# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S6
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

That We May Grow

How the future will judge the Dallas convention of
the Synod remains to be seen, of course.

Several impressions, however, seemed to emerge. It
was a peaceful convention. It was efficient. It wanted to
get on with the mission. It took many positive actions.
It reaffirmed the Synod’s doctrinal and constitutional
positions.

It was unusual in at least two respects: not only did
all proposed resolutions receive convention action, but
the convention adjourned several hours ahead of
schedule. Even veteran delegates could not recall that
this had ever happened before.

There were no doubt several reasons for this
expeditiousness. Much of the explanation lies in three
factors: (1) the standing rule that automatically permits
the convention after 30 minutes of debate to decide
whether or not to close debate; (2) Resolutions A and B,
through which many petitioners are referred either toa
board or commission (A) or to an action of a previous
convention (B); (3) the “Behnken rule” for dealing with
substitute motions.

That it was a quiet convention was partly due to the
fact that most votes were taken not by voice but by the
raising of the right hand. There was always a strange,
audible swish whenever the vote was taken, but no loud
or angry shouts. Furthermore, on only four occasions
was there a request to count the house.

*  * *

We are listing once again for handy reference some
of the resolutions of more than passing interest:

Res. 1-01 Seating of Delegates
Res. 2-01A Work in West Africa
Res. 2-21A, 231A Campus Ministry
Res. 3-01 That We May Grow
Res. 3-02A ALC Fellowship
Res. 3-03A LCUSA
Res. 3-04A Lutheran Book of Worship
Res. 3-05A Bylaws re Books of Worship
Res. 3-07 Doctrinal Statements
Res. 3-11 Historical-Critical Method
Res. 402A Financial Management Bylaws
Res. 4-09A Eastern District
Res. 5-01 Dual Membership (AELC)
Res. 5-08 Method of Electing Delegates
Res. 5-10 Status of District Resolutions
Res. 6-04B Saskatoon
Res. 606A Four-Year Colleges
Res. 6-07A Irvine
Res. 6-08 Placement Procedures
Res. 6-09, 6-10 Seminex Graduates
Res. 6-23 “A Statement”
Res. 7-02 Year of the Sunday School
Res. 7-08 Youth Organization
Res. 8-15 Refugees
Res. 9-04A Concordia Historical Institute
Res. 9-06 Growth in Ministry
Res. 10-01A Black Commission
Res. 10-03, 10-09A, Hispanic Work
10-10A
Res. 10-06 Recruitment of Blacks
Res. 13-07 Balancing the Budget
Res. 13-08A Work Programs

Some resolutions have an “A” attached to their
identifying number. This indicates that the resolution

originally prepared by the floor committee over the
Memorial Day weekend had been revised. by the
committee, usually in answer to reactions received prior
to the convention.

The number in parentheses below each resolution
indicates the session in which final action was taken.
In many instances it might be well to consult the
minutes of that session for additional information. The
parenthetical comments in small type below some
resolutions provide still additional information from
the notebooks of both secretaries.

CW refers to the Convention Workbook, the 450-page
book of reports and overtures to the convention. TB
stands for Today’s Business, the daily publication
bringing the text of the proposed resolutions prepared
by the floor committees. The first issue of Today’s
Business (Sections A and B) was sent to all con-
gregations and delegates prior to the convention and
contained practically all resolutions. The daily issues
distributed at the convention proper brought the
revised versions to the attention of the delegates.

The following items should also be noted:

—All sessions were held in the Dallas Convention
Center in Dallas, Tex.

—For the first time the convention had a full-time
chaplain, responsible for most opening and
closing devotions, in the person of former Vice-
President Paul Streufert. Dr. August Bernthal
substituted for the last few devotions to enable Dr.
Streufert to represent the Synod at the funeral of
former Board of Directors member Mr. Milton
Isern.

—“That We May Grow” was the theme of the
convention.

—However, much prominence was given to the
centennial of Black work, with a special pageant
on Saturday evening and a festival service with
the celebration of the Lord’s Supper on Sunday
evening.

Once again we extend a special word of thanks to
Dr. Walter Rosin, who had the principal responsibility
of producing the Minutes under pressure, to the young
ladies who produced Today’s Business under the
general editorship of Jean Buettner and the Secretary,
and last but not least to “the Secretary’s secretary,”
Pearl Houghton.

* * *

It was a good convention. But it had its sad side too.

Some familiar faces and voices were genuinely
missed. And the nagging fear that relations with other
Lutheran brothers and sisters were being strained
brought a chill at times to the heart.

May at least one observer voice the quiet hope that
those who once walked with us will still be reunited
with us in the way, and that there will be a God-
pleasing growing together of separated Lutherans.
Perhaps the closer one gets to the great gathering into