# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S29 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 29 required reduction in the budget of the Board for Missions. He pointed out that the plan is not an answer to a fiscal crisis. It is a positive plan which has been carefully thought through. After some discussion the resolution was adopted as presented. By the adoption of Res. 1-05A (TB 231-232) the delegates directed the Board for Missions to continue its efforts to take the Gospel to every open door overseas and encouraged Districts to increase the percentage of their budget for the Synod. They also asked that congregations increase their support of the District and that Synod increase the percentage of its budget for mission endeavors. In adopting Res. 1-14 (TB 43) the delegates asked the Secretary of the Synod to convey congratulations to The Lutheran Church of Nigeria on its 45th anniversary, The Lutheran Church in the Philippines on its 35th anniversary, and the China Ev. Lutheran Church in Taiwan on its 30th anniversary, assuring them of the continued prayers of the Synod as they serve the Lord and share His blessed Gospel. Recognition The Rev. Nelson Unwene, president of The Nigeria Lutheran Church, and his wife were recognized by the convention. Missions Prior to introducing Res. 1-03 the last resolved of the resolution was deleted by the committee. The convention then adopted the resolution as presented, encouraging Districts with their respective Mission committees and boards to consult with the synodical Commission on Black Ministry with the Synodwide goal of establishing at least one new mission station each year in a pre- dominantly Black area. In adopting Res. 1-08 the convention commended the Board for Evangelism and the steering committee for planning and conducting the first Great Commission Convocation, commended the Districts who had conducted or would be conducting District Great Commission Convocations, and resolved that the Synod conduct a second Great Commission Convocation at a feasible time as determined by the synodical Board of Directors. The committee then intro- duced Res. 1-09 (7B 49), calling for continued support of campus ministry. Discussion on the matter, however, was delayed until a later session of the convention. Before the temporary dismissal of this committee, the delegates received a report from Dr. Richard Dickinson, executive secretary of the Commission on Black Min- istry. He reported that Black pastors are being employed in areas where they have never been involved before. For example, he pointed out that a Black pastor who had served as a vacancy pastor in a white congregation had now been called as the pastor of that congregation. Task Force The floor committee dealing with resolutions relat- ing to the restructuring of the Synod introduced Res. 2-03A (TB 233), which defined the membership and function of the Board of Directors. At this point a delegate introduced a request for reconsideration of Res. 2-04 (TB 47). He had voted on the prevailing side when Res. 2-04 was declined. The floor committee stated that it would welcome this action. The convention agreed to reconsider this resolution for the purpose of recommit- ting it to the committee for reconsideration of the section relating to the Board for Congregational Serv- ices. A division of the house was called for but with- drawn when it became obvious that the resolution asking for reconsideration had passed. Essay On the basis of selected Bible passages Dr. Milton Nauss spoke on the stewardship of life and time. God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, gave His live so that we might have life and that our life might be dedicated to Him. He elaborated on examples of rededicated lives under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Recognition Rev. Howard Schoenfeldt, director of Mill Neck Manor, Lutheran School for the Deaf, presented the John of Beverly Award to the Rev. Rudolph Gustav Wollrab in recognition of his excellent work among the deaf and for his dedication to this cause not only in Germany but also among workers in Poland and Hungary. The John of Beverly Award has been nainv:i in recognition of the great English churchman of tie seventh century who is the first person on record to make special efforts to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the deaf. In his response Pastor Wollrab spoke of this as the first step in the building of bridges between his country and the United States. He pointed out that we cannot build a bridge to God who has already built the bridge to us through Jesus Christ. The building must be done step by step, as was done when the Arch in St. Louis was built, piece by piece from each side which is planted into the ground. In this building of bridges between Christians Jesus Christ is the great Architect. The Rev. Elroy Treit, president of the Lutheran Church—Canada, addressed the delegates, describing the efforts and plans of Lutherans in Canada as they seek to move forward in the establishment of a partner church in that country. Orders of the Day Since resolutions called for by the delegates from the Floor Committee on Task Force Recommendations were not yet prepared, the Chairman pointed out that these would be brought in after 2 p.m. Instead, the next order _of business would be resolutions from the Floor Com- mittee on Administration. Greetings Dr. Herbert Mueller, Secretary of the Synod, shared greetings with the convention which had been received from fellow Lutherans. These greetings had been re- ceived from the Lutheran World Federation, the Luther- an Bible Translators, the Ev. Lutheran Synod of France and Belgium, the Selbstaendige Evangelisch-Luther- ische Kirche, and the China Ev. Lutheran Church. Dr.