# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1971_S26
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

26 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

President declared that although the motion was lost
the spirit of the motion would be followed.

Convention Essay

Dr. Preus introduced Dr. Paul Zimmerman, con-
vention essayist, who stated in his opening remarks that
we are here because we are ambassadors for Christ.
Such ambassadors are needed in the world, in the
church, and in our day. He pointed out that although
only a small amount of time is allotted to the essay in
each convention, it has always been included in order
to remind us of the need for the Word of reconciliation.
Speaking of the church in Corinth to which Paul ad-
dressed several of his letters, he characterized it and
compared it to the present. Paul, who was Christ’s am-
bassador, first had to speak Law and then wrote his let-
ter of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians. The key word in
1971 appears to be alienation rather than reconciliation.
Modern man needs spiritual orientation if he is to sur-
vive. It is to this world that we are ambassadors. The
ambassador’s message will be considered in the next
segment of the essay.

Agenda

A division of the assembly was called for on the mat-
ter of the agenda acceptance, which had been declined.
After discussion the request was withdrawn.

A request for announcement of time and location of
open hearings received the reply that attempts would
be made to provide the information.

Parish Services and Youth

On recommendation of the floor committee the con-
vention encouraged continued congregation support for
parochial schools and greater utilization of professional
leadership, and asked congregations to emphasize and
provide for Christian education on all levels (TB 102
and 104, 7-12; TB 103 and 102, 7-10; TB 103, 7-09). It
called for the development of model urban educational
centers and asked that the Board of Parish Education
suggestion embodied in the report of its department be
implemented (TB 102, 7-11; TB 100, 7-06). The words
“be urged to” were added to the last resolved following
the words “of the Synod” in resolution 7-06. Congre-
gations were urged to extend voting privileges to all
members who are 18 years of age and were asked to en-
courage young adult programs (TB 99, 7-04; TB 101,
7-07). The Committee on Nominations was asked to
provide for equitable geographical representation in its
slate for synodica] boards and committees (TB 101, 7-
08). The delegates commended Leonard Ramming for
35 years of service in youth ministry on the District and
synodical levels (TB 149,7-13).

Chaplaincy

Dr. Preus introduced Chaplain Hyatt, Chief of Chap-
lains of the U.S. Army, who addressed the convention
briefly.

Synodical Administration

The convention accepted the recommendations of the
floor committee to amend the Bylaws governing the
office of the Secretary and asked that a manual of opera-
tions be developed by the Secretary of the Synod (TB
59, 4-14; TB 60, 4-15). A motion to change the synodical
convention schedule was made and seconded (TB 60,
4-16). An amendment to strike the last resolved was
declined. A substitute motion for the resolved of 4-16
was made, seconded, and adopted after discussion. The
motion reads as follows: “That the matter be referred
to the Council of Administrators with the request that
a detailed plan for a schedule of future conventions be
submitted for discussion to the District conventions in
1972 and for action at the delegate convention in 1973.”

In view of this, Resolution 4-17 calling for adjust-
ment of terms of office and elections was withdrawn by
the committee.

Sundry Matters

As the first item on the agenda of the floor commit-
tee a medallion was presented to Dr. Preus and the Con-
cordia Historical Institute on the occasion of the 50th
anniversary of the establishment of Concordia College,
Edmonton, and of the Alberta-British Columbia District.

The report of Concordia Historical Institute was ac-
cepted, and the convention asked that consideration be
given to meet the needs of the Department of Archives
and the Historical Institute (TB 143, 11-01). A motion
to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Synod in
appropriate ways, including thankofferings to be shared
by the Districts and involvement of auxiliary organiza-
tions, was adopted (TB 143, 11-03). The chairman an-
nounced the retirement of Kenneth Ahl, director of the
Armed Forces Commission. Dr. Ahl was recognized by
the convention. The convention encouraged congrega-
tions to support the work of the Armed Forces Commis-
sion and encouraged the use of the services of the Com-
mission on Architecture by them (TB 144, 11-04; TB
146, 11-08). It commended the Commission on Minis-
terial Health, accepted its report, and asked the Synod
to assume the administrative cost of the ministerial
health program (TB 142, 11-02). A request for assist-
ance in preserving and restoring historical buildings in
Perry County was referred to the Concordia Historical
Institute (TB 144, 11-05). Districts were requested to
set up salary guidelines for their professional workers
(TB 145, 11-06). A resolution to observe significant an-
niversaries of the Lutheran Confessions was adopted
after several proposed amendments were declined (TB
145, 11-07). The convention concurred with the floor
committee in declining Overture 11-11 of the convention
Workbook (TB 149, 11-15). It expressed appreciation
for the work of the LWML and the Council of Lutheran
Ministries, received the report of Bethesda Lutheran
Home, and urged support for this agency (TB 146, 11-09,
TB 147, 11-12, TB 147, 11-11). A communication from
the Evangelical Lutheran Church — Synod of France
and Belgium was received with the assurance that the