# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1971_S43
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 43

of bylaws for the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations were adopted as presented by the floor com-
mittee after considerable discussion (TB 319, 2-29).

Elections

During the course of the previous transactions,
Chairman Bruns reported that Rev. Paul Schnelle, had
been elected to the Committee for Convention Nomina-
tions. A ballot for the one remaining position was dis-
tributed.

Presentation

Dr. Walter Stuenkel, chairman of the Committee on
Convention Arrangements, introduced the members of
the committee. The delegates expressed their apprecia-
tion for the fine work which had been done in arranging
for the convention.

Bylaws

The chair ruled that the reading of proposed Bylaw
changes would not be necessary unless the convention
objected to the procedure. This applies to Res. 2-29,
2-25, and possibly others. Since there was no objection
from the floor, it was so ordered.

Stewardship and Finance

The Council of Presidents, in consultation with the
Board of Directors, was empowered to call periodic
stewardship conferences, and the delegates charged the
circuit teams of counselors and laymen to visit each
congregation within their circuit and report the results
of their visits to the District Presidents (TB 283, 12-17).
They adopted bylaws providing for reorganization of
the Stewardship Department (TB 282, 12-16), adopted
a policy regarding disclosure of investment information
(TB 284, 12-18), and declined to cover routine physical
examinations in the Concordia Welfare Plan, to initiate
open enrollment periods, to provide for vested interest
in the Concordia Retirement Plan, and to permit with-
drawals of pension and retirement funds by workers
who resign (TB 284, 12-19; 285, 12-20; 285, 12-21; 286,
12-22). The convention accepted the report of the
Board of Trustees for Trust Funds (TB 286, 12-23).
This concluded the work of Committee 12.

Constitutional Matters

The convention declined an overture which would
have directed the St. Louis seminary faculty to declare
Herman Otten eligible for the ministry in the Synod
(TB 326, 5-41), affirmed the opinion of the Commission
on Constitutional Matters concerning the constitutional-
ity of the appointment of the fact-finding committee
(TB 277, 5-26), and declined overtures calling for revi-
sion of appointment procedures for vacated offices and
for a change in appointment procedures for the Com-
mission on Constitutional Matters and for the Synodical
Service Commission (TB 278, 5-27; TB 278, 5-28; 278,
5-29). The delegates also declined a resolution asking
for the appointment instead of election of the synodical

Treasurer and removed the office of Controller from the
Division of Finance so that it would be independent of
the divisional structures of the synodical organization
(TB 323, 5-33; TB 323, 5-34). An overture requesting
a change in procedure for nominating counselors was
declined (TB 97, 5-08). While declining Overture 5-42,
the delegates nevertheless encouraged the utilization of
laymen on synodical and District levels in positions of
responsibility (TB 325, 5-39). They authorized language
changes in the Constitution and referred requests for
a study of voting on fellowship issues to the Council of
Presidents, asking for a report at the next convention
(TB 325, 5-38; TB 326, 5-40). Revisions of Bylaw pro-
visions for the Commission on Architecture were
adopted (TB 327, 5-42), as was a resolution to study
collegialism after the committee had revised the title
to read “To Study Collegialism” and the first resolved
to read “That we respectfully refer the overtures num-
bered 5-44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 5-55 to the Committee on
Organization for further study (TB 242, 5-21).” The
floor committee had previously dropped the whereas
found in Today’s Business, page 243, lines 34 to 39. Since
it had already been agreed to refer Resolution 6-01 to
the Board of Directors, Resolution 5-47 (TB 376) which
deals with a similar matter was also referred to it.

Elections

Chairman Bruns reported that with the election of
Rev. Paul Jacobs to the Committee on Convention Nom-
inations the work of the committee was complete. The
convention adopted a motion asking the Commission on
Constitutional Matters to bring to the next convention
recommendations regarding better election procedures
which might be applied already at that convention.

Church Relations

On the basis of the recommendation of the floor com-
mittee the delegates declined an overture asking The
ALC to rescind the confirmation practice it had adopted
(TB 370, 3-22). Overtures asking for suspension of fel-
lowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Can-
ada and a request to end membership in the Lutheran
Council — Canada were also declined (TB 370, 3-23; TB
370, 3-24). The assembly asked for God’s continued
blessing on Die Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche
and directed that the officials of that church be apprised
of the Synod’s action regarding pulpit and altar fellow-
ship with The American Lutheran Church (TB 371,
3-25). After receiving from the committee a resolution
to replace resolution 3-19 (TB 268), incorporating con-
cerns which had been expressed at the time of the
discussion of that resolution, the convention adopted a
resolution with reference to “A Statement Regarding
Lutheran Unity,” declaring that it had a desire to ini-
tiate and work toward fellowship with those with whom
it is not in pulpit and altar fellowship and asking the
pastors and congregations of the Synod to give careful
consideration to issues raised by the statement and to
the proposals of The American Lutheran Church (TB
371, 3-26). It expressed thanks to individuals and