# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S171
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION

without limitation of tenure. The number of trustees will
be reduced from 21 to 11 (three clergy and eight lay).

R. Idle Funds. Steps were taken to list all funds which
have been allocated and drawn out but are currently unex-
pended or invested by various boards both in foreign and
domestic operations. ,

S. Commission on Mission and Ministry in the Church. In
the expectation that this commission will wind up its work
shortly after the New Orleans convention, the board per-
mitted the commission to engage Dr. M. L. Kretzmann as its
consultant until that time.

T. Reducing Number and Size of Boards. For several
years the board has had a genuine concern about the num-
ber of boards and commissions. often with overlapping re-
sponsibilities. at work. It has adopted a stance favorable to
the amalgamation of such units whenever possible. It is
therefore making a recommendation that the Commission
on Mission and Ministry in the Church, the Commission on
Social Concerns, and the Committee on World Hunger might
well bring their work to a conclusion at this time since their
responsibility can be assumed by other operating units in
the Synod. (See recommendations)

The board also asked the Committee on Organization to
recommend to the Synod the size of all Boards and Com-
missions and a table of procedure as to how to implement
the reduction in the size of boards and commissions in
harmony with Milwaukee Resolution 4-08. It also asked the
Committee on Organization to continue to work on the pos-
sibility of reducing the number of divisions as suggested in
Milwaukee Resolution 4-09.

U. Dr. Oliver Harms. After Dr. Harms had reached the
mandatory retirement age the board asked him to assume
the direction of the 125th anniversary program on a contract
basis. Now that this is coming to an end the board resolved
that no specific assignment be given to Dr. Harms following
the New Orleans convention and expressed the hope that he
would be willing and able to respond whenever the Synod
might indicate that it needs his services.

V. Convention Workbook. In an effort to reduce the size
of the convention Workbook and make the material more
manageable for the delegates the board decided to ask all
boards and commissions substantially to reduce the size of
their report and to ask all who submit overtures to do so
before March 16 so that a representative selection could be
made from among similar overtures for inclusion in the
Workbook.

W. Nominations. The board resolved to authorize the
synodical Secretary to engage an outside firm of auditors to
tabulate the nominating ballots received for President and
First Vice-President.

X. Investment in Brazil. The board adopted the recom-
f/ mendation to participate in an investment program in Brazil
, to enable the Synod to reduce the amount of subsidy to the
\ Brazil District.

Y. Irvine. While grateful to see the interest and response
exhibited in behalf of the opening of a college in Irvine,
Calif., the board nevertheless resolved that no construction
should be undertaken until the Southern California District
has in fact raised $1,000,000 and the Synod can also through
the 125th anniversary thankoffering provide a like sum.

Z. Budgeting for LCUSA. The board resolved that here-
after each operating unit of the Synod must evaluate
LCUSA's work and determine which portions and how many
dollars are of value to its work. this amount to be considered
as an addition to the operating unit's budget.

AA. Health Liability. The board proposed that the Board
for Missions develop a plan for providing health protection
for overseas missionaries.

BB. Oakland College Property. The board appointed a
special committee to meet with the Board of Directors of the
California and Nevada District to discuss their request that
this property be transferred to their District.

y CC. Audit. Once again the board provided for an an-
nual audit by an outside firm by engaging Ernst & Ernst for
{ this purpose.

DD. Military Hospital Work. It was decided that the full-
time VA and military pastors functions of the Armed Forces
Commission be transferred to the Board of Social Ministry

171

and World Relief for the respective institutional chaplaincy
programs of the Districts.

EE. Titles to Property. All colleges and seminaries were
asked to file copies of title documents with the synodical
Treasurer.

FF, Property Value. An insurance firm which has com-
pleted the appraisal of the property owned by the Synod has
set a value on it of $118,298,486.

GG. Health Protection for Overseas Missionaries. The
board decided to encourage the Board for Missions to bring
the overseas missionaries under the Concordia Plans. Any
unusual situations which might still develop because of the
unusual nature of these activities should then be handled in
the light of policy statements adopted by the Board of Di-
rectors in consultation with the Board for Missions. It is
hoped that this will alleviate the difficulties that have been
encountered.

HAH. Central Illinois District Headquarters. The board
gave approval for a net-net lease of 20 years, with an ex-
tension of 10 years, to permit the Central Illinois District to
place its headquarters on land now owned by the Spring-
field seminary.

II. Concordia Publishing House. The board had the happy
Opportunity of acknowledging once again the transfer of
$1,000,000 in profits from Concordia Publishing House to the
Synod.

JJ. Auviliaries. It was grateful to receive support for the
television ministry in the amount of $400,000 from the Lu-
theran Laymen’s League. The specific assistance given by
the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is also gratefully
acknowledged and will be reported by the Board for Mis-
sions.

KK. Major Presentations. At every meeting the President
of the Synod reported on the state of the church. Major
presentations were also received on the Church Extension
Fund; the Lutheran Witness and Reporter; the Personnel
Department: the Commerce Building; the Thankoffering: the
Board of Stewardship: the state of American business; the
Board for Missions: the Armed Forces Commission; the
Board for Higher Education: the Foundation; the Commis-
sion on Architecture; Concordia Publishing House; Board of
Youth Ministry.

LL. Other Items. The board approved the minutes for
sessions 10 through 18 of the Milwaukee convention; formu-
lated policies for the implementation of the tenure and ter-
mination bylaws adopted at the latest convention; approved
the fund raising proposal of Concordia, Bronxville; requested
District Presidents to submit names of qualified candidates
from each District for the various boards and commissions
with detailed information of their qualifications, including
also the consent of the candidate to be considered for ap-
pointment: conducted a major stewardship conference in the
fall of 1972: initiated a study of the use of church extension
funds: approved the request of the South American Districts
for a visit by Treasurer Carpenter and a member of the
Board of Trustees: designated the synodical Secretary as the
corporate agent; declined the request for participation in the
extended program of the “Study of Generations”; took note
of the resignation of Dr. Paul Streufert as Vice-President
and welcomed Dr. W. Harry Krieger as the new Vice-Presi-
dent: called for a study of the continued existence of the
English District; approved several amendments to the Con-
cordia Plans upon recommendation of the Board of Man-
agers: advanced funds to the Board of Youth Ministry for
participation in the all-Lutheran youth gathering: released
$5,000 toward the relief of the Polish Church in exile in
England: inquired about the possibility of bringing the
work for the mentally retarded under the auspices of
LCUSA: allocated funds for investigating the role of An-
dreae in the making of the Formula of Concord and for the
production of a scholarly study on Revelation: encouraged
the Stewardship Department to recommend support of the
American Bible Society: expressed deep concern during the
illness of Dr. Kent Knutson, President of the American Lu-
theran Church. for his own person, his family, and his
church: studied the possibility of bringing the work of the
Commission on Architecture under the auspices of LCUSA;
resolved to transfer CONCAP pension plan funds to the new
administrator as requested by the Board for Missions.

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