# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1965_S69 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) ’ Session 15 June 23, Morning President Lloyd H. Goetz of the North Wisconsin District served as chaplain in the opening devotion. Dr. Paul Streufert presented the fifth part of his devo- tional essay: “The Loving Lord Provides a Model.” The minutes of the previous afternoon were adopted as read. Committee 9 — Social Action and Welfare, World Relief The convention took note of the disaster in the mountain states and Kansas (TB 339, 9-01), commended the Commission on Social Action (TB 340, 9-02), re- ferred the question of an executive secretary to the commission for further study (TB 340, 9-03), com- mended the Board of Social Welfare (TB 341, 9-04), provided for District directories of health and welfare agencies (TB 423, 9-05, replacing TB 342), called attention to the work of institutional chaplains (TB 342, 9-06), authorized the development of a policy on clinical pastoral education (TB 343, 9-07), commended the Commission on Mental Retardation (TB 344, 9-08) and decided to intensify the work (TB 345, 9-09), and also commended the Lutheran Immigration Service (TB 347, 9-11). Committee 13— Worship, Liturgics, and Hymnology After Dr. Harms had introduced Dr. J. W. Behnken, Dr. E. J. Friedrich, and Dr. Herman Harms, Committee 13 presented a resolution (TB 410, 13-01) to accept the reports of the Commission on Worship, Liturgics, and Hymnology and to work toward a common core of a hymnal with other Lutheran bodies. An amendment to have the commission produce the hymnal on which it has been working failed to carry. The resolution was still being discussed when time ran out. Committee 3—-Church Relations The convention again took up the resolution con- cerning the Lutheran Council in the United States of America (TB 248, 3-12). It voted down the amend- ment to submit the matter to the congregations for a vote and also imposed a 2-minute rule. After some time the assembly formally closed the debate with the understanding that all who had called for the floor would still be permitted to speak. It declined to refer the resolution to the Committee on Constitutional Mat- ters. At 11:47 the resolution was adopted by an over- whelming voice vote. Committee 16-——Sundry Matters With Dr. R. Wiederaenders in the chair several presentations were made to Dr. Harms. The convention gave the Cobo Hall management a rising vote of thanks (TB 447, 16-14). President Erwin L. Paul of the Northern Illinois Dis- trict offered the closing prayer. Session 16 June 23, Afternoon President Frederick A. Niedner of the Northern Ne- braska District led the opening devotion. The minutes MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 69 of the morning session were approved as read. A tele- gram from Brook Hays was read extending the greet- ings of President Lyndon Johnson. Dr. and Mrs. Walter Lichtsinn were introduced. During the course of the afternoon Dr. Franklin Clark Fry, President of the Lutheran Church in America, and Dr. Frederick Schiotz, President of The American Lutheran Church, addressed the delegates. Col. Harold A. Merklinger, head of the Canadian Armed Services Chaplains, was also introduced. Committee 15— Stewardship and Finance The resolution concerning a $40-million special offering was again placed before the delegates (TB 377, 15-18). The first “Resolved” was amended to read: “That out of gratitude to God for His manifold blessings, enabled by His Holy Spirit and motivated by the love of Christ, we strive earnestly to bring a special thankoffering to the Lord in the amount of $40 million”? An amendment to drop the fourth “Whereas” was lost. After considerable discussion, the previous question was moved, and thereupon the amended resolution was adopted. This completed the work of Committee 15. Committee 11— Communications and Public Relations The convention decided to decline Overture 11-09 Un (TB 454 a, 11-16). This brought the work of Com- mittee 11 to a close. Special Prerogative A resolution offered from the floor was adopted: Wuereas, We have been frequently reminded by the chair that time is running short and may require addi- tional sessions beyond Friday, 1:00 p.m.; and Wuereas, Time may indeed run out on many dele- gates, necessitating completion of convention business in their absence; therefore be it Resolved, That the chairman be authorized and en- couraged to extend time allotments and/or sessions beyond their scheduled times whenever he believes it is necessary to keep our convention on schedule. Committee 2— Doctrinal Matters Recommitted Resolution 2-07 (TB 362; former TB 129) was introduced providing for a comprehensive study of Biblical hermeneutics. An amendment to the first “Resolved” to specifically rule out form-critical and neo-orthodox approaches failed to carry. The reso- lution was then adopted. Next the convention took up a resolution dealing with woman suffrage in the church (TB 365, 2-36). A motion to refer the matter to the two theological faculties failed to carry, as well as a motion to recommit. The convention then amended the second “Resolved” to read: “As stated at St. Paul in 1956 and at San Francisco in 1959, we consider woman suffrage in the church as contrary to Scripture only when it violates the above-mentioned Scriptural principles” (as restated by Committee 2 with the con- sent of the convention on Wednesday evening). The entire resolution was then adopted as amended.