# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1979_S36
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

36 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Theology and Church Relations

By the adoption of Res. 3-05 (TB 98) the Lutheran
Church—Canada was encouraged to proceed with the
formation of an indigenous Lutheran Church—Canada.
After adopting an amendment which called for the
addition of the words “or other Canadian university, if
necessary” in line 45 between the words “university ”’
and “so” in Res. 3-06A (7B 209), the delegates approved
the establishment of the St. Catharines extension of the
Fort Wayne seminary as a separate Canadian seminary
with a separate budget at the end of the present fiscal
year and the election of a Board of Control at the 1981
convention, During the discussion of Res. 3-07 (TB 99),
calling for the continuation of membership in the
Lutheran Council in the U.S.A., several amendments
were proposed. One called for a resolved stating, “That
we request the ALC and the LCA to withdraw the
National Lutheran Campus Ministry and the Lutheran
Student Movement from under the Lutheran Council in
the U.S.A.” The second called for the addition of the
words “and that the decision from time to time to
continue or not, commitments to LCUSA beyond the
Division of Administration and the Division of Theol-
ogical Studies, be left to the Synod’s Board of Directors”
be added to the final resolved. After both amendments
were declined, the convention adopted Res. 3-07 (TB 99)
as originally presented.

LCUSA Representatives

Dr. George Harkins, retiring general secretary of
LCUSA, addressed the convention and spoke of his
appreciation for the participation of representatives of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in the work of
the council. He stressed their participation particularly
in three areas: dialog with other denominations, parti-
cipation in the Consultation on Church-State Relations,
and participation in work with refugees. Dr. John
Houck, newly elected general secretary of LCUSA, also
addressed the delegates, pointing out that any action
which is taken by groups involved in the council should
not bea cooperation forced by inflationary concerns but
rather one which is determined on the basis of sound
reasoning. He asked for the prayers of the delegates for
himself and the council as he begins his new term of
office. Following these remarks Dr. Herbert Mueller,
newly elected president of LCUSA, addressed the con-
vention. In his remarks he expressed appreciation for
the convention action which had been taken in contin-
uing membership in LCUSA and described it asa sign
of maturity. He pointed out that God has given us two
hands, one to hold on to Christ and the Scriptures and
the other to hold on to our brothers and sisters. Some-
times this involves tension, but as another church
leader has said, “So be it. The church lives under
tension.”

Our youth representatives