# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S31
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

g
Hy

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 31

Neighborhood” workshops. After some discussion the
delegates declined a motion to refer the resolution back
to committee for reconsideration. Time expired before
action on the resolution could be completed.

Elections

After distribution of the ballots for the remaining
vice-presidential positions, Chairman Ziegler of the
Floor Committee on Elections declared the elections
closed.

Point of Information

In response to a question from the floor, “May an
employee of the Synod serve as an officer of the
Synod?” the chair answered “Yes.”

Missions

Before introducing the resolutions from the Floor
Committee on Missions, Chairman Behnken _in-
troduced Dr. Erwin Kolb, Executive Secretary of the
Board for Evangelism, who addressed the delegates
briefly. He pointed to the tremendous back-door losses
of membership and stated that in the next biennium
there should be an attempt to bring adult losses and
accessions together at the level of 35,000. Resolution 2-
12 (TB 42) was then introduced, calling for an increase
in outreach by increasing adult accessions from 27,000
to 35,000 and urging congregations to develop an
effective organization for outreach. After amending the
resolution to include “encouragement to pastoral
leadership” as an additional facet of congregational
organization in the last resolve and placing the words
“pastors and” between the words “training” and “lay
people” in line 55 and declining to strike lines 42—43
(TB 42), the delegates adopted this resolution. In order
to deal with the opposite pole relating to membership
increases, the delegates adopted Res. 2-13 (TB 43),
which calls for a decrease in back-door losses. The
delegates called for this to be done through restoration
of delinquent members, through practical activities,
and adoption of a 2-year goal to decrease back-door
losses from 50,000 to 35,000.

Point of Privilege

On a point of privilege a delegate asked that the
chairmen of floor committees be permitted to introduce
resolutions by title if in their judgment this would be
proper. By common consent it was agreed that this
procedure would be followed.

Missions

The Floor Committee on Missions continued its
presentation with the introduction of Res. 2-24 (TB 48),
calling for the promotion of child evangelism and
urging congregations to develop effective outreach
ministries for children. This resolution was adopted by
the convention. Since 22 Districts had conducted
Renewal Retreats with positive and encouraging
results, the delegates agreed to adopt a 2-year goal of
completing the program of such retreats as outlined in
Anaheim Res. 1-03, and urged that the program be
implemented throughout the congregations of the

Synod (Res. 2-04, TB 38). An additional goal which was
accepted was that of having at least 75 percent of the
congregations of the Synod offering courses with a new
series of books on cults entitled “The Response Series”
relating to the understanding of cults and the method
of witness to their adherents (Res. 2-26, 7'B 49). Further
goals adopted were those of persuading 50 percent of
the congregations of the Synod to prepare themselves
for effective witness to Jewish people and the conduct-
ing of 10 District workshops to stimulate interest and
equip members in witnessing to such persons (Res. 2-27,
TB 49). The convention also urged the Board of
Directors to fund the calling of an Associate Secretary
of Evangelism, a position which had been approved at
the 1975 convention of the Synod (Res. 2-20, TB 46).
After hearing from Florence Montz, a member of the
Council for Christian Medical Work, with regard to the
importance of Christian medical work, Res. 2-07 (7B 40)
was adopted, approving Bylaw changes which would
clarify the role of the Council for Christian Medical
Work in the Synod. The convention also resolved that
the Board for Missions should proceed with the
appointment of a staff person for medical work in order
to more effectively and efficiently carry out its
programmatic goals relative to health and healing
concerns where partner churches and missions are
involved (Res. 2-08, TB 41). Resolution 2-09 (TB 41),
authorizing the Council for Christian Medical Work to
secure the necessary staff services to carry out its
objective, was introduced. Time expired, however,
before action could be taken on this resolution.

Elections

Chairman Ziegler of the Floor Committee on
Elections reported that 1,047 ballots had been cast for
the remaining vice-presidential offices, with a majority
of 524 being required for election. The results of the
election were as follows: Bernthal—428; Mueller—479,
Sauer—583; Wollenburg—579. On the basis of these
results Robert Sauer was declared to be the Fourth Vice-
President of the Synod and George Wollenburg the
Fifth Vice-President.

Presentation

Dr. Theodore Raedeke introduced the director of
World Home Bible League, William Ackermann, who
presented a copy of the complete new American
Standard Version of the Bible to President Preus.

Essay

Rev. Samuel Nafzger, Executive Secretary of the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations,
introduced the convention essay. In his opening
remarks he referred to the passage from 1 Peter, urging
Christians to yearn, as newborn babes, for the pure
milk of God’s Word. He characterized Peter in his
strength and weaknesses. Rev. Nafzger indicated that
the essay would take the form of a study of 1 Peter as
well as an emphasis on the proper distinction between
Law and Gospel together with its implications for
Christian faith and life. A study of 1 Peter 1:1-12 was
led by Dr. Guido Merkens with Rev. Nafzger presenting