# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1971_S31
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 31

Elections

Chairman Bruns reported on the following election
results: Board of Control, Concordia, Mo.: Messrs. Wil-
liam H. Brauer, P. James Schaefer and Teacher Armin
Meyermann; Board of Control, Edmonton: Rev. Walter
A. Ritter and Messrs. Jay Gable and Luther Schroeder;
Board of Control, Fort Wayne: Rev. Cecil H. Skibbe,
Messrs. Walther Fenner and Carl Heldt; Board of Con-
trol, Oakland: Teacher Robert Marty and Messrs.
Charles Gehrke and Herbert C. Mueller; Board of Con-
trol, Portland: Messrs. Martin Mueller and Richard
Sandman and Teacher Richard Ladendorf. The chair-
man announced that no one had been elected to the
Board of Directors. A runoff will be held at a later
election between Rev. W. Harry Krieger and Rev. Ernst
Stahlke. The name of Wallace Fleming has been elimi-
nated from the list of nominees of laymen for the board.

The chairman of the floor committee asked that the
convention consider suspending a bylaw and allow the
dropping of the names of candidates who have received
less than 25% of the votes rather than 15% as required
by the Bylaws. A motion to do so was made and sec-
onded but was not voted on because legal opinion on the
matter was required. A resolution asking for a study
of the problems regarding insufficient biographical in-
formation on candidates was presented from the floor
and adopted by the convention. The resolution reads as
follows:

“Wuereas, There is insufficient information in the
biographical data presently used in synodical conven-
tions to properly use the voting franchise; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the ad hoc committee created to study
convention problems study this problem and bring a
recommendation to improve this situation to the next
synodical convention.”

Today’s Business

On agreeing with the resolution offered from the
floor, the convention asked that the address of President
Knutson be printed in Today’s Business.

Constitutional Matters

After adding Overture 5-83 to the heading, the floor
committee introduced its resolution to adopt the state-
ment on ethics prepared by the Council of Presidents
(TB 244, 5-23). After considerable discussion and after
declining a number of proposed amendments, the con-
vention adopted an amendment as the final resolved to
the effect that “We express our repentance to one an-
other and reconcile ourselves to one another by sing-
ing Hymn 4 in the Orders of Worship prepared for
the convention.” The resolution was then adopted as
amended (TB 244, 5-23). The President of the Synod
thanked the delegates for their support and action.

Elections

The ruling which had been asked for regarding sus-

pension of the Bylaws indicated it was not possible to
do so without amending those Bylaws.

Parish Services and Youth

Dr. Niedner, chairman of the floor committee, pre-
sented Dr. Ben Eggers, chairman of the Board of Youth
Ministry, who introduced a group of young people who
presented a collage depicting their personal feelings and
reactions to the convention.

Closing

The session was closed with prayer by Rev. E. G.
Tiemann.

Session 9

July 13, Evening
Opening

The convention began its ninth session with a prayer
by Mr. Carlos Puig, graduate of the Lutheran Lay
Training Institute.

Church Relations

The chairman of the floor committee reintroduced
the resolution to study LCUSA (TB 253, 3-18) be-
ginning with Section I of the resolution. After declining
several amendments, the convention adopted an amend-
ment to add as the second whereas of Section I the
following words:

“Wnuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
has enjoyed great benefits from its participation in
LCUSA; and”

It accepted the first section as amended.

After declining an amendment requesting The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod delegates to partici-
pate only in committees where the delegate is a repre-
sentative of the Synod, the second section of the resolu-
tion was adopted.

Stewardship and Finance

The delegates agreed with the floor committee that
concerns expressed in Overture 12-19 regarding a need
for itemized financial statements were being adequately
met (TB 88, 12-12).

Church Relations

On recommendation of the floor committee the dele-
gates endorsed plans to hold a fourth International
Theological Conference whenever feasible (TB 71, 3-04).
They expressed their regrets over the action of the
Confessional Lutheran Church in Finland in severing
fellowship relations with The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod and instructed the President to encourage
it to reconsider its action (TB 71, 3-05). They declined
overtures asking the Synod to join the Lutheran World
Federation and requested the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations to evaluate the recommendations
of the Lutheran World Federation Fifth Assembly and
report their findings at the next convention (TB 72,
3-07). The Board for Missions and the Commission on