# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1965_S255
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

4. SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION 255

IV. The Synod, in convention assembled in Detroit,
June 16—26, 1965, shall authorize a special convention
of the Synod, this to be scheduled after the dates for
the emergency convocation mentioned above, under
Section III, but not later than 60 days before the
opening date of the regular convention which has
already been scheduled for 1967; the sessions to be
limited to 3 or 4 days; the agenda to be planned for
the special consideration of ways and means to halt
the trend within the Synod toward deterioration of
doctrine and practice, and for the special consideration
of ways and means to restore purity of Scriptural
doctrine within the Synod, provided, however, that
nothing herein stipulated shall interfere with placing
on the agenda such matters of “urgent necessity” as
are referred to in Article VIII, B, of the Synod’s
Constitution.

A. The President of the Synod shall make all ar-
rangements for this special convention, through synodi-
cal channels but in close consultation with the emer-
gency council proposed in Section V of this petition,
this to include suggestions to the Districts of the Synod
in regard to steps to be taken to elect delegates to this
special convention.

B. The Synod shall instruct its President to select
as preachers, essayists, and committee members only
such men as are well known for their faithfulness to
Scripture in opposition to all attempts of man to discard
the teaching that the written words of Scripture are
the very words of God Himself.

V. The Synod, in convention assembled at Detroit,
June 16—26, 1965, shall elect an emergency council
to serve till Dec. 31, 1967. This emergency council
shall be instructed to work with determination and
dispatch to bring about, with the help of God, a halting
of the trend within the Synod toward deterioration of
doctrine and practice and toward restoring purity of
Scriptural doctrine within the Synod, this to be done,
however, without infringing upon the offices of synodi-
cal or District officials.

A. Duties of the Emergency Council
1. Advisory

a. The emergency council shall inform itself on the
conditions of doctrine and practice —

aa) within the Synod, in general;

bb) within the Synod’s organizational divisions:
Division of Doctrine and Church Relations, Division of
Church Government, Division of Missions, Division
of Special Ministries, Division of Higher Education,
Division of Parish Education and Services, Division of
Communications and Public Relations, Division of Social
Action and Welfare, Division of Church Literature,
Division of Finance, and all other divisions in existence
at the time.

b. The emergency: council shall keep the President
of the Synod informed regarding its findings in this
area.

2. In addition to serving in an advisory capacity,

the emergency council shall carry out such tasks as
are assigned to it by the Synod, among these being
the tasks assigned to it in connection with the program
proposed under Sections I, II, III (Emergency Convoca-
tion), IV (Special Convention), and VI (Commission on
Theology and Church Relations).

B. The emergency council shall consist of at least
40 men, all of whom are well known for their faithful-
ness to Scripture in opposition to all attempts of man
to discard the teaching that the written words of
Scripture are the very words of God Himself.

C. Election

1. The Synod, in convention assembled at Detroit,
June 16—26, 1965, shall instruct its Committee on
Nominations to propose a slate of candidates to serve
as a committee of nominations for election of the emer-
gency council, nine men to constitute this special com-
mittee on nominations.

a. The slate of candidates shall be thoroughly
screened by the Committee on Nominations, so that
the slate will contain only names of men well known
for their faithfulness to Scripture in opposition to all
attempts of man to discard the teaching that the written
words of Scripture are the very words of God Himself.

b. The slate shall be submitted to the convention
in ample time and in mimeographed form. In case
objections are raised against a man on the slate and
the objection is not satisfactorily disposed of on the
convention floor, the report shall be referred back to
the Committee on Nominations for consideration of
the objection.

c. When the report of the Committee on Nomina-
tions is submitted in final form, it shall not be subject
to further change.

2. The special committee on nominations for the
emergency council shall propose a slate of candidates
consisting of men who are well known for their faith-
fulness to Scripture in opposition to all attempts of
man to discard the teaching that the written words of
Scripture are the very words of God Himself.

a. The slate of candidates drawn up by this com-
mittee shall be submitted in accordance with the pro-
cedure outlined under 1, b, under this Section C.

b. When the report of this special committee on
nominations for the emergency council is submitted in
final form, it shall no longer be subject to change.

D. All members of the Synod are respectfully re-
quested by the Synod to cooperate with the emergency
council; and all members of the Synod who are in the
employ of the Synod are instructed by the Synod to
give the emergency council their fullest cooperation.

VI. The Synod shall reorganize the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations and shall elect as
members of this commission only such men as are
well known for their faithfulness to Scripture in opposi-
tion to all attempts of man to discard the teaching that
the written words of Scripture are the very words of
God Himself.