# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1995_S41
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 41

A motion was made from the floor, to wit: “To Establish
a ‘Rural Ministry Fund’ ”

WHEREAS, Rural churches have provided time, money,
and people to churches and missions throughout the
United States and the world; and

WHEREAS, According to demographics many rural
communities have decreased in population significantly
and are suffering financially; and

WHEREAS, Many rural congregations have suffered fi-
nancially because of man-made and natural disasters;
and : ‘

WHEREAS, There is no established fund or organiza-
tion specifically designed to help rural congregations
suffering financially, and many people have the desire
to help but do not know how they can; therefore be it

Resolved, That a special ad hoc committee be estab-
lished to organize a “Rural Ministry Fund” to raise and
seek funds to provide grants to encourage and to sup-
port rural congregations because of a man-made or nat-
ural disaster. And that the proposed “Rural Ministry
Fund” and all its structure be brought to the next con-
vention for approval.

A motion was made to refer the motion from the floor to
the Rural Task Force, via Omnibus Resolution A, was made
and was adopted. .

The committee brought back to the floor from a previous
session Res. 6-02. An amendment was offered to add to line
2, p. 90, the words or at the request of the family. The
amendment was adopted by common consent. The motion
as amended was adopted by voice vote. [Note: Under pre-
vious consideration, a new whereas had been added to the
resolution. The new whereas was listed as the fifth
whereas.]

Res. 6-01B (regarding the value of human life), which
replaced 6-01A, which was referred back to the committee,
was moved by the committee. A request was made to insert
the word human in line 27, p. 195 and adopted by common
consent. An amendment was made to add words, to wit: be-
ginning at the end of line 23, following ... of life add , de-
ploring abortion, euthanasia, and the newest threat, physi-
cian-assisted suicide; therefore be it. Question was called on
the amendment and on the main motion. A call for a divi-
sion of the previous question was called. The vote to divide
lost. The question to end debate both on the amendment
and on the main motion was sustained. The amendment
lost. The main motion was adopted as amended by common
consent.

Res. 6-05 was moved by. the committee. Question was

called immediately and was sustained. The motion was -

adopted. |

Committee 7: Structure, Planning, and Administration

The Rev. Dr. Robert Kuhn, President of the Central IIli-
nois District and Chairman of Committee 7, Structure,
Planning, and Administration, brought the business of his
committee back before the delegates.

Res. 7-09A, “To Approve Miscellaneous Changes in
Handbook Documents,” was moved by the committee. This
resolution contained amendments to the constitution re-

quiring a two-thirds majority vote and necessitated consid-
eration one paragraph at a time. The motion to adopt para-
graph A was adopted. Paragraph B was moved and
adopted. Paragraph C was moved and adopted. Paragraph
D was moved and adopted. Paragraph E through to the end
of the resolution was moved by the committee. The word-
ing was edited by common consent.

A motion was made to amend by addition to line 44,
p. 240, present Bylaw 8.01, to wit: Add last sentence to
8.01: No person or entity shall receive or be obligated to pay
a monetary award as a result of the Synod’s conflict resolu-
tion procedure. Question was called for both the amend-
ment and the main motion and was sustained. The amend-
ment lost. The main motion as edited by common consent
was adopted. ; ;

Res. 7-20A, referring to the declination of a series of
overtures, was moved by the committee. The question was
called and was sustained. The motion was adopted.

Res. 7-21A, “To Designate Certified Lay Ministers as
Ministers of Religion—Commissioned,” was moved by the
committee. The committee divided the question by moving
lines 17-34, p. 241, first. The question was moved and sus-
tained. The first part of the main motion was adopted. The
committee then moved lines 39-54. The question was called
and sustained. The motion was adopted by a two-thirds
vote. The committee then moved lines 1-14, p. 242. By com-
mon consent the words ordained or commissioned minister
were substituted for the ministry or that of a teacher in line
10. An amendment was offered for lines 6-7, to wit: substi-
tute the words and also, with the help of God, living a
Christian life. Question was called on the amendment and
the main motion and was sustained. The amendment lost.
The main motion was adopted by a two-thirds vote.

A motion for reconsideration of 7-20A was made. Ques-
tion was called on the motion to reconsider and was sus-
tained. The motion to reconsider 7-20A lost.

Committee 3: Theology and Church Relations

The Rev. Dr. George Wollenburg, President of the Mon-
tana District and Chairman of Committee 3, Theology and
Church Relations, reintroduced the business of his com-

Res: 3-09, “To Address the Church Growth Movement,”
was placed before the delegates. An amendment was made
to add wording to line 1, page 56, to wit: represented by a
cross section of informed persons which would also include
Church Growth practitioners. The question was called on
both the amendment and the main motion. A call was made

_ to divide the question of closing debate. The delegates voted

to divide the question. The assembly voted to close debate
on the amendment. The amendment lost. The motion to
close debate on the main motion failed. Following full ‘de-
bate allotted by time, the main motion was adopted.

Res. 3-10, calling for a comprehensive study of the rela-
tionship of man and woman, was moved by the committee.
An amendment was offered to commend this matter to the
next convention with specific time recommendations set
forth: The question was called on the amendment and on
the main motion. A call for a division of the question was
made and sustained. The call for closure of debate on the
amendment was sustained. The amendment lost. The call
for closure of debate on the main motion was not sustained.
An amendment was made to delete line 23, p. 56, through