair. The floor commit-
tee on Constitutional Matters presented a new resolu-~
tion limiting all terms of office except those of the
President and the First Vice-President. An amendment
to limit also these terms was lost, as well as an amend-
ment to exclude the other Vice-Presidents from the
limitation. The entire resolution was then adopted as
presented (TB 608,39). Handbook revisions were
adopted regarding the ordination and commissioning of
missionaries (TB 574b,34) and the prerequisites for
ordination (TB 574¢,35). The convention approved the
development of an indigenous church in Canada (TB
574e,36).

Committee 3— Doctrinal and Intersynodical Matters

After recess Dr. Behnken returned to the chair. The
convention decided to urge congregations and pastors
who have severed relations to return (TB 575b,23, re-
vised, replacing TB 524,23), to define more precisely
the relationship between Valparaiso University and the
Synod (TB 585,26), to take initial steps toward forming
a Lutheran interchurch association (TB 586,27, cor-
rected), to decline Memorial 336 (TB 614,32, corrected)
and Memorial 361 (TB 588,30) after closure of debate
in both of the latter instances. Discussion on a proposal
to take no action on Memorial 314 (TB 522,20) was not
completed.

Committee.5— Young People’s Work

Resolutions were adopted changing Handbook para-
graphs 7.73 (TB 527,4) and 7.71 (TB 607,5, replacing TB
527,5) and disposing of the charges against the Executive
Board of the Walther League (TB 382,3). Committee 5
was dismissed with thanks.

Committee 1— Colleges and Seminaries

Resolutions were passed providing for a joint study
of a proposed House of Studies in Berkeley, Calif. (TB
420,41), for an intensified training program for directors
of Christian education (TB 462,47), for a review of the
bachelor of sacred music program (TB 463,48), for the
recruitment of church musicians (TB 464,49), for the
synodical recognition of the parish workers program
at Winfield (TB 464,50), for the early development of
a policy on faculty housing purchase (TB 465,51), for
additional professorships at various institutions (TB
576,55), for the ratification of additional subsidies to
the St. Louis seminary (TB 578,57), and for the appro-
priation of $20,000 toward the expansion of St. John
Lutheran School in Seward (TB 581,63). The committee
reported that Memorials 169, 181 (TB 466,52), and 1111
(TB 581,64) had already been covered by previous reso-
lutions. The convention gratefully acknowledged spe-
cial gifts to the Bronxville (TB 579,59) and to the Win-