# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1962_S65
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 65

field (TB 579,60) institutions. It declined Memorials
182 (TB 577,56) and 159 (TB 580,61) and referred Me-
morial 164 to the proper boards for study (TB 580,62).
A resolution regarding the report of the Commission on
Theological Foundations of the Ministry was recom-
mitted (TB 582,65).

The chair announced that those who wished to sign
the statement which was prepared by one delegate con-
cerning the so-called Scharlemann resolution could have
their names recorded in the minutes and that the state-
ment itself would be kept on file by the Secretary of
the Synod. It was announced that still another delegate
had withdrawn his negative vote.

The session adjourned with a table prayer spoken
in unison.

Session 18
June 28, Evening

After the singing of a hymn the minutes of the
previous session were adopted as read.

Committee 1— Colleges and. Seminaries

The convention took up once again the many Hand-
book changes proposed by Committee 1. With the ap-
proval of the convention the committee withdrew 2.09b,
2.15, 5.23. A new version (TB 423,5) was substituted for
6.83. Paragraph 6.23 was recommitted. All of the other
paragraphs were now adopted by the convention with
changes noted (TB 137,5). The convention decided to
make provisions for the orderly transfer of woman
teachers (TB 584,68), to give continued support to the
Lutheran Lay Training Institute (TB 584,69), to further
pursue the study of a four-year teacher education pro-
gram at Bronxville (TB 163,18, with the added Resolved:
“That these groups report to the next convention of the
Synod”) and at Winfield (TB 164,19), and to institute
a four-year teacher education program for women at
St. Paul (TB 164,20). A resolution to approve the classi-
fication of capital projects at our synodical schools as
submitted in corrected form was presented (TB 555,53)
but could not receive action in the allotted time.

Installation

In a special ceremony Dr. J. W. Behnken installed
the newly elected officers and members of various
boards.

Committee 11— Finance and Stewardship

Committee 11 presented a new resolution (TB
614,16A) in place of the $50,000,000 special offering reso-
lution. This new proposal called for a program of edu-
cation, for an intensification of the “Venture of Faith,”
and for the inclusion of an additional $10,000,000 every
year from 1963 to 1965 in the synodical budget. The
convention inserted into line 29 “all pastors, teachers.”
The resolution was adopted by a rising vote of 496 to 69.
A motion to make the vote unanimous failed of unanim-
ity. The Board of Directors was empowered to bor-
row needed funds within prescribed limitations (TB
593,28). Committee 11 was excused with thanks.

The meeting adjourned with a brief devotion.

Session 19
June 29, Morning

President H. W. Niermann of the Southern Nebraska
District served as liturgist for the opening devotion.
In speaking on “Our Witness to the Pagan World”
Prof. M. L. Koehneke placed the Missouri Synod in the
position of Jonah and sketched how Missouri receives
its commission, is in flight, is overtaken by turbulence,
is spared, goes to the pagan world, finds receptive
hearts, is amazed and mortified, and stands corrected.

The minutes of the previous session were adopted
as read.

Committee 1— Colleges and Seminaries

The convention decided to limit all speakers to two
minutes. It accepted the list of capital projects (TB
555, 53) for our colleges and seminaries, provided for
their inclusion in the synodical budgets (TB 568, 54),
approved the introduction of a five-year teacher train-
ing program (TB 616, 70, replacing TB 462, 46), reaf-
firmed the primary functions of the teachers colleges
(TB 578, 58), referred the research materials of the
Commission on Theological Foundations (TB 637, 65,
replacing TB 582, 65) and the status of woman teachers
(TB 583, 66) to the school for graduate studies, approved
the new suggested wording for Handbook paragraph
6.23 (TB 140, corrected), thanked the Lutheran Educa-
tion Society in Oakland (TB 617, 71), and received with
thanks the reports of all boards in the field of higher
education (TB 617, 72, amended). After the floor com-
mittee stated that Memorial 404 had been taken care of
by an earlier resolution (TB 583, 67), the committee
was dismissed with thanks.

Committee 3— Doctrinal and Intersynodical Matters

The convention declined to take action with regard
to Memorial 314 (TB 522, 20), instructed the St. Louis
faculty to continue its study of the doctrine of Scripture
(TB 588, 29, corrected and amended through the inser-
tion on line 22 of “Commission on Theology and Church
Relations.” An amendment to insert “with antitheses”
on line 20 failed to carry), adopted a resolution con-
cerning the witness opportunities given our pastors
through various means of communications (TB 526, 25),
urged the Board of Parish Education to exercise caution
in the editing of Bible class materials (TB 613, 31, cor-
rected), and extended greetings to the sister church in
India (TB 618, 21R, replacing TB 523,21). The com-
mittee was dismissed with thanks.

Committee 6— Constitutional Matters

The assembly referred to the College of Presidents
the question of limiting the size of conventions (TB
574e, 37), referred Part III of the Survey Commission
report to the standing Committee on Constitutional
Matters (TB 610, 40), referred to the proper authorities
the transfer requests of two congregations (TB 621, 43),
and referred Memorial 350 to the College of Presidents
(TB 626, 48). It authorized changes in the Handbook