# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S29
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Sy Pye sagt ee tO a

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 29

Elections

Chairman Ziegler of the Floor Committee on
Elections read the Bylaw from the synodical Handbook
relating to the election of Vice-Presidents to the
convention and then reported that 117 names had been
proposed, half of them receiving one vote. The twelve
receiving the highest votes were: Karl Barth—99; Lloyd
Behnken—57; August Bernthal—413; Carl
Heckmann—253; Oswald Hoffmann—58; Arnold
Kuntz—113; Joseph Lavalais—122; Walter Maier—592;
Guido Merkens—562; Charles Mueller—454; Robert
Sauer—304; George Wollenburg—299. Karl Barth,
Arnold Kuntz, and Carl Heckmann requested that their
names be withdrawn. Those receiving the next-largest
number of nominating votes were Richard Schlecht,
August Mennicke, E. H. Happel, and Arthur Ziegler.
Richard Schlecht, Arthur Ziegler, and E. H. Happel
also requested that their names be removed. After the
convention had agreed to accept their declinations, a
motion was made to reconsider this action. The
convention then declined to remove the names of Karl
Barth, Arnold Kuntz, and Carl Heckmann, leaving the
slate as originally presented.

Theology and Church Relations

After vice-presidential ballots had been distributed,
Chairman Happel of the Floor Committee on Theology
and Church Relations reintroduced Res. 3-01 (TB 53),
on which action had not been completed in a previous
session. Discussion was resumed on an amendment to
replace the words “and resolve the theological issues
that trouble us” with the words “and preserve the unity
that they have” in line 61 (7B 53). In the discussion
which followed a motion was made to amend the
amendment by retaining the wording of the resolution
as presented and adding the words “and preserve the
unity that they have.” After further discussion and
after declining to extend the time for discussion, the
question was called on the amendment to the amend-
ment, the amendment, and the resolution. Both the
amendment and the amendment to the amendment
were declined, and the resolution was then adopted as it
had been previously amended by eliminating from the
final whereas the words “(N.O. 3-09—Report of the
Advisory Committee on Doctrine and Conciliation),
which has endangered the St. Louis seminary,
engendered divisive and _ schismatic activities
(Anaheim 3-06) and even led some to leave the LCMS.”
The resolution called for the promotion of concord and
conciliation “That We May Grow.” Delegates next
began discussion of Res. 3-02A (TB 195), calling for the
Synod to declare a state of “fellowship in protest” with
the ALC. In the discussion which followed a motion to
delete lines 54—63 (TB 195) and the words “in declaring
that it is now in a state of ‘fellowship in protest’ with
the ALC” was declined. During the discussion on the
amendment the chair ruled that because of the
important nature of the motion 30 minutes should be
allowed to the discussion of the amendment rather than
to the entire subject. The chair ruled that 20 minutes had
elapsed during discussion of the amendment and
allowed 10 more minutes for its consideration before the

vote on the amendment was taken. The amendment was
then declined. Time for discussion of the resolution
expired before action could be completed on it.

Ethnic Concerns

Bryant Clancy, Second Vice-President of the
Southeastern District and chairman of the Floor
Committee on Ethnic Concerns, briefly addressed the
delegates before presenting the resolutions from this
committee. He stated that the committee came with
praise to God for blessings of the past but also came
with some concerns regarding the involvement of Black
Lutherans in decision-making in the church, Black
recruitment, and other matters. The resolutions which
would be presented would reflect these concerns.

Resolution 10-01A (TB 236) was introduced, calling
for the establishment of an administration for Black
ministry. The resolution asked for a Black Ministry
Commission of at least nine members, fora convocation
of Black congregations every 2 years prior to the
convention of the Synod, for the evaluation and
promotion of Black ministry, and for the continuation of
the Black Mission Models Task Force, among other
things. After discussion and agreement to terminate
debate, this resolution was adopted as presented.
Eugene Crawford, speaking for the National Indian
Lutheran Board, brought greetings from the group and
presented President Preus with a cross made by a
Navajo silversmith. The convention then adopted Res.
10-02 (TB 160), calling for reaffirmation of Indian
ministry commitments. This was done after agreeing to
replace the word “peculiarly” (line 12, 7B 160) with the
words “differently and uniquely,” after striking the
word “unfairly” from line 23 (TB 160) and substituting
the words “the Board for Missions’ Indian Ministries
Task Force” for the words “our church” in lines 38 and
42 (TB 160). By adopting Res. 10-03 (TB 160) the
convention agreed that the recommendatons of the
Hispanic Task Force should be implemented, calling for
teacher training programs in bilingual, bicultural
education, for exploring with Concordia College,
Milwaukee, the possibility of providing special lay
training for Hispanics, and for supporting the first
National Hispanic Workers Conference. Consideration
of Res. 10-04 (TB 161), calling for the building ofa library
facility at Alabama Lutheran Academy and College,
was begun. In the discussion which followed a motion
was made and seconded to amend the resolution by
deleting the words “before it approves any other
construction in the system” from line 37 (TB 161). Time
for the discussion of this resolution expired before action
could be completed on the amendment.

Elections

Chairman Ziegler of the Floor Committee on
Elections reported on the balloting for Vice-Presidents
of the Synod. He reported that a total of 1,074 valid
votes had been cast, with 538 required for a majority for
election. Results of the election were as follows: Barth—
22: Behnken—214; Bernthal—411; Heckmann—18;
Hoffmann—317; Kuntz—13; Lavalais—354; Maier—
609; Merkens—719; Mueller—485; Sauer—488;