# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S 17
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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4, SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION

(4-34U)

Overture 4-16 was also reccived from Epiphany
Lutheran Church, St. Louis, Mo., Edward Hartke, Chair-
man; Gerald Eickhoff, Secretary, but with two addi-
tional whereases:

WHEREAS, Our congregation has been intimately in-
volved by providing a classroom for special education,
thereby becoming thoroughly convinced that service to
the mentally retarded is a necessary and God-pleasing
work; and

Wuereas, This is only a small evidence of the greater
work of the commission. ...

(4-35U)

To Retain Commission for Services
to the Mentally Retarded

Wuereas, The Commission for Services to the Men-
tally Retarded was authorized as recently as 1962 at
the Cleveland convention and was commended and
urged to continue an outstanding performance in 1965
at the Detroit convention; and

WHEREAS, A full-time executive was obtained as
recently as 1967; and

WHEREAS, The commission’s work takes two direc-
tions: one, for publishing religious materials to meet a
serious substantial need; and two, for guiding and
strengthening the two church-related residential homes;
and

Wuereas, The functions and duties of the commission
require the services of qualified Lutheran specialists
from the fields of psychology and special education; and

WuereEAS, Emphasis is not assured for the commis-
sion’s work as stated above or for the services of quali-
fied Lutheran specialists under the proposed “Reassign-
ment of Divisional Components”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Commission for Services to the
Mentally Retarded be retained as a separate commission
under the reorganization.

Hoty Cross Ev. LuTHERAN CHURCH
St. Louis, Mo.

Roy Haun, President

Erich B. ALtwarpbtT, Secretary
JOHN W. OTT, Pastor

(4-36U)

Report on Synodical Headquarters

In answer to an overture from the Board of Direc—

tors of the Northern Illinois District the Detroit con-
vention adopted a resolution instructing the Board of
Directors of the Synod to explore the possibility of
relocating the synodical headquarters, especially in

view of the fact that shortage of space was becoming
more acute at 210 North Broadway, St. Louis.

The board was able to present only an interim re-
port to the New York convention, which then adopted
a resolution (4-31) instructing the board to proceed
with its studies and making necessary appropriations
for the same.

The Board of Directors has now come to two con-
clusions:

1. That the headquarters continue to be located in
the St. Louis area.

In order to settle the wider question of location, the
board appointed a representative committee to study
all aspects of this question and to make its recommen-
dations to the board. This committee consisted of per-
sons chosen from various areas of the Synod: Mr. Car]
Muhlenbruch, chairman; Dr. Arthur E. Wittmer, secre-
tary; Mr. William Barge; Dr. Victor L. Behnken: Rev.
Robert Helberg; Rev. Gerhardt E. Nitz.

After narrowing the choice to St. Louis and Chicago
and applying various criteria, the special committee
discovered a considerable difference in cost. The one-
time cost of moving the office and personnel to Chicago
was estimated at $766,000. The annual increase in
operating costs in Chicago over St. Louis due to differ-
entials in salary and housing costs was estimated to be
$159,500. The committee came to the conclusion, es-
pecially in the light of these cost factors, that St. Louis
should remain the headquarters city. The board adopted
this recommendation as its own recommendation to this
convention.

2. That additional facilities be acquired in order to
provide adequate usable space for synodical head-
quarters.

The Board of Directors also adopted a recommenda-
tion of its study committee that another committee of
local experts be appointed to search out suitable sites
or existing facilities in the St. Louis area.

This second committee consisted of Mr. Carl Muhlen-
bruch, representing the board; Mr. Rex Becker, archi-
tect; Mr. William C. E. Becker, structural engineer; Mr.
Ray Callies and Mr. Dave Owen, bank vice-presidents
in charge of real estate departments; and Mr. Edward
Schmidt, a bank president.

This committee recommended the purchase of an
existing building in preference to leasing space or con-
structing a new building, and after surveying a number
of potential buildings, came to the conclusion that a
building meeting our present needs and large enough
to accommodate the needs of the Synod for the next
23 years is available in an excellent location in relation
to the present headquarters building and recommended
negotiations for its purchase. The Board of Directors
has selected a negotiating committee. The convention