# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S30 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 30 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION Standing Rules Before beginning the agenda for the day the conven- tion considered a resolution amending the standing rules of the convention. The proposed resolution asked that “If after 30 minutes have been allowed for debate, the previous question fails to carry, an additional 15 minutes be allowed to debate the question, after which time the main motion before the house and all amend- ments will be voted on if the majority desires it.” The convention did not accept this proposed change, since the vote, 504 to 432, fell short of the required two thirds. A motion that the chairman instruct the Secretary to record not only the names of those voting negatively at their request but also the reason for their votes was also declined. The order of the day was called for from the floor. Elections Chairman Mennicke reported the results of the elec- tion for the offices of Secretary, Treasurer, and some of the boards and commissions of the Synod. (See elec- tion report attached to the Minutes.) Progress Report Chairman Edwin Weber alerted delegates to the fact that of the 231 resolutions which are before the con- vention, action has been taken on only 34 at this time. Stewardship and Finance Chairman Goetz of the floor committee on Steward- ship and Finance began his report in the context of the Apostles’ Creed. He introduced Resolution 12-01 (TB 103) which called for a study of supplemental funding of the church’s mission through private investment and business ventures. This resolution was adopted by the delegates. The convention approved the resolution call- ing for development and promotion of a comprehensive program of supplemental project giving asking that this program be developed in a manner which would enhance the ongoing work of the Synod (Res. 12-02, TB 103), and encouraged estate planning through The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod Foundation (Res. 12-03, TB 103). They revised the Bylaw pertaining to terms of office of the Board of Trustees of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod Foundation (Res. 12-04, TB 104) and resolved that the Board of Parish Education and Youth Ministries should join the Stewardship Board in helping congregations develop an effective ongoing program of stewardship education (Res. 12-05, TB 104). By adding point c to Bylaw 9.71 they clarified the policy regarding appeals from agencies and institutions to the Synod and Districts for gathering of funds (Res. 12-06, TB 105). After the delegates agreed to consider Reso- lutions 12-07 through 12-12 (TB 105—107) as a group, these resolutions were approved by title. They called for accepting the reports of the various fiscal officers and boards, for commending the members and staff of the Board of Pensions and Support, for asking the Board of Managers and the staff of Concordia Plans for an ongoing study of adjustment of pension payments to the cost of living, for a continuing study of the pos- sible release of personal savings from Synod’s pension fund, for pursuing the possibility of instituting a more liberal vesting provision in the Concordia Retirement Plan, and for improving retirement arrangements for transferees. Communications Chairman George Wollenburg of the floor committee on Communications introduced Res. 10-08 (TB 75) thanking the Lutheran Laymen’s League for its cospon- sorship in the Synod’s television ministry. After Rev. Robert Kamprath addressed the delegates regarding some of the future plans of the Lutheran Television Ministry the delegates adopted this resolution as well as a revision of the Bylaws relating to the purposes and operation of Radio Station KFUO AM and KFUO FM (Res. 10-09, TB 76). The convention declined to have the titles of the Bylaw changes read. The convention also accepted the recommendation of the floor commit- tee to decline overtures asking the Synod to use Beck’s translation of the Scriptures and not the Revised Stan- dard Version as well as those asking that Concordia Publishing House publish Dr. William F, Beck’s trans- lation and reprint books by Maier, Arndt, Walther, and Engelder (Res. 10-01, 10-02, 10-03, TB 73). Concordia Publishing House is planning to publish the translation by Dr. Beck and will provide assistance in obtaining the other books. The delegates agreed that the 400th anni- versary of the Book of Concord and 450th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession should be observed and that the Board of Directors of the Synod appoint a com- mittee to plan appropriate anniversary events. It adopted the resolution (10-04, TB 74) after amending it by adding the following resolveds: “Be it further re- solved, that the Board of Directors be directed to pro- vide budgetary resources for the publication of a less expensive or paperback edition of the Book of Concord for use by all the members of the Synod and for use especially in adult membership instruction classes, and be it further resolved, that this less expensive or paper- back edition of the Book of Concord be coedited by the chairmen of the Systematics Department of both semi- naries in consultation with others of their joint choice.” By assigning the responsibility for the Walther Publica- tions project to the Commission on Church Literature the convention dissolved the special committee on pub- lishing Walthers writings (Res. 10-05, TB 74). Since the Lutheran Witness and Reporter are available to Armed Services personnel at a reduced price through local congregations it agreed with the floor committee in declining Overture 10-04 which called for the dis- semination of official periodicals to service men. (Res. 10-06, TB 75) Announcements Dr. Wiederaenders announced that because of the press of business the schedule for the evening session would probably be as follows: 6:00 p.m. dinner, 7:00 p.m. the group would reconvene and would consider resolutions presented by Committee 2, with the evening session closing at 9:00 p.m.