# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1967_S22 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 22 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION department at Concordia Lutheran College of Texas at Austin (TB 92, 6-10). It debated the resolution to urge the Board for Higher Education to review faculty salaries annually and to give high priority to salary improvements. Time expired before action could be taken on this resolution (TB 92—93, 6-11). The closing devotion with the Litany for Pardon and Petition was read by Rev. Edwin H. Thompson. Session 4 Opening July 9, Afternoon The opening devotion was led by Rev. Norman G. Pfotenhauer. In the service the Litany of the Holy Trinity was used. The minutes of the third session were approved as read. Committee 8— Young People’s Work President John D. Fritz of Committee 8 introduced Mr. Charles R. Wright, president of the Walther League. Mr. Wright reminded the assembly that, in a time of change, youth can and does contribute to the renewal of the church. Mr. Wright presented five of the seven living ex-presidents of the Walther League. Pastor Fritz presented four young ladies who personified aspects of the youth program. Dr. Elmer Witt introduced four Prince of Peace Volunteers. Their message? “POPV is people”; “everybody should get out of his ghetto”; “it’s really hard”; “the church has to get involved and be aware of what is going on”; “the hardest thing in the whole world is to be a Christian.” The convention resolved to observe the 75th anni- versary of the Walther League in May 1968 (TB 101, 8-01). It expressed gratitude to the Walther League and its executive board in facilitating the transfer of the administration of youth ministry to the Board for Young People’s Work (TB 101—102, 8-02). It received the report of the Board for Young People’s Work with commendation and encouragement (TB 102, 8-03). Committee 14— Stewardship and Finance The resolution of Committee 14 that the Synod re- new its commitment to Ebenezer was discussed at some length, but time ran out before action could be taken on the resolution (TB 107, 14-08). Committee 9-— Social Action and Welfare The convention adopted the report of the Board of Social Welfare (TB 111, 9-01). It resolved to support and consult with the Lutheran Human Relations Asso- ciation of America (TB 111—112, 9-02). It adopted the report of the Commission for Services to the Mentally Retarded (TB 112, 9-03). It adopted the resolution to reinstate World Relief in the synodical budget with the amendment that the allocation is for administrative expenses of the board (TB 113, 9-04). It referred Overture 9-12 to the synodical Board of Directors for coordination among the institutions and Districts of the Synod (TB 114, 9-05). It referred Over- ture 9-17 to the Board of Social Welfare for study and implementation (TB 114—115, 9-06). It resolved to observe the centennial of welfare work in 1968 (TB 115, 9-07). Committee 14— Stewardship and Finance Since time was available, Committee 14 was granted the floor, and the discussion on Resolution 14-08 was resumed. A resolution to adopt was amended so that it included not only the renewal of the Synod’s com- mitment to Ebenezer and the request that President Harms lead the convention in prayer but also that the delegates and visitors would kneel for the prayer (TB 107, 14-08). While the assembly was kneeling, President Harms prayed for forgiveness and for God’s blessings on the Ebenezer endeavor. Committee 7 — Parish Education In introducing the resolutions of Committee 7, Presi- dent William H. Kohn referred the convention to pp. 250 to 253 of the Convention Workbook. Here the report of the Board of Parish Education portrayed the need for parish renewal and the nature and scope of the educa- tional task of the church and uttered a call to action. The convention resolved to encourage the congre- gations of the Synod to examine their educational pro- grams, instructed the Board of Parish Education to develop self-study documents, and exhorted the con- gregations to use these documents (TB 116—118, 7-01). It authorized the Board of Parish Education to ap- point an editor-consultant in urban education (TB 119, 7-02). The resolution to warn against prejudice (TB 120, 7-03) was discussed at some length; no action was taken because the discussion was not yet completed. Service of Dedication One of the high features of the convention was the service in which the Concordia Catechism Series was consecrated. Dr. Justus P. Kretzmann was the minister and Rev. Lewis C. Niemoeller the preacher for the service. The Children’s Choir of Greater New York sang. Dr. Walter M. Wangerin presented the books on behalf of the Catechism Committee to Dr. Oliver Harms, who in turn handed them to catechumens and catechists as representatives of the church. Dr. Otto A. Dorn’s services in promoting the Concordia Catechism Series were recognized. Session 5 ly 1 i Opening July 10, Morning Dr. Adolf F. Meyer served as chaplain for the open- ing devotion on Monday morning, speaking on the theme “God, the Creator of the Universe.” The assembly joined in the Te Deum Laudamus. Dr. Harms introduced Dr. 4 z é