# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1965_S65 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) FRO ERNE CAE PR MN MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 65 Committee 17 — Elections With Dr. T. Nickel chairing the meeting the dele- gates proceeded to elect many boards and committees. After they were dismissed by the benediction, the Elec- toral College met to choose members of the various boards of control. Session 9 June 19, Morning The opening devotion was conducted by President Edgar C. Rakow of the Indiana District. The minutes of the previous session were adopted as read. Committee 15 — Stewardship and Finance The convention accepted the reports of the Stew- ardship Board and Staff (TB 144, 15-01 and 15-02), arranged for greater aid to Districts and congregations in developing greater mission consciousness (TB 145, 15-04), declined Overture 15-10 (amortization program, TB 147, 15-08), and Overture 15-17 (loans from Pen- sion Fund, TB 148, 15-09), liberalized amortization policies for the construction of dormitories and other select auxiliary facilities (TB 149, 15-11), thanked the Aid Association for Lutherans for offering to produce a filmstrip for the Synod (TB 148, 15-10), declined Overture 1-18 (District initiative, TB 150, 15-12), ac- cepted the report of the Division of Controllership (TB 147, 15-07), provided for greater assistance in enlisting lay talents (TB 145, 15-03), thanked the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (TB 146, 15-05), and ac- cepted the Faith Forward report (TB 150, 15-13). Committee 4— Administration Since the matter had been reassigned, the committee withdrew Resolution 4-11 (TB 166). The assembly approved a new election schedule for boards of control (TB 167, 4-12), called upon all officers and boards to give continued study to principles and problems of ad- ministration (TB 204, 4-13), changed several Handbook sections regarding divisional grouping (TB 204, 4-14; TB 205, 4-15), made divisional chairmen advisory mem- bers of divisional agencies (TB 206, 4-16), and ap- proved the division of the Western District into two Districts, Missouri and Mid-South (TB 207, 4-17). Committee 1— Missions The convention resolved to urge congregations to use the programs of evangelism already developed (TB 115, 1-04), to encourage service organizations to con- tinue their emphasis on evangelism (TB 115, 1-05), to authorize the possible establishment of hostel facilities in Europe for Lutheran students (TB 120, 1-12), to give attention to foreign students (TB 122, 1-15), to expand the campus ministry (TB 214, 1-25), to encourage local congregations to serve community college students (TB 214, 1-26), to study the problem of ministering to church-isolated students (TB 215, 1-27), to give con- Sideration’ to adding additional staff for the Com- mission on College and University Work (TB 216, 1-28), and to encourage laymen overseas to witness (TB 229, 1-33). The John of Beverley Medal was presented to Rev. Ernest C. Mappes in recognition of long service to the deaf. It was decided to establish wherever possible training programs for teachers of Sunday school classes of deaf children (TB 184, 1-18), to investigate the establishment of a program to train the deaf for service in the church (TB 184, 1-19), to decline Overture 1-21M (TB 216, 1-29) and part 3 of Overture 1-17 (TB 185, 1-20), to take no action on part 4 of Overture 1-17 (TB 186, 1-21), to encourage employment of the blind (TB 186, 1-22), and to give emphasis to medical missions (TB 229, 1-32). A pro- posed resolution regarding the training of linguists (TB 230, 1-34) was discussed. The convention referred to the committee the amendment offered from the floor: “Be it further Resolved, That the Board for Missions and the Messengers of Christ work in constant mutual consultation to ascertain both the need for such trained personnel and recruitment and training possibilities to meet such needs.” During part of this time Dr. A. Nitz took the chair. Committee 8—-Young People’s Work President Harms extended a warm welcome to the young people who were in the arena. Dr. Elmer Witt made a statement with reference to the forthcoming Walther League convention and conducted a panel dis- cussion with three young people. Resolution 8-01 (TB 232) on the Walther League convention at Squaw Valley was introduced. When the chair was asked to rule that it does not pass judgment on political affiliations, the chair cautioned delegates to speak with deliberation and declared that it was ready to make a formal state- ment if necessary. After extended discussion, a motion to recommit was lost (302 ayes, 311 nays). A call for the previous question succeeded by more than the required two-thirds vote (401 ayes, 169 nays). When the resolution was put to vote, division of the ques- tion was called for which showed that the resolution had been adopted by a vote of 335 to 291. A delegate inquired whether he might be permitted to introduce a resolution at this point. The convention gave its con- sent by formal motion. The resolution offered: “Be it Resolved, That the previous resolution be not inter- preted as the Synod’s blanket approval of the whole program being presented by the Walther League at the Squaw Valley convention.” After adoption was moved and seconded, it was necessary to break off discussion. President Harms asked the press to take the welfare of the young people and the reputation of the church body into their kind and earnest consideration. The session closed with a prayer spoken by President Fred Ilten of the Iowa District East. Session 10 June 21, Morning President Gustav W. Lobeck of the Iowa District West conducted the liturgical service, and Dr. Paul Streufert presented the third part of his devotional essay: “The Gracious Lord Gave the Church a Method.”