# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S34 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 34 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION The committee introduced Res. 7-06A, “To Amend Bylaws 3.9.2.2.4 and 3.3.5.3” (TB, pp. 202–203). The resolution was adopted without discussion [Yes: 1,044; No: 80]. The chair recalled attention to Res. 7-05B, the voting delegate registration total having been determined to be 1,239. Discussion of the resolution continued, and a proposed amendment to add the words “or electronic via email” after the word “written” in the second resolve was agreed to by the committee. The Orders of the Day again becoming an issue, the chair tested the will of the assembly regarding ending debate [Yes: 1,076; No: 71]. Res. 7-05B was then adopted [Yes: 1,053; No: 109]. Committee 5: Seminary and University Education The question-and-answer session prior to formal consideration of Res. 5-01B (TB, pp. 280ff) continued from the committee’s previous appearance before the convention. The chair asked whether the assembly was ready for formal discussion of the resolution [Yes: 794; No: 298]. Res. 501B was introduced by the committee, and discussion followed until the current appearance of Committee 5 before the convention was ended by the Orders of the Day. Recess Session 6 July 17, 2007 Afternoon Devotion President Gerald Kieschnick called the session to order and invited convention chaplain Dale Meyer to introduce the devotion leader, Dr. Kurt Krueger, Executive Director of the Board for University Education and President of the Concordia University System. With Acts 17:10–12 as his text and “One Message—Christ! A Message of Truth to a Postmodern World” as his theme, Dr. Krueger spoke of the bad and good news of postmodern belief: the bad news being that there is no absolute truth but only relative truth, and the good news being that the postmodern worldview replaced the modern worldview, which was no friend of Christianity with its denial of the miraculous or spiritual. The fact that postmodernists are open to new ideas and are more likely to listen to all truth claims, including the truth of the Gospel, offers opportunity for the Gospel. The inquisitiveness of the Bereans in the text bears some similarity to the postmodernists of today. The devotion concluded with the hymn “How Shall They Hear, Who Have Not Heard” and prayer. Minutes The chair called attention to the minutes for Sessions 2 and 3 printed in the Tuesday edition of Today’s Business (pp. 294–302) and asked for corrections. None were offered, and the chair declared the minutes approved as printed. Several concerns associated with the “big ballot” were noted, including an ongoing concern for delegates having sufficient time. The chair asked that the assembly again consider changing the Orders of the Day in the manner previously described [Yes: 853; No: 295]. This time the required two-thirds vote was obtained to change the Orders of the Day. Copies of the new schedule for the afternoon were distributed to delegates. 2007 Convention Proceedings LCMS in Mission Presentation Scott Snow, Director of Outreach for LCMS World Mission, after a personal witnessing story was shared with the assembly out of Kenya, encouraged delegates to share their own stories while at the convention and to share their faith using the multicolored bracelets provided at registration. Committee 4: Program and Finance Res. 4-02, “To Begin a Stewardship Renewal Through Enhanced Communication” (TB, pp. 79–80) was introduced by Floor Committee 4. A motion followed to amend the resolution: “WHEREAS, Godly, pious stewardship is part of a Christian’s sanctified life that flows from being justified by God’s grace; and WHEREAS, Justification is accomplished through the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments; and WHEREAS, The lectionaries of our Synod are designed to communicate the whole counsel of God to God’s people; and WHEREAS, The amount of money received by the Synod is not an accurate or reliable measure of the stewardship of individuals, congregations, or districts of the Synod; and WHEREAS, Individuals, congregations, and districts also exercise their stewardship through support of recognized service organizations, planting of new congregations, supporting the ever-increasing costs of Concordia Plans Services, disaster relief, etc.; therefore be it Resolved, That the President of the Synod, district presidents, and circuit counselors encourage the pastors under their ecclesiastical supervision to continue administering the Sacraments and preaching to their congregations the whole counsel of God with the Gospel predominating.” After the chair ruled this proposal to be a substitute motion, the assembly voted not to consider it [Yes: 403; No: 764], and Res. 4-02 was again the subject of discussion. After debate was ended [Yes: 935; No: 240], Res. 4-02 was adopted [Yes: 914; No: 277]. Res. 4-12A, “To Encourage Participation in Concordia Plan Services, LCEF, and LCMS Foundation” (TB, pp. 243–244), was introduced by the committee. After discussion, debate was ended [Yes: 827; No: 341], and the resolution was not adopted [Yes: 521; No: 654]. Committee 4 then volunteered the remainder of its time slot to the Fan Into Flame Report and Floor Committee 1. Fan Into Flame Report First Vice-President William Diekelman provided a progress report of involvement by districts and congregations in the Fan Into Flame funding effort. LCMS World Mission Director Robert Roegner explained the purpose and mechanics of the funding effort, emphasizing unique features not a part of previous major funding efforts by the Synod. It was particularly noted that Fan Into Flame has exceeded its goal of $20 million by the time of this convention. Committee 1: Missions Committee 1 Chairman Robert Newton introduced Res. 1-09, “To Report Detailed Accounting of Fan Into Flame Funds” (TB, p. 59). The resolution was adopted without discussion [Yes: 1,094; No: 62]. Res. 1-05S, “To Make Outreach the Top Priority in Worker Training” (TB, p. 57), was introduced for consider-