# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S43 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 43 criticism of the government of Brazil which had been made in a previous session. Closing After declining to concur with a recommendation to extend the time of the session for one hour with con- sideration of further extension at the end of that period, the session closed with a devotion led by Rev. Theodore DeLaney. The closing prayer included a petition for President Nixon who was reported earlier in the session to have entered a hospital. Session 15 July 13, Morning Opening The morning session began with an opening devotion of song and prayer led by Mrs. Bernade Capers. Dr. August Suelflow, convention essayist, in his anniversary essay which formed a part of the devotion, surveyed phases in the development of the Missouri Synod. In these phases the Synod always found its strength in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, with its watchword: “God’s Word and Luther’s doctrine pure shall now and evermore endure.” The essay was closed with a quo- tation from 1 Thess. 5, a prayer for the church. Personal Privilege Dr. John Baumgaertner, President of the English District, asked that if and when the resolution concern- ing Dr. Tietjen was brought before the convention he might be permitted to speak as his District President. He also asked for the privilege of speaking when Reso- lution 11-21 would be brought to the floor. Both re- quests were granted. Orders of the Day By a two-thirds majority vote of those present the delegates agreed to change the orders of the day so that matters relating to Concordia Seminary, partic- ularly those dealing with Dr. Tietjen, would be brought before the convention at 11:00 a.m. Special and Sundry Matters Chairman August Bernthal of the floor committee on Special and Sundry Matters introduced Res. 11-21 (TB 239) calling upon the English District Board of Directors to correct a wrong against the President of the Synod. After the motion had been made and seconded, District President Baumgaertner addressed the convention. He presented a brief background of the resolution of the District Board of Directors. The resolution was never intended to be made public, but through an oversight was included in other materials and thus was brought to public attention. He offered his apology to Dr. Preus for the offense. Dr. Preus described the action of Dr. Baumgaertner as courageous and requested that the pending resolu- tion be withdrawn. The committee withdrew it “with great joy.” The delegates then approved the amended Bylaws relating to the Armed Forces Commission (Res. 11-03, TB 145) and implementation of Handbook changes re- lating to the Department of Archives and History, Con- cordia Historical Institute (Res. 11-04, TB 146). They acknowledged the loss of Dr. Kent Knutson, former President of the ALC, to the church militant and ex- pressed Christian sympathy to the Knutson family (Res. 11-05, TB 146). Taking note of the approaching 200th anniversary of our country and the blessing of God upon it, they asked for initiation of procedures which would enable the Synod to participate in the event with Christian propriety. (Res. 11-06, TB 146) A resolution asking the Council of Presidents to reconsider its repudiation of Christian News was intro- duced (Res. 11-07, TB 147). No action could be taken on either the resolution or a proposed amendment when time for consideration expired and the delegates de- clined to extend it. The proposed amendment read as follows: Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod repudiate the loveless reports often contained in Christian News and other publications. Work Program Chairman Lloyd Goetz, chairman of the floor commit- tee for Work Program Review, presented Resolution 16-1 (TB 270). By adopting it, the Synod approved a work program of $28,750,000 for 1974 and a tentative program of $30,000,000 for 1975. It also asked that a high priority rating be given to a Synodwide leaders con- ference on work programs. Recognition Dr. Preus asked the assembly to give its recognition to Dr. Peter Hunt, one of the Synod’s black leaders. Higher Education The delegates strongly urged that stress be placed on the recruitment and training of students from mi- nority groups (Res. 6-14, TB 39) as well as the maintenance of the current subsidy level for higher education (Res. 6-04, TB 35). As a group they ex- pressed thanks to donors to colleges and seminaries and urged the institutions individually to express their thanks (Res. 6-08, TB 37). In other actions they ex- pressed thanks to God for His blessings on our synod- ical schools (Res. 6-09, TB 37). They asked for im- provements of the sabbatical program at schools (Res. 6-19, TB 42) and encouraged parish experience for fac- ulty members, particularly during sabbatical leaves (Res. 6-26, TB, 195). Because of changing educational needs and programs in Brazil they agreed with the floor committee to close the pretheological school at Sao Paulo. (Res. 6-32, TB 267) Charles Manske, acting president of Irvine, spoke to the convention about the new proposed 4-year college at that location which will be known as Christ College. Following his presentation, Res. 6-31 (TB 266) asking that funds be made available for building Irvine was introduced. After some discussion, delegates declined an amendment to delete the second and third resolveds. Time, however, expired before action could be taken on the resolution.