# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1971_S35
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 35

Closing

The afternoon session closed with prayer led by Dr.
Herbert Berner.

Session 12
July 14, Evening
Opening
The prayer for the opening of the evening session
was offered by Rev. Martin E. Mueller, who has had
a distinguished service of ministry to the deaf.

Recognition

Dr. Wiederaenders called on Dr. Milton Carpenter,
Treasurer of the Synod, who introduced Mrs. Preus to
the delegates and presented her with a bouquet of roses,
one for each District, and one for the members of the
Board of Directors. The convention recognized her with
a rising ovation.

Elections

Chairman Bruns reported the following election re-
sults: Board of Directors: Dr. E. H. Stahlke; Board of
Parish Education: Mr. Willis Wright; Board of Control,
Seward: Dr. Robert W. Herpolsheimer; Board of Con-
trol, Austin: Rev. John H. Freed; Board of Control,
St. Louis: Rev. Kurt W. Biel and Mr. Erwin Roschke.

Proceedings

A motion to include the addresses of Dr. Knutson
and Dr. Marshall in the proceedings was adopted.

Parish Services and Youth

On recommendation of the floor committee the dele-
gates encouraged all Districts of the Synod to make pos-
sible full participation of youth representatives at syn-
odical conventions (TB 99, 7-03), and to provide young
people with assistance for securing scholarships for
training for careers and professions dealing with hunger
or other social and environmental concerns (TB 265,
7-17). They adopted a statement regarding the Walther
League and declined Overture 7-19 after changing the
last resolved of the resolution to read:

“Resolved, That the Council of Administrators be
instructed to define the role and relationship of the Wal-
ther League to the Synod and to report to the next
convention.” (TB 233, 7-15)

A motion to resolve certain concerns regarding the
Walther League and the Board of Youth Ministry was
introduced. Discussion on this motion was not com-
pleted for lack of time on the agenda (TB 265, 7-18).

Synodical Administration

After declining to recommit a resolution regarding
tenure and termination of services of executive secre-
taries and their equivalents, the convention adopted the
resolution as presented by the floor committee (TB 227,
4-29). It declined an overture requesting revelation of
costs involved in the fact-finding inquiry into the St.

Louis seminary (TB 228, 4-30). A resolution to adopt
bylaws regarding the implementation of delayed induc-
tion was approved after an agreement to read the by-
laws by title only (TB 271, 4-31). In response to an
overture regarding the involvement of black church-
men, the convention asked that the Synod and its Dis-
tricts make efforts to involve clergymen and laymen
without regard to race, color, or ethnic origin in elections
or appointments to offices or boards (TB 272, 4-32). By
action of the convention, bylaws providing for a Com-
mission on Lay Higher Education and for the appoint-
ment of the Board for Church Extension were added to
the synodical Handbook after it had agreed to the read-
ing of these proposed bylaws by title (TB 272, 4-33;
TB 272, 4-34).

Closing

The closing service of the session was led by Dr.
Oliver R. Harms, past president of the Synod, and was
dedicated to honoring the faithful servants of the church
who had departed this life during this biennium. His
remarks were based on Phil. 3:20 and centered on the
theme “The Joyful Hope of the Faithful.”

Session 13

July 15, Morning
Opening

The song which is a new song, an old song, and
a marching song is also a song of love. This was the
theme of the opening devotion led by Dr. August Bern-
thal.

Essay

Continuing his convention essay, Dr. Paul Zimmer-
man spoke of the priorities of ambassadorship. He
stressed the fact that while reconstruction of society is
important, it does not recognize the problem of man as
sin. Social action is not the first priority of the church.
The physical help which Jesus gave was a pledge of
restoration at the end of time. It is clear that love leaves
us no choice, but merely being concerned with reforma-
tion of social evils does not mean that one is a Christian.
Our social action will not bring people to God. The
only thing which will do this is the word of reconcilia-
tion. Christianity is the most revolutionary force because
it changes hearts and deals with the root of man’s prob-
lem. Evangelism must have priority. This privilege,
honor, glory, and power of the evangelist is ours.

Announcements

The following names were to be added to the list of
those servants whose memory was honored in the clos-
ing devotion of the previous evening. Martin W. Holls,
former President of the Southern District, Dr. Samuel
Roth, education executive, Rev. E. T. Bernthal, Dr.
Adolph H. Kramer, former executive director of educa-
tion, Northern Illinois District, Dr. W. Mueller, academic
dean, Dr. Roland Dede, professor, Seward.

In response to a proposed motion requesting dis-