# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S28
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

28 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Black Centennial Pageant

ovation. Voting was then begun on a primary ballot for
the other vice-presidential positions.

Missions

After hearing from Rev. Wilbert Sohns regarding
the importance of the work of partner churches and the
need of full support of their evangelistic work, the
convention passed Res. 2-19 (TB 45), commending the
partner churches for their work. Congregations were
urged to note the challenges and opportunities in
overseas missions as reported by the Board for
Missions in the Convention Workbook (pp. 13—14) and
to use this report in presenting them to their con-
gregations (Res. 2-29, TB 50).

Greetings

Dr. Robert Marshall, president of the Lutheran
Church in America, who was introduced by President
Preus, congratulated Dr. Preus on his reelection and
spoke of the pleasure of working together with members
from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in various
capacities, making special reference to the commitment
of the LCA to work together with fellow Lutherans as
well as a commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Christ
as clearly as possible.

Representatives and official observers of other
Lutheran Churches in the United States and Canada
were then introduced by President Preus and welcomed
to the convention.

Closing Devotion

Chaplain Paul Streufert led the convention
delegates in a closing devotion, including the singing of
the hymn “The Church’s One Foundation” and prayer.

Session 4

July 17, Afternoon
Opening
The fourth session of the convention was called to
order by President Preus and was opened with a

devotion led by Chaplain Streufert. Dr. Andrew
Melendez read a portion from Galatians 1 in the
Spanish language, followed by a reading of the entire
chapter by Dr. Streufert in the Cotton Patch Version of
the New Testament. The convention joined in the
singing of the hymn “Salvation unto Us Has Come”
and in a brief three-sentence prayer.

Minutes

The minutes for the first and second sessions of the
convention were approved by the delegates.

Constitutional Matters

Chairman Schlecht of the Floor Committee on
Constitutional Matters introduced Res. 5-08 (TB 107),
calling for a change in the Bylaws which would clarify
the method of electing delegates. After declining an
amendment which called for deletion of the sentence
which required the submission of names of lay delegate
nominees prior to the day of the circuit meeting in
which delegates were to be chosen, the resolution was
adopted as presented. Since questions have arisen
regarding the current election procedures which require
prior consent of candidates for the office of President
and First Vice-President of the Synod to serve if elected,
the delegates agreed that this matter should be referred
to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations
for its view of this matter in relation to the doctrine of
the call (Res. 5-09, 7B 108). By adopting Res. 5-10 (TB
108) delegates reaffirmed the relationship between the
Synod and Districts pertaining to District resolutions
as stated in Article XII (Handbook pp. 21—22) and
Bylaws 3.07 and 3.11. Since the 1973 convention had
resolved that the tally of votes cast for each candidate
should be announced after each ballot in all elections,
the convention agreed that this procedure should be
incorporated in the Bylaws of the synodical Handbook
(Res. 5-11, TB 109). Before introducing Res. 5-12 (TB
109) Chairman Schlecht reported that 4.111 c (lines
66—68, TB 109) should be section “‘d” and that a new
section “c” should be added as follows: “A represent-
ative from the office of the President of the Synod,
together with a member of the Synod’s programmatic
staff, shall be in attendance for at least one of the
annual meetings.” After the resolution had been
introduced, a motion was made to amend it by deleting
the section “c” which the floor committee had proposed.
This amendment was adopted. After additional discus-
sion the motion was then adopted as amended, calling
for a change in the Bylaws regarding pastor and
teacher conferences. The delegates also accepted a
change in Bylaw 2.127 d, which would allow for
engaging an external auditing firm to tabulate
nominations of all clergymen who have received
nominating votes for the office of President and First
Vice-President (Res. 5-13, TB 111). In doing this they
amended the original resolution so that the word
“shall” in line 20 was replaced by the word “may.”
Prior to presenting the resolution the committee had
added the words “and tallies” between the word
“names” and “of” in line 23 and by replacing the words
“at least five” with the word “nominating” in line 24.

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