# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S21 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) F 3 i & ¥ EPR e a = 5 guy GAMA pekinese: ae % 21 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION Opening Service The opening service of the 52nd regular convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was held July 15, 1977, in the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Tex., with Dr. Walter A. Maier, Fourth Vice-President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod serving as the preacher and Dr. Carl Heckmann, President of the Texas District, serving as liturgist. In his sermon Dr. Maier reviewed the blessings as well as the short- comings of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in the past several years and pointed to the need for humble, heart-deep repentance as well as prayer for strengthening for eager obedience to the divine Word. He pointed out that life presupposes growth and that for that growth there must be nourishment, spiritual nourishment, which is the Word of God. When we do not use the Word for growth, God sometimes chastens us to bring us back to it. Our goal is unity of faith in the knowledge of the Son of God as well as the other things which are pointed out in Ephesians 4. We need to come to the throne of grace for pardon and for power to carry out the Lord’s will. If we do, our horizons are virtually unlimited. Dr. Maier summarized the thoughts of his sermon in the words of the hymn “May God Bestow on Us His Grace and Favor.” Session 1 July 15, Evening Opening The opening devotion of the 52nd regular conven- tion of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was conducted by Dr. Preus and began with the singing of the Reformation hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Using the opening words of 1 Peter 1 as his text, Dr. Preus pointed to the paradoxical nature of the Christian religion. We are aliens, yet we are a people of God, and this is reflected in the statements of Martin Luther that a Christian is both saint and sinner at the same time. If we ask the question, How long are we here? we can answer that question in terms of the convention. However, we cannot answer it for the larger dimension, because we are gathered as the chosen ones, dealing with ultimate issues involving the Lord’s business and top priorities. We are called to live in the world and serve in the midst of filth, grime, and poverty. Yet we have the promise that where sin abounded grace abounds much more. We are to be faith- ful and leave the results to God. The church is always pilgrim and alien but lives under God’s covenant of forgiveness, grace, and blessing. Consequently we must do our work patiently, knowing that God is more patient with us than we can ever be with each other. Registration and Credentials Dr. Albin Stanfel, chairman of the Committee on Registration and Credentials, introduced Catherine Burkhard of the local committee on registration, who reported that 477 voting lay delegates and 544 voting pastoral delegates were registered. This is more than the number constitutionally required for a quorum. Convention Gavel Dr. August Suelflow, Archivist of the Synod, presented to Dr. Preus a gavel which had been used in the opening ceremony of the synodical convention for the past 66 years. The gavel was first used in 1911 and has been used by four of the eight synodical Presidents, including Drs. Pfotenhauer, Behnken, Harms, and Preus. The gavel itself contains a carving of Luther and Dr. C. F. W. Walther, as well as the first log-cabin seminary. It is made from a beam of the log cabin and includes the motto: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law.” Using this historic gavel, President Preus declared the convention in session in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Black Lutheran Centennial Dr. Joseph Lavalais, Dr. Peter Hunt, and Rev. DeWitt Robinson, members of the Black Lutheran Centennial Committee, were presented to the delegates. Dr. Lavalais, chairman of the committee, expressed thanks to Dr. Preus for the counsel, advice, and help which had been given in preparation for the Black Lutheran Centennial year. He presented Dr. Preus with a proclamation prepared for this occasion. President Preus stated that the proclamation would be hung in the headquarters of the Synod and then read the proclamation to the delegates. Announcements A change of schedule was announced, stating that Committee 10, the Committee on Ethnic Concerns, would report on Sunday at 3:45 p.m. while Committee 9, the Committee on Special and Sundry Matters, would report at 4:00 p.m. Monday. Dr. Preus then introduced Mrs. Mabel Stickel and Dr. Mark Steege, who will serve as parliamentarians for the convention, as well as Dr. Herbert Mueller, Secretary of the Synod, Dr. Walter Rosin, convention secretary, and pages Margaret Burkhard and William Schmidtke. Welcome Dr. Carl Heckmann, President of the Texas District, welcomed the delegates to Texas and expressed the regrets of Governor Briscoe that he was unable to be present. The welcome to Texas and the Texas District was issued on behalf of its 300 congregations and over 100,000 members. Dr. Ray Martens, president of Concordia College, Austin, also welcomed the delegates and invited them to visit Concordia College in Austin if they have the opportunity to do so. Dr. Harry Barr, member of the Board of Directors of the Synod, spoke on behalf of the Board of Directors, thanking Dr. Heckmann and the Texas District for their hospitality.