# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2010_S28
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

28

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Committee 8: Synod Structure and Governance

Committee 8 Chairman Stoterau introduced Res . 8-08A
(TB, pp . 381ff .) . At one point during the discussion that followed, the chair asked the assembly whether a particular
response from the floor committee was to be considered a
“pro” speech . The assembly responded in the negative [Yes:
356; No: 803] and discussion continued . An amendment
was introduced to insert “who shall be a minister of religion–
ordained” after the word “(CMO)” in line 46, page 382 . After
discussion, a motion was introduced that terminated debate
[Yes: 1,078; No: 96] and the motion to amend was also carried
[Yes: 636; No: 539] . Discussion continued on Res . 8-08A as
amended . A motion to terminate debate failed to receive the
required two-thirds vote [Yes: 735; No: 390] and discussion
continued until the chair announced the Orders of the Day .
Bible Study Essay 2

Bible Study leader Ted Kober began Part 2 of his Bible
study by addressing the comment “I can’t forgive .” He
reflected on Ephesians 4:29–5:2 and invited small-group discussions of the question “When must I forgive?” in light of
1 John 1:9; Acts 2:38; Matthew 26:26–28; Romans 5:8; John
19:30; Genesis 3:15; Ephesians 1:4; and John 3:16–18 . He
reminded the assembly that withholding forgiveness is contrary to our Lord’s Prayer and to scriptural instruction and
separates us from God . Forgiveness requires the miracle of
God in our lives, the miracle of His forgiveness of our sins, a
very costly gift of His grace that cost Him the suffering and
death of His only Son . But it is the gift that can, when our
eyes are fixed on Jesus, overcome “unforgiveness,” which he
illustrated from personal experiences . Forgiveness is a gift
that is for everyone, a gift that is not conditional, a gift that
is to be shared .
Committee 8: Synod Structure and Governance

When Committee 8 Chairman Larry Stoterau returned to
the podium, discussion of amended Res . 8-08A resumed . A
motion to amend lines 44 and 49 on page 382 by replacing
“four” with “three” in two locations was accepted by the committee as a friendly amendment . The committee also agreed to
strike lines 37 and 38 on page 383 as an unintentional duplication . When an amendment was introduced to remove the entire
third resolve on page 382 (lines 41–44), the committee again
expressed its willingness to accept the change as a friendly
amendment, also deleting mention of Bylaws 3 .4 .1–3 .4 .1 .4
in the list of bylaws following the first resolve . As discussion
on amended Res . 8-08A continued, a motion was introduced
to suspend the rules in order to allow for the requirement of
a two-thirds vote for this resolution . The motion being not
debatable and itself requiring a two-thirds vote, the question
was put to the assembly and was not carried [Yes: 611; No:
566] . This was followed by the introduction of a motion to
amend the resolution by replacing line 48 on page 382 with the
wording proposed as bylaw language on lines 36–37 on page
429 of Today’s Business . After discussion, an amendment to
2010 Convention Proceedings

the amendment was offered to insert the words “who shall be
a minister of religion–ordained” after the words “chief mission officer” in the proposed amendment on page 429 . After
the chair observed that the latter amendment would not be
necessary because of the amendment already made to line
46 on page 382, discussion continued on the initial motion to
amend until debate was terminated [Yes: 1,083; No: 87] . In
the vote that followed, the motion to amend by replacing the
words in line 48 of page 382 was not carried [Yes: 490; No:
677] . Discussion resumed on Res . 8-08A as amended until
the allotted time for debate had expired . The chair called the
question to terminate debate [Yes: 798; No: 370], and debate
was ended . In the vote that followed, Res . 8-08A was adopted
as amended [Yes: 613; No: 568] .
Res . 8-36 (TB, p . 388) was introduced by the committee
as an “enabling resolution .” It was adopted after brief discussion [Yes: 1,053; No: 99] .
Res . 8-15 (TB, p . 146) was introduced by the committee
after striking the words “and Res . 8-16 requires regional representation on the Board of Directors” in line 9 and the words
“the Board of Directors” in line 13 . It was also noted that the
reference to Res . 8-08 in line 8 should read “8-08A .” The committee also called attention to page 427 of Today’s Business,
the chart at the top of the page providing information regarding
the regions that are being proposed . After discussion and provision of additional information by the committee, a motion to
terminate debate was carried [Yes: 811; No: 301], after which
Res . 8-15 was adopted as changed [Yes: 713; No: 458] .
The committee introduced Res . 8-09 (TB, p . 142), noting that references to “quadrennial” throughout the resolution
and related bylaws should be changed to “triennial .” During
discussion, a substitute motion to replace all references to
“mission and ministry” with the words “doctrine and unity”
was proposed . The assembly declined to consider the substitute motion [Yes: 494; No: 657] . Following further discussion,
a motion to terminate debate was carried [Yes: 842; No: 319]
and Res . 8-09 was adopted [Yes: 781; No: 380] .
Res . 8-14A (TB, p . 428) was introduced by the committee,
clarifying that this resolution would be implemented in preparation for the 2013 convention of the Synod . Question was
raised regarding the need to state that fact in the resolution
itself . After considering several ways to do so, the committee agreed to take back the resolution for its further attention .
Res . 8-17 (TB, p . 147) was introduced by the committee,
but the Orders of the Day were called by the chair before discussion could begin .
Special Recognition

President Kieschnick introduced to the convention
President Michael Semmler of the Lutheran Church of
Australia, accompanied by his wife, Christine .
President Kieschnick named the 2010 LCMS Missionary
Veteran Honorees and called those present at the convention
forward in recognition of their distinguished service in the
Lord’s harvest: