# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S34 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) em em 1 mae nme cena mene ae acres any ated temerceme er wet ene rem eemcn SE CRU IR RY ESR REE: STARRETT AEN nn ae ni CYT AREER EE ers mene ep yep anhan eR TeNneon MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 33 of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, to the convention. She brought greetings from the 200,000 members of the league. In her remarks she said that we often speak of the good old days, but if a choice were given to her, she would choose now as the time to live. There are tremendous opportunities to serve the Lord in the present day. She stated that the LWML is alive, well, and working, and will be holding its international con- vention in Minneapolis in the near future. The theme for this convention will be “Saints, Arise.” At the close of her remarks, Mrs. Montz presented a new series of “mustard seeds” to Dr. Preus. Following the adoption of Res. 2-03 (TB 33), which commended the Synod’s workers in the world’s mission fields and asked the Synod to expand and increase its support for mission work, Pastor Wilbern Michalk pre- sented a check for $1,000 to Dr. Preus and the Synod as a mission contribution from his congregation. Resolution 2-04A (TB 236), a substitute for Res. 2-04 (TB 33), calling for a study of the possibility of beginning mission work in Angola and Mozambique, was adopted by the delegates. They also asked for an enlargement of mission work among the North American Indians and com- mended Concordia College, Seward, Nebraska, for initi- ating specialized training for Indian ministry (Res. 2-05, TB 34). The floor committee on Missions then introduced Res. 2-06 (TB 34), asking the convention to ratify the opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters regarding campus ministry. The convention declined to consider Overture 2-30A (CW 37) as a substitute motion. Time for consideration of this resolution: expired before final ac- tion could be taken on it. Elections The Rev. Albert Marcis, chairman of the floor com- mittee on Elections, announced additional election re- sults (attached to the Minutes), distributed additional election ballots, and explained the procedures for elec- tion. He offered a corrected report on the elections for the Board for Missions, which now indicated that only one pastoral member had been elected since Dr. Waldo Wern- ing had not received a majority as had been previously reported. During the distribution of the ballots a motion was made and adopted by the convention asking guests not to applaud during the discussion of resolutions. Chairman Marcis declared this session of the elec- tions closed. Administration Dr. Elwood Zimmermann, chairman of the floor com- mittee on Administration, introduced Res. 4-02A (TB 257) as a substitute for Res. 4-02 (TB 72). This resolution called for dissolution of the English District. While pre- senting this resolution, he also called attention to a minority proposal prepared by seven members of the committee and found on page 259 of Today’s Business. At this point he called upon Mr. Philip Draheim, legal counsel for the Synod, who read a position paper of the Board of Directors of the Synod which outlined a proce- dure to be followed in solving any disagreement which might occur if the convention should adopt the resolution for dissolution of the English District and the English District felt compelled to oppose this action of the con- vention. Because of the timetable involved in such a procedure, the date of January 15, 1976, was changed to July 15, 1976, in lines 47, 50, and 56 of Today’s Business. By adopting a motion made after a point of privilege had been granted, the delegates approved distribution of this position paper to the convention. By another point of privilege the President of the English District, Harold Hecht, was permitted to address the convention. In his remarks he stated that the question before the delegates was how we would deal with one another. It was his opinion that passing this resolution would take away a ministry from a large segment of people. The delegates then declined to consider Overture 3-41 (CW 74—75) as a substitute motion. By a vote of 473— 517 they also declined to consider the minority proposal (TB 259) as a substitute motion. Following further dis- cussion, a vote was taken on the resolution for dissolu- tion of the English District. The resolution was declined. Elections Chairman Marcis of the Elections committee stated that no majority had been received in the election for the second position of pastor on the Board for Missions. The vote in the election was as follows: Gruell—340, Meyer— 229, Lavalais—289, Werning—532. In accordance with the election procedure, the delegates would be asked to vote on the three candidates who had received the largest number of votes. Constitutional Matters Chairman of the floor committee on Constitutional Matters, Dr. Edmund Happel, reintroduced Res. 5-02A (TB 202), on which discussion had not been completed in a previous session. This resolution asked that District Presidents who had ordained or authorized ordination of persons who were not properly endorsed be dealt with. Elections Before beginning discussion of Res. 5-02A (TB 202) elections for the Board for Missions were declared closed. Constitutional Matters Dr. Preus informed the convention delegates that he had given the eight District Presidents affected by Res. 5-02A (TB 202) permission to speak under the 2-minute rule. After several of them had spoken but not completed their statements, the delegates agreed to a motion asking that time be allotted for the Presidents to complete their statements even though this exceeded 2 minutes. The District Presidents who addressed the convention, stat- ing their reasons for the actions which they had taken, were Frincke, Hecht, Neunaber, Jaech, Jacobs, Meyer, Ressmeyer, and Riedel. The convention agreed to extend time for consideration of this resolution and asked the President of the Synod to respond to the statements of the District Presidents.