# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S35 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 34 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION Point of Order Responding to a point of order which stated that the President should relinquish the chair if he intended to participate in the debate, Dr. Preus indicated that if the delegates believed that he was participating in it, they would have the opportunity to make this request. Constitutional Matters President Preus spoke to the convention delegates, referring to sections of the synodical Handbook which he felt made it necessary for the convention to deal with this matter. He stated that he was ready to ask for withdrawal of Res. 5-02A if the District Presidents in- volved were now ready to walk with the Synod and abide by its Constitution. A number of Vice-Presidents of the Synod, as well as other District Presidents, were then allowed to address the delegates. Elections Chairman Marcis of the floor committee on Elections reported that in the election for the Board for Missions the vote had been as follows: Werning—448, Lavalais— 188, Gruell—373. The name of Lavalais was then re- moved from the ballot, and delegates were asked to vote on the remaining two candidates. After the distribution of ballots and voting by the delegates, Chairman Marcis declared the election for the Board for Missions closed. Orders of the Day President Preus informed the delegates that discus- sion of Res. 5-02A (TB 202) would continue the next day. — The convention also agreed to resume its business ses- sions at 8:30 a.m. and to resume discussion of Res. 5-02A at that time. Closing The convention session was closed with the Aaronic Benediction spoken by Dr. Preus. The presidents of the LWML and the ILLL: Florence Montz and Gus Melde Session 8 July 9, Morning Opening The morning session opened with small-group Bible study, song, and prayer. In keeping with the resolution of the previous day, Dr. Preus called the session to order at 8:30 and led the delegates in prayer. Missionary Paul Bartling, who had become ill and was hospitalized, was included in the prayer. Orders of the Day The chairman announced that Committee 5, the floor committee on Constitutional Matters, would present its resolutions between 8:45 and 9:45. The agenda for the day would then be followed with the evening session devoted to the work of Floor Committees 9 and 3. Dr. Harkins would speak to the convention delegates early in the afternoon session. Announcements The Committee on Convention Arrangements an- nounced that for the safety of all concerned visitors would be restricted to the gallery. Elections Chairman Marcis of the floor committee on Elections reviewed the sequence in balloting for the Board for Missions and announced that the Rev. Eugene F. Gruell had received a majority of the 1,056 votes cast. The tally showed Gruell—557, Werning—499. The convention then granted the Committee on Elections approval for destroying the ballots and dismissed the committee with thanks since its work was now completed. Constitutional Matters Discussion of Res. 5-02A (TB 202) was resumed as had been directed by the convention at its last session. Dr. Preus announced that some of the Presidents would be allowed to speak and then discussion would come from the floor. A motion to adopt the procedure of hearing one pastor pro and con and one layman pro and con in sequence was adopted. Dr. Oliver Harms, Past President of the Synod, and Dr. Edwin Weber, First Vice-President of the Synod, addressed the delegates briefly. A motion from the floor asking that five more District Presidents be heard was declined by the convention. Dr. Edmund Happel, chairman of the floor committee on Constitu- tional Matters, again spoke of the reasons for the presen- tation of this resolution. He stated that there was no animosity among the members of the Council of Presi- dents. Rev. George Wollenburg, President of the Mon- tana District and a member of the committee, spoke to the delegates of the difference between the authority of the pastoral office and that of the District President. » Point of Information Responding to a point of information, Dr. Preus indi- cated that the Handbook is still applicable even if the resolution before the house was declined.