# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S46
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

46 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

convention adopted Res. 6-19 (TB 131) changing the
Bylaws in order to strengthen the pastoral colloquy
program and to maintain the high standards for pre-
paration of these workers.

Closing Devotion

Prior to balloting for the remaining officers and
board members of the Synod, Dr. Erwin Kolb, executive
secretary of the Board for Evangelism, led the delegates
in the closing devotion, which concluded with the
singing of the hymn “Go Make Disciples.”

Elections

Prior to the beginning of voting, Chairman Eldor
Meyer of the Floor Committee on Nominations called
the attention of the delegates to the fact that Mr.
Charles Bosma, a candidate for the Board of Control of
Ann Arbor, was an incumbent and that by the adoption
of Res. 2-25 (TB 186) the term of Walter Anderson, a
member of the Board of Control of Portland, had been
extended. Ballots were then distributed under the direc-
tion of Chairman Simon of the Floor Committee on
Elections, who declared the elections closed after all
balloting had been completed.

Session 11

July 9, Morning
Opening Devotions

Dr. August Suelflow, who had been serving as the
leader for all opening devotions of the convention
sessions, once again led the delegates in song and in
recounting the history of some of the ministries carried
out by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. In this
devotion he focused on the beginnings of Black Luther-
an ministry.

Elections

Chairman Simon of the Floor Committee on Elec-
tions, assisted by Dr. Wilbert Griesse, reported the
results of the first balloting for officers and boards of the
Synod. The results of the election are attached to these
Minutes. After presenting the report, the committee
once again distributed ballots for positions which had
not been filled in the initial election. After voting had
been completed and the ballots were gathered, the
balloting was declared closed.

Announcement

One of the convention delegates announced his
intention to call for a reconsideration of Res. 6-19. He
was informed that this matter could be brought to the
attention of the delegates at the time of the next
appearance of the Floor Committee on Higher Educa-
tion.

Another delegate observed that the officers and
board members who had already been elected by the
convention were almost exclusively from the Midwest.

Task Force
Res. 2-10 (TB 49), on which discussion had been

begun on a previous session, was once again introduced
to the convention. This resolution called for the defini-
tion of terms for program boards, support services
boards, standing committees, commissions, councils,
departments, subcommittees, task forces, and agencies.
In line 32 (TB 50) the words “or authorized’ had been
added after the word “caused.” The word “Synod” was
also added between the words “Missouri” and “Founda-
tion” in line 34 (7B50). In response to a question which
was asked concerning the authority of the Synod to
investigate matters which were somewhat confidiential
and which had been presented to the Commission on
Constitutional Matters, it was stated that the conven-
tion is the highest authority in the Synod. The delegates
agreed to add as a last resolved, “Resolved, That the
administration be asked to communicate to the Synod
through the Lutheran Witness relative to the newly
organized structure of the Synod, including an organiza-
tional chart.” Res. 2-10 (TB 49) was then adopted as
amended.

Res. 2-19A (TB 234), calling for the amendment of
Article XI, F, 1 and 2 of the Constitution as well asa
revision of the Articles of Incorporation, was next
brought to the floor for consideration. During the
discussion, which involved the structure of the Board of
Directors, an amendment was offered and adopted
which would have required the majority of voting
members on the Board of Directors to be laypersons. A
point of order was raised indicating that achangein the
Constitution required a two-thirds majority vote. The
original adoption of the amendment was then declared
null and void. It was then decided to change the orders
of the day to complete work on Res. 2-19A. The conven-
tion continued discussion, and, responding to a chal-
lenge from the floor, overruled a decision of the Chair
which stated that a two-thirds majority was required for
adoption of the proposed amendment. It was also
pointed out that the offering of this amendment was

Ballots, Ballots!