# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S439 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) To Decline Overtures 3-181 through 3-189 (Actions Re Seminary) RESOLUTION 3-15 Overtures 3-181, 3-182A, 3-182B, 3-183, 3-184, 3-185, 3-186, 3-187A, 3-187B, 3-187C, 3-188, 3-189 (CW, pp. 160—162) Wuereas, The convention has acted with respect to the concerns raised in the overtures; therefore be it Resolved, That Overtures 3-181, 3-182A, 3-182B, 3-183, 3-184, 3-185, 3-186, 3 187A, 3-187B, 3-187C, 3-188, 3-189 be repectfully declined. To Deal with Concerns RESOLUTION 3-16 Overtures 3-111 through 3-130, 3-155A through 3-155F (CW, pp. 145—150, 154—155 Wuereas, These overtures express serious concerns of member congregations of the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That the synodical President or his rep- resentative on the Board of Control of Concordia Sem- inary, St. Louis, Mo., call a meeting of the said Board of Control as soon as possible; and be it also Resolved, That these concerns be turned over to the Board of Control for action. To Encourage Extension of Social Security Act RESOLUTION 4-25 Overture 12-18 (CW. p. 391) Wuereas, Many of our full-time church workers are not currently eligible for Social Security coverage on a self-employed basis; therefore be it Resolved, That the Board of Directors, together with Synod's legal department, make a careful study of the situation and take the necessary steps to obtain a pos- sible ruling that would make all full-time church workers eligible. To Decline Merger of Commission on Organizations with Commission on Theology and Church Relations RESOLUTION 4-23 Overture 4-36 (CW. p. 196) Wuereas. The organizational structure of Synod is being reviewed: and Wuereas. Other important functions are already be- ing assigned to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations: therefore be it Resolved, That the Commission on Organizations be retained in its present form until such review is com- pleted: and be it further Resolved, That Overture 4-36 be declined. To Modify Provision of Retirement Policies RESOLUTION 4-30 Report 4-04, V, E; Overture 4-59 (CW, pp. 172, 200) Wuereas, Many contributions in time and energy have been made by persons over 65; and Wuereas, In compliance with Milwaukee Resolution 4-46, the Board of Directors has reviewed the retire- ment and further service of staff members: and Wuereas, The study revealed the need for a Bylaw change; therefore be it Resolved, That Bylaw 2.105 a 1 which presently reads, 1, Each such person may retire at age 65, but shall be retired on the first day of the month following the month in which his 70th birthday occurs. be revised to read: 1. Each such person may request early retire- ment under the applicable provisions of the Con- cordia Retirement Plan, but he shall be retired at the end of the calendar year in which his 65th birthday occurs. Any further service beyond this mandatory date shall be on a contract basis not to exceed one year in duration, upon medical certifi- cation, with a provision for annual renewal to age 70. and be it also Resolved, That all pertinent Bylaws be amended ac- cordingly, any Bylaws to the contrary notwithstandmg. REFERRED RESOLUTIONS To Reconstitute the Commission on Mission and Ministry RESOLUTION 4-31 Report 4-08, III, 1, 2, 3 (CW. pp. 182—185) Wuereas, The convention assembled has chosen to retain the Commission on Mission and Ministry in the Church: and Wuereas, The Commission has requested that its size be reduced: therefore be it Resolved, That Bylaw 2.111 which presently reads: 2.111 Commission on Mission and Ministry in the Church a. Membership. Membership of the Commission on Mission and Ministry in the Church shall be constituted as follows: 1. ten voting members elected by the synodical convention in the same manner as other elected boards. commissions. and committees: four pastors. two teachers, and four laymen who are recognized in their respective fields of endeavor, representing some of the areas concerned with the cultural fac- tors affecting the church: 2. nine voting members appointed by the Presi- dent of the Synod in consu:tation with the Vice- Presidents: four laymen with qualifications similar to those described above. and one representative from each of the theological seminaries and from the colleges which confer the baccalaureate degree in teacher education; 3. four advisory members: the President of the Synod or his representative. and three members from among the executive leadership of the Synod, appointed by the President of the Synod in con- sultation with the Vice-Presidents. be revised to read: 1. five voting members elected by the synodical convention: two pastors, one teacher, and two Jaymen: 2. five voting members appointed by the Presi- dent of the Synod in consultation with the Vice- Presidents: two laymen, two members. one from each of the theological seminaries. and one member from a college which confers the baccalaureate degree in teacher education: 3. one advisory member, who shall be the President of the Synod or his representative. and be it further Resolved, That all pertinent Bylaws be amended ac- cordingly, any Bylaws to the contrary notwithstanding. To Recognize with Thanks the Reports of the Administrative Units RESOLUTION 4-35 Reports 4-01, 4-02, 4-03, 4-04, 4-05. 4-06, 4-07, 4-08, 4-104 to B (CW, pp. 167, 168, 179, 180. 182, 185, 185—190) Wuereas, The reports of the following administrative units of the Synod have been received and duly noted: therefore be it Resolved, That we recognize with thanks the work done by the President, the First Vice-President, the Secretary, the Board of Directors, the Department of Research and Statistics. the Synodical Service Commis- sion, the Lutheran Church — Canada, the Commission on Mission and Ministry in the Church, the 125th An- niversary Observance Committee, the 125th Anniversary Progress Committee, together with their reports. To Decline to Advise President in Appointments RESOLUTION 4-36 Overture 4-46 (CW. p. 198) Wuereas, The Synodical Handbook already sets down the procedures regarding presidential appointments. and Wuereas. These procedures are of long standing and have proven effective: therefore be it Resolved, That Overture 4-46 be declined. To Give Further Study to the Formation of National Churches RESOLUTION 4-39 Overtures 4-17, 4-18, (CW, pp. 192, 193) Wuereas. The whole matter of mission churches overseas becoming national churches is currently under study; therefore be it Resolved, That we await the results of this study before taking any definite action: and be it further 439 Resolved, That the matter of non-USA_ Districts forming national churches be a part of this same study. To Decline to Reveal Salaries RESOLUTION 4-40 Overture 4-49 (CW. p. 198) Wuereas. The salaries of synodical and District per- sonnel receive annual review and are subject to change: and WHeREAS. There are very few positive purposes to be achieved by such a revelation: therefore be it Resolved, That Overture 4-49 be declined. To Provide for the Orderly Assimilation of the English District RESOLUTION 4-41 Overtures 4-19, 4-20, 4-21, 4-22, 4-23 (CW. pp. 192, 193) Whereas. The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod has divided itself into Districts in order to bring Christ to all people in an efficient manner. and Wereas. The English District has been an able min- ister in the Synod for over 62 years of its 100-year his- tory: and Wuereas, The administration and ministry of the English District overlap that of the geographic Districts; and Wuereas. The English District could bring leadership and strength to the geographic Districts: and Wuereas. The purpose of the English District as de- signed in 1911, namely to minister to English-speaking people, has long since ended: therefore be it Resolved. That the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod express its appreciation and gratitude to the English District for the valuable Kingdom work done during the past years of our Synod’s history: and be it further Resolved, That the English District be instructed by Synod to take steps to assimilate its congregations into the geographical Districts: and be it further Resolved, That this assimilation be reached by the time of the 1977 synodical convention: and be it finally Resolved, That the Board of Directors and the re- spective departments of the Synod work together with the English District in this process. To Study the Rights of Withdrawing Congregations and or Clergy RESOLUTION 4-42 Overture 4-16 (CW. p. 192) Wuereas, The Lord wants our Christian dealings and love in relation to our fellow believers to transcend any political or theological divisions and differences; and WHereas, Situations may arise which may lead to withdrawal from our fellowship; therefore be it Resolved, That the Board of Directors direct a thor- ough study of the rights and privileges of congregations and or clergy who may wish to withdraw from the Synod: and be it also Resolved, That the results of this study be made available at the time of the synodical convention in 1975. To Call Circuit Counselors’ Convocation RESOLUTION 4-44 Overture 4-56 (CW. pp. 199—200) Whereas, The study of God's Word is essential to the growth of our pastors and our church: and Wuereas, Face-to-face, brotherly sharing of theolog- ical concerns needs to continue; and Wuergas, The circuit counselors should play a vital role in leading and guiding the pastors of their circuits in theological discussions: therefore be it Resolved, That a theological convocation for circuit counselors be called by the Synod on a Synodwide basis, for the purpose of continued study of the great truths of God's Word; and also be it Resolved, That such a convocation be held in the fall of 1974.