# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1971_S145 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) i £ | i t : | 3 RESOLUTIONS 145 be charged with arranging the schedule for review and appointing of all incumbent staff. Action: Adopted (12). (A motion to table this resolution in Session 7 failed, 285 to 401. A motion to recommit was debated in Session 11 and defeated in Session 12. Thereupon the resolution was adopted.) To Decline Overture Requesting Revelation of Costs of Certain Actions RESOLUTION 4-30 Overture 4-55 (CW, pp. 227—228) WHEREAS, Committee 4 has investigated the expendi- ture of funds that attended the President’s fact-finding inquiry into the St. Louis seminary; and Wuereas, The President of the Synod had the au- thority to expend such funds for the supervision of doc- trine within the Synod and the amount spent was not excessive; therefore be it Resolved, That Overture 4-55 be declined. Action: Adopted (12). To Implement Delayed Induction RESOLUTION 4-31 Report 4-09 I (CW, p. 214) Wuereas, The induction service of the Synod’s offi- cers could be conducted with greater dignity if done at a more appropriate time; and Wuereas, It would provide a period of time for orien- tation of new board members; and Wuereas, It would allow the outgoing President time to conclude the affairs of his office; and Wuereas, The new President would have time to orient himself to the duties of the office; and Wuereas, It would give the appointing authority (President or Board of Directors) an opportunity to re- view the needs of boards and commissions and find suit- able persons to fill these positions; therefore be it Resolved, That the following new Bylaws be added: 2.06 Term of Office ec. The President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and members of the Board of Directors shall assume office on the last Sunday of September following their election. Members of other elected boards shall assume office immediately on their election. Members of all appointed boards and com- missions shall begin their service on January 1, following each convention. The general rule shall apply that incumbents shall serve until their suc- cessors have been qualified. 2.09 Induction a. The elected officers and the Board of Direc- tors shall be jointly inducted into their office in a church located in the St. Louis area. The place and time shall be determined by the Board of Di- rectors and shall be announced before the close of the convention. Arrangements for the induction service shall be made in consultation with the newly elected President by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors. b. Members of all other elected boards, as well as directors elected in a non-presidential year, shall be given formal recognition of their election in a ceremony conducted at the convention. 2.10 Interim Authority a. Before his successor assumes office, the out- going President shall use the intervening time to settle the affairs of his administration and assist the newly elected President as requested to become acquainted with the responsibilities of the office. b. The existing Board of Directors shall con- tinue to function until the newly elected and the reelected members of the Board of Directors assume office. It shall continue to carry out programs initi- ated prior to the electing convention. c. No appointments to synodical boards, com- missions, or committees shall be made and no new programs shall be initiated by the outgoing Presi- dent or the Board of Directors during the interim. Emergency action that demands immediate atten- tion may be taken in consultation with and with the consent of the newly elected President. d. In the interim, the newly elected President shall meet with the reelected and newly elected Vice-Presidents to assess the state of the Synod, to plan for the communication and carrying out of the resolutions adopted at the convention, to assign areas of responsibility to the Vice-Presidents, to gather names and obtain information helpful for making wise appointments; he shall meet with the chairmen and executive secretaries of boards and commissions to discuss their convention reports, to receive from them their specific plans, goals, and objectives, and to assess with them the financial support they will need; he shall meet with the fi- nancial and administrative officers to assess the fi- nancial status of the Synod and the estimate of the financial resources available for the coming year. e. The newly elected members of the Board of Directors shall attend whatever meetings of the Board are held in the interim, without vote, to be- come acquainted with their new responsibilities and board functions. It is recommended that the present 2.09 “Executives Without Vote” be transferred to Section 2.11 as a new paragraph “g.” Action: Adopted (12). To Respond to Overture 4-82 Regarding the Involvement of Black Churchmen RESOLUTION 4-32 Overture 4-82 (CW, pp. 235—236) Wuereas, The concept of the communion of saints implies the participation of all the church’s member- ships in its life and work without regard to race, color, or ethnic origin; and Wuereas, Christian stewardship, integrity, and broth- erly love require that all talents within the church’s membership be used; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod, and the Districts of the Synod, continue to identify and eliminate attitudinal and instituticnal racism from the church; and be it also Resolved, That the Synod, and the Districts of the Synod, make every effort to nominate, elect, or appoint qualified clergymen and/or laymen, without regard to race, color, or ethnic origin, to official positions and