# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S40
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

40 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Ethnic Concerns reintroduced Res. 10-04, relating to the
construction of a library facility at Alabama
Lutheran Academy and College. Discussion was
resumed on a pending amendment calling for the
removal of the words “before it approves any other
construction in the system” from line 37 (TB 161). After
some discussion the delegates adopted an amendment
which changed the second resolve (line 36—37, TB 161)
to read: “Resolved, That this convention direct the
Board of Directors and the Board for Higher Education
to give highest priority to and proceed with the
construction of the library facility at Alabama
Lutheran Academy and College with synodical funds.”
The resolution was then adopted as amended. The
convention asked for the establishment of a recruit-
ment program for Black church workers, asking that a
full-time Black recruiter for Black ministry be given
first priority among the next full-time persons to be
employed by the Synod (Res. 10-06A, TB 237). Prior to
introducing the resolution the committee had inserted
the word “Black” between the words “full-time” and
“recruiter” in line 28 (TB 237). By the adoption of Res.
10-10A (TB 238) the Board for Higher Education, in
consultation with the Hispanic Task Force, was
directed to establish a school for the training of
Hispanic lay workers at Concordia College, Austin,
Tex., and resolved that the in-service training program
should be a part of this school under the direction of the
Board for Higher Education. After declining to consider
a substitute motion calling for the location of a
Hispanic seminary extension program at Austin, Tex.,
the delegates adopted Res. 10-09A (TB 237), which
instructed Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., to
locate a Hispanic extension program in the Chicago
metropolitan area, with full implementation of this
program to be carried out under the direction of the
Board for Higher Education by the 1978-79 school year.

Essay

Rev. Samuel Nafzger, convention essayist, con-
tinued his discussion of the proper distinction between
Law and Gospel. The Bible study portion of the essay
was led by Rev. Dale Griffin, a member of the Parish
Education staff of the Synod. This section of the
morning session closed with the singing of the hymn
“We Have a Sure Prophetic Word” by the assembly.

Elections

Chairman Ziegler of the Floor Committee on
Elections reported that results of some of the elections
were now available. (The full election results are
attached to the Minutes.) The following elections were
reported:

Secretary: Herbert Mueller

Board of Directors: Henry Koepchen, Edward
Westcott, William Ludwig, Robert Hirsch, Lester
Schultz

Commission of Adjudication: Ottis Sauls, Cecil
Klages, Alfred Blessing, Walter Tesch

Board of Appeals: Victor Hellman, Matthias Krey,
Lorenz Wunderlich, Richard Bodenstab, Ronald Ruff

Board of Stewardship: Robert Demske, Vincent

Meyer, John Saxton

Board for Higher Education: Charles Reimnitz,
Arthur Brackebusch, Alvin Czanderna

Board of Parish Education: Maynard Brandt,
Raymond Mueller, Fay Richert

Commission on Theology and Church Relations:
Marvin Erdman, Philip Tanger

Board for Missions: Eugene Bertermann, Wilbert
Sohns, Walter Kayser, Dorothy Rosin, Walter Haas

CPH Board of Directors: Fred Kuhlmann

Board for Church Extension: Carl Hiller, Vance
Hinrichs, Rayburn Hahn, Paul Mack

Convention Arrangements Committee

Secretary Herbert Mueller introduced President
Heckmann of the Texas District, who in turn in-
troduced Mr. Bill Schmidtke, coordinator of the
Convention Arrangements Committee. Mr. Schmidtke
introduced the remaining members of the group
responsible for the arrangements. The delegates
expressed their thanks to the committee with a
standing ovation.

Special Guests

President Preus introduced Mrs. Helen Morris,
president of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League,
to the convention. Mrs. Morris addressed the conven-
tion briefly, summarizing the activities and ac-
complishments of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League since its beginning. She pointed out that this is
the 35th anniversary of the Lutheran Women’s Mis-
sionary League and that during the time of existence of
the group it has contributed many millions of dollars to
the work of missions on national, international, and
District levels. After closing her remarks, Mrs. Morris
presented President Preus with the newest mustard
seed, a booklet titled “Lift Me Up, Lord.”

President Walter Hanf of the International
Lutheran Laymen’s League was then introduced to the
convention. He brought greetings from the officers and
staff of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League
and briefly summarized some of the projects which the
league has carried out during its existence. He referred
to the financial contributions supporting the work of

The local arrangements committee