# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2010_S25
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION
Opening Worship Service
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Saturday Opening Worship Service

The opening worship service of the 64th Regular
Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was
held in the convention hall of the George R . Brown Convention
Center in Houston, Texas . Under the theme “ONE People—
Forgiven,” the service was hosted by Trinity Klein Lutheran
Church of Spring, Texas, with Rev . Dr . Richard Noack presiding . The officers of the Synod, its district presidents, and
area pastors participated in the service and distribution of the
Sacrament .
The Rev . Dr . Gerald B . Kieschnick, President of the Synod,
preached the sermon, emphasizing that offering forgiveness
in Word and Sacrament is the business of the Church of Jesus
Christ and the hallmark of the faith of the Synod . He spoke of
beginning the convention “in awe and admiration of our great
and gracious and forgiving God, thanking Him for His forgiveness He offers us through Christ, seeking forgiveness from
those against whom we have sinned, and forgiving those who
have sinned against us . Such is our duty . Such is our privilege .
For we are one people—forgiven!”

Secretary Raymond L. Hartwig

Session 1
Sunday a.m.—July 11, 2010

Call to Order

President Kieschnick, noting that a quorum was present,
introduced Mr . Larry Lumpe, Executive Director of Concordia
Historical Institute, for the presentation of the Synod’s historic
gavel . After providing a brief history of Concordia Historical
Institute leading up to the recent installation of compact shelving to increase storage capability and the construction of a new
museum in the Synod’s International Center, he presented the
gavel to the convention chairman for his use in opening the
convention .
After noting the uniqueness and origin of the gavel, to be
on display during the convention and also to be used to close
the convention, President Kieschnick called the convention
to order, “ready to conduct business in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” also offering a brief
prayer for the convention .

Opening Worship

The Sunday morning Service of Prayer was led by Rev .
Oscar Benavides, Executive Director of Lutheran Inner-City
Network Coalition of Dallas, Texas, and Rev . Walter Waiser,
Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church of Hurst, Texas . The service featured Scripture readings (Eph . 6:10–12; 1 John 1:8–9;
Eph . 4:11–13; 2 Cor . 5:18–19; Acts 2:41; 4:4), opportunities
for silent prayer, and hymns .
Committee 9: Registration, Credentials, and Elections

Following the Service of Prayer, President Gerald
Kieschnick called on Committee 9: Registration, Credentials,
and Elections for its initial report . Committee Chairman
Russell Sommerfeld, President of the Nebraska District, first
provided a brief introduction and explanation of the electronic voting system and then provided his committee’s initial
Registration and Credentials Report:
Voting pastoral delegates
Voting lay delegates
Total voting delegates

603
592
1,195

Advisory delegates and other
Total registration

371
1,566

Special Standing Rules

After introducing the boards, commissions, and individuals seated near the podium and on the dais, President
Kieschnick called the convention’s attention to the proposed
Special Standing Rules (Today’s Business [TB], pp . 12ff .) . A
motion was introduced to adopt the Special Standing Rules .
During discussion, a motion was introduced to amend Special
Standing Rule 13 by adding the following wording at the end
of the standing rule: “When a member of the floor committee
speaks in favor of a resolution, that shall be recognized as a
‘pro’ speech and will be followed by a ‘con’ speech . When a

A motion introduced by the committee to adopt the
Registration and Credentials Report was carried [Yes: 1,161;
No: 10] .
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2010 Convention Proceedings