# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S34
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

34 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

introduced to the convention delegates. Speaking to the
convention, Dr. Bohlmann expressed thanks for the
high honor which had been bestowed upon him ad for
the kindness of the delegates. He asked their prayers for
him and for his family as they in turn would pray for the
church.

He pointed out that he did not seek the office nor had
he encouraged anyone to campaign for him. He had
taken this route because he loved his work as president
of the seminary, which he considered to be his parish,
and because he had always felt that the office should
seek the man, never the man the office. In spite of his
feelings of inadequacy and his love for the seminary, he
announced that he would accept the office which had
been conferred upon him as President of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. He pointed out that he was
pleased not to be the preferred candidate of any organ-
ized group and his prayer was that his presidency would
promote unity within the Synod and that we would be
able to forge a consensus among ourselves, keeping
faithful to our Lutheran heritage and zealous for the
sharing of the Gospel. It was his hope that members of
the church would be known as disciples of Christ rather
than conservative, moderate, liberal, or any other desig-
nation.

He asked the delegates not to consider him as some
messianic figure with all the answers or as one who
could work miracles. “Nevertheless,” he said, ‘““we have
Jesus Christ who can and who does perform miracles.”
Dr. Bohlmann stated that during his presidency he
hoped to listen before he acted and to hear the church’s
questions before offering easy answers. He hoped to
become familiar as quickly as possible with District
Presidents, their staffs, the staff of the Synod, with its
colleges, and with the partner churches, as well as the
hurts of minorities.

It was his hope that in the decade of the ’80s we
would build on the Forward in Remembrance oppor-
tunities. He also pointed to the need for a consensus
with other Lutheran church bodies and the patience
which is required to reach this consensus. He requested
patience and study of the Word of God in this vital area
of relationship to other Lutherans, reminding the dele-
gates that freedom under the Gospel must obtain in our
midst.

He commended Dr. Preus, President of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, whom he described as a
colorful, dynamic, and a sometimes controversial lead-
er. However, Dr. Bohlmann stated it as his conviction
that history would record the past 12 years have been
one of the most remarkable in American church history
since a liberal trend in theology in the Synod was
reversed but in such a way that it remained intact and
committed to the Gospel. Dr. Bohlmann stated that he
looked forward to serving with Dr. Sauer and other
leaders of the Synod and prayed for a rich measure of
the Holy Spirit upon the work which he had been asked
to assume.

Elections

Chairman Simon of the Floor Committee on elections

reported the results of the nominating ballot of the
previous session. The 12 candidates receiving the high-
est number of votes are to serve as the ballot for the
remaining vice-presidential positions. After a large
number of District Presidents as well as Rev. Leroy
Biesenthal had withdrawn their names, a ballot which
was adopted consisted of the following: Charles Mueller,
Walter A. Maier, Jr., Guido Merkens, Joseph Lavalais,
Gerhardt Hyatt, Paul Zimmerman, George Wollenburg,
August Bernthal, Martin Scharlemann, Oswald Hoff-
mann, Wilbert Sohns, and Edward Westcott.

Point of Privilege

Responding to a point of privilege which was grant-
ed, a delegate expressed his strong opposition to the
preparation of voting lists and suggested either that the
Nominating Committee be dismissed and voting lists be
prepared by such groups and ratified by the Synod or
that delegates would deliberately vote against those
whose names appeared on these lists. His concern was
that delegates make their choice on the basis of respon-
sible information and nominations provided by the
Nominating Committee elected by the Synod. President
Preus.also stated his opposition to the preparation of
such lists and indicated his pleasure that President-
elect Bohlmann had also opposed them.

Task Force

Res. 2-04A, which had been specially printed and
distributed and upon which discussion had begun in a
previous session, was reintroduced to the delegates. An
amendment calling for the removal] of the Commission
on Worship from the Board for Parish Services and the
establishment of it as a separate board was declined by
the convention. This action was taken after the dele-
gates had received a call for conclusion of debate on
both the amendment and the pending resolution. A
motion to divide the question of closing debate on the
amendment and closing of debate on the resolution had
been introduced and the delegates had agreed to close
debate on the amendment. After further discussion on
the resolution, Res. 2-04A was adopted. The resolution
stated, “Resolved, That the following Task Force I
recommendations in Section F be adopted as amended:

1. That the following elected program boards be -
constituted:

BOARD FOR PARISH EDUCATION
(Including present functions of the boards or
commissions of Parish Education, Church Liter-
ature, Worship, Lay Higher Education, and
Services to the Mentally Retarded)

BOARD FOR EVANGELISM SERVICES

BOARD FOR YOUTH SERVICES

BOARD FOR MISSION SERVICES
(Including present functions of the boards or
commissions for Missions, Armed Forces, and
Black Ministry)

BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
(Including present functions of the boards for