# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S47
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 47

Resolved, That the matter of organizing a Southwest
District be committed for study to the Department of
Research and Statistics in consultation with the English,
Colorado, and Southern California Districts and the
LCMS Phoenix area council; and be it further

Resolved, That an overture be presented to the 1975
convention which reflects the result of this study.

They also accepted the recommendations of the ad
hoc committee on Organization which called for referral
of the concerns of Overture 4-42 (CW 197) to a newly
formed Committee for Reorganization (Res. 4-43, TB
217). The title of this resolution was changed to read
“To appoint a Committee for Reorganization.”

After declining an amendment to strike the second
resolved of Resolution 4-33 (TB 202) the resolution was
adopted, including the change proposed by the floor
committee making the second resolved read:

Resolved, That the membership of this elected board
shall include at least one member from the areas of real
estate and finance.

This resolution changed the status of the Board for
Church Extension from an appointive to an elective
board.

Social Ministry

Chairman John Zimmermann of the floor committee
on Social Ministry introduced a number of resolutions
involving this area of the church’s concern. The first,
Res. 9-08 (TB 84), called for a demonstration of in-
creased concern for the aging, and instructed the Board
of Social Ministry and World Relief to develop a de-
partment of services to the aging, to sensitize congrega-
tions to contributions which can be made by older peo-
ple to the mission and ministry of the church, to prepare
a religious rite which would give recognition to mem-
bers as they reach retirement age, to develop work-
shops to assist aging people in retirement planning, to
encourage congregations to involve retirement age per-
sons in programs such as Project Compassion, and to
request the Synod and Districts to include retirement-
age people on their boards wherever feasible. It was
adopted by the delegates who also asked for continuance
and strengthened involvement in Project Compassion
as well as provision of necessary funds for a full-time
staff person to provide guidance, supervision, and pro-
motion of this ministry in relation to all institutional
chaplains. (Res. 9-09, TB 84)

Recognizing a great need, the convention requested
allocation of a minimum of $10,000 to provide part-time
staff and material resources for a healing ministry to
drug and alcohol dependents (Res. 9-23, TB 92) and
urged use of the Appleton/Linkletter plan in combating
drug abuse. (Res. 9-24, TB 92)

The delegates expressed thanks to God for the work
of welfare agencies and institutions and urged stronger
support by congregations of these agencies through
their offerings and prayers (Res. 9-10, TB 85). They
encouraged development of cooperative efforts in social
welfare services and asked that the Synod continue to
work through LCUSA in joint social ministry planning
(Res. 9-12, TB 86). After striking the words “ill man-
nered and grossly” from the third whereas, the Board

of Social Ministry and World Relief and the congrega-
tions of the Synod were encouraged to work toward
prisoner rehabilitation and prison reform (Res. 9-13,
TB 86). Res. 9-20 (TB 90) on Clinical Training Pro-
grams was adopted.

After declining to delete the first and third para-
graphs of the statement the convention adopted a reso-
lution commending a statement by LCUSA and the
Commission on Social Concerns of the LCMS on am-
nesty to the congregations of the Synod for study and
action (Res. 9-17, TB 88). A division of the house
showed 445 in favor of the resolution with 288 opposed.

Presentation

At this point, Vice-President Krieger introduced
Mrs. Preus to the delegates. She was given a large
bouquet of roses and a standing ovation by the mem-
bers of the convention. Mrs. Preus thanked them and
said she would distribute the flowers to the pages who
had served so well during the convention.

Social Ministry

In its final action in the area of Social Ministry, the
delegates urged all members of the Synod to work for
equal rights for women by informing themselves re-
garding the equal rights amendment and asked the
CTCR and the Commission on Social Concerns to study
the issues involved. (Res. 9-11, TB 85)

Theology and Church Relations

Chairman Karl Barth of the floor committee on
Theology and Church Relations introduced Res. 2-40
(TB 245) which asked that the Synod declare its fellow-
ship with the ALC to be in a “state of suspension.”
After brief discussion a motion “that until such a time
as we do not have an atmosphere of fear pervading the
discussion, no decision be made on this matter” was
adopted by a vote of 473 to 327. On a point of order,
the chair ruled that inasmuch as a motion to table had
been sustained by a sizeable majority one could assume
that the original motion would be lost and therefore
the matter could be tabled by a simple majority.

By adopting Res. 2-29 (TB 200—201) the tenure of
the executive secretary and assistant executive secre-
tary of the CTCR was changed from 2 to 4 years.

In introducing a final resolution, the Synod was
asked to continue evaluation of its membership and
participation in LCUSA (Res. 2-39, TB 244). After
some discussion an amendment calling for deletion of
the second last resolved was declined. During the en-
suing discussion on the resolution a motion for adjourn-
ment of the convention was adopted. The convention
adjourned without taking action on Res. 2-39.

Closing

Dr. Preus addressed the delegates briefly. In his
remarks he pledged to serve to the best of his ability in
the office to which he had been elected. In dealing with
the issues, the delegates had become aware of the prob-
lems which confronted him, problems which also con-
fronted the delegates. In dealing with them he stated