# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S42
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

42

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

ventions to remember the many faithful servants of our
Synod who were called to their eternal home during the
past triennium. He introduced Rev. Herbert Mueller, President of the host Southern Illinois District, to lead the convention in its memorial devotion.
The chair read one more letter of greeting to the convention, from the President of the Free Evangelical
Lutheran Synod in South Africa, the Rev. Peter H. F.
Ahlers, who was not able to attend.
Minutes
The Chair called attention to the minutes of the
Wednesday sessions of the convention as printed on pages
336 to 350 of the Thursday issue of Today’s Business. The
minutes were approved as printed.
A motion was made and seconded to instruct the floor
committee chairmen to read those parts of the WHEREAS
sections thought to be important. The motion failed (Y:278;
N:675). A motion that from this point forward no previously
passed resolutions can be reconsidered until all business of
the convention has been addressed also failed (Y:313;
N:700) after debate was closed (Y:924; N:82).
Committee 7: Structure, Planning, and Administration
Res. 7-22A (TB, p. 185), “To Clarify Opinion of Commission on Constitutional Matters,” was brought forward by
the committee. A substitute resolution was immediately
presented. The convention voted not to consider the substitute (Y:414; N:660) and the resolution presented by the
committee was again discussed. Debate was ended (Y:801;
N:281) and the resolution was adopted (Y:658; N:441).
Res. 7-16 (TB, p. 124), “To Recommend Study of Simplification of Roster Categories,” was presented. After brief
discussion, the resolution was adopted (Y:1,030; N:64).
Res. 7-19 (TB, p. 126), “To Have Council of Presidents
and Praesidium Discuss and Report on Bylaw 2.27 g,” was
presented by the committee. A motion was made to amend
the first Resolve by adding the words “the Board of Directors and the President of Synod in consultation with” before the words “the Council of Presidents.” Debate was
ended on the amendment and the resolution (Y:1,044;
N:59). The amendment failed (Y:143; N:965). The resolution was adopted (Y:1,033; N:81).
Res. 7-21 (TB, p. 128), “To Promote Study of Art. VII and
Bylaw 2.39,” was presented by the committee. The resolution was adopted without discussion (Y:1,012; N:90).
A delegate moved that line 50 of Overture 7-21 be removed from Res. 7-31 (TB, p. 141). When challenged, the
Chair explained that the delegate had asked on two occasions for this opportunity and he would leave the matter to
the assembly to decide. The motion was seconded and, after
brief discussion, debate was ended (Y:979; N:96) and the
motion failed (Y:96; N:980).
Res. 7-03B (TB, p. 239), “To Observe the Constitution
and Bylaws of Synod,” was presented. After brief discussion, debate was ended (Y:979; N:89) and the resolution
was adopted (Y:942; N:142).
200l Convention Proceedings

Committee 3: Theology and Church Relations
The Chair called Rev. Gary Arp, President of Iowa District East and acting chairman of Committee 3, to present
the business of the committee.
The committee presented Res. 3-25, distributed during
the noon recess:

To Revise Distance Education
Leading To Ordination
RESOLUTION 3-25
Overtures L3-138; 3-92−99 (TB, pp. 32–36; CW, pp.
186−189)
WHEREAS, Synod’s DELTO (Distance Education Leading To Ordination) program was originally designed to
provide:
ordained pastoral service to congregations that cannot support a full-time pastor, ordained pastoral
service to contexts where English is not spoken, ordained missionary personnel where finances and/or
conditions do not permit calling a full-time missionary, and enhanced congregational life as the congregation participates in the growth of its DELTO
student (BHE “What is DELTO?,” September 2000);
and
WHEREAS, DELTO as it is currently structured has
not yet adequately met the needs identified by the task
force; therefore be it
Resolved, That in order to address the needs where
full-time pastoral ministry cannot be maintained, we instruct the seminaries jointly to modify requirements for
the DELTO program by January 2002 and permit them
to admit men who meet the following requirements: A
man who is …
1. currently a member in good standing of the
LCMS congregation intending to offer him the
initial call or a neighboring LCMS congregation;
2. a member of an LCMS congregation for at least
five years;
3. recommended by his District President as
qualified for pastoral ministry;
and be it further
Resolved, That the District President, in consultation
with the appropriate seminary official, be authorized to
permit the DELTO student to serve as a vicar in his congregation; and be it further
Resolved, That an oversight committee consisting of
two representatives from each seminary and two members of the Council of Presidents meet at the call of the
synodical President to review the progress of DELTO in
meeting the specialized needs of those congregations
who cannot support a full-time pastor and to report back
to the Synod at its convention in 2004; and be further
Resolved, That the synodical Board of Directors and
the Districts and congregations directly involved with
the DELTO program provide funding for their students;
and be it further