# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1979_S39
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 39

Ministry and World Relief, who addressed the delegates
briefly. He introduced Rev. Melvin Witt, who is in
charge of hunger and world-relief activities. Rev. Witt
pointed out that God opens doors through people who
put His love into action. He in turn introduced Rev. Gene
Thiemann, who is now serving on the staff of World
Relief, Inc. Rev. Thiemann reminded the delegates that
for 450 million people the words “I am starved” are a
literal fact of life, not a figure of speech, and asked for
help in turning that literal fact into a figure of speech for
many of these people. Chairman Ziegler of the Floor
Committee on Social Ministry then introduced Res. 8-01
(TB 145), which called for consideration of the needs of
older persons and asked the Executive Secretary of the
Board of Social Ministry and World Relief to convene
representatives of all of the Synod’s program boards to
devise and plan a comprehensive approach to the
overall needs of older persons in the church and com-
munity and to report their findings to the Board of
Directors with recommendations for implementation.
Resolution 8-01 (TB 145) was adopted as presented.
During discussion of Res. 8-02 (TB 145), calling for the
continuation of sponsorship of refugee families, Pres-
ident Preus was called upon to address the group with
regard to problems which are facing the refugees. In his
remarks he pointed out that 28,000 Vietnamese refugees
have been placed among Lutheran churches in this
country. Dr. Preus introduced Mrs. Dawson, who has
been involved in this work of placement and who in her
remarks pointed out that the gift of love which is shown
to the refugees is the gift of life itself. The delegates
adopted an amendment which stated as an added
resolved, “Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry
and World Relief of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod be requested to investigate ministry to Haitian
refugees as well.” They then adopted Res. 8-02 ( TB 145)
as amended. During the discussion of Res. 8-03 (TB 146),
which was designed to commend and strengthen the
work of the Commission on Ministerial Health, the
delegates agreed to place a period after the word “tran-
sition” in line 34 (TB 146) and to eliminate the last
resolved. A call for the division of the house showed that
the amendment had been adopted by a vote of 475 to 377.
After agreeing to cease debate, the delegates, however,
declined Res. 8-03 (7B 146) as amended. A call for a
division of the house showed that the resolution had
been defeated by a vote of 360 to 515.

Administration

Chairman Alvin Kolimann of the Floor Committee
on Administration introduced Res. 4-09(7B 110), which
provided for adoption of Bylaws for the Commission on
Black Ministry. The resolution was read in its entirety.
After some discussion the words “not less than” in line
45 (TB 110) were deleted by common consent. An
amendment calling for the placing of a period after the
word “President” in line 52 (7B 110) and the deletion of
the remainder of that line was declined. An effort to
amend the amendment was declared out of order since
an amendment to strike cannot be amended. After

agreeing to cease debate, Res. 4-09(TB 110) was adopted.
Prior to introducing Res. 4-10A (TB 251) the committee
revised the first whereas by substituting the words “its
Black centennial” for the words “the centennial” and
the deletion of the words “of its work among the Blacks”
in line 50 (TB 251). During the discussion of the
resolution the delegates declined to consider a substitute
resolution which replaced the resolveds with the words,
“Resolved, That the synodical President and District
Presidents actively seek recommendations of members
of minority groups from representatives of their respec-
tive minority groups (e.g., Blacks, Hispanics, native
Americans, Asian, women, and so forth) for appoint-
ment to boards and commissions or for referral to
nominating committees; and be it finally Resolved,
That a goal be set to have one-third of the membership
of all boards and commissions of the Synod filled by
competent minority-group persons, and that District
Presidents be encouraged to follow the example of the
synodical President on this policy.” Resolution 4-10A
(TB 251) was then adopted.

Elections

The chairman of the Floor Committee on Elections,
Henry Simon, reported that Gustav Schramm had been
elected to the Board for Missions and John Korcok had
been elected to the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations. He reported that this completed the elections
for boards and commissions. Following this report the
convention approved a motion that all ballots be de-
stroyed. This brought the work of the Committee on
Elections to completion.

Closing Devotion

The chaplain for the convention, Dr. Nitz, led the
delegates in a closing devotion which consisted of
singing a hymn and speaking the evening prayer found
on page 274 of Today’s Business.

Session 9

July 11, Morning
Opening Devotion

Devotion for Session 9 of the convention was con-
ducted by the chaplain for the convention, Dr. Gerhardt
Nitz, who led the delegates in the singing of the hymn
“Now the Shades of Night Are Gone.” After hearing a
meditation based on a portion of Psalm 51, the delegates
were asked to join in praying the prayer from the psalm,
“Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

Announcements

President Preus announced the orders of the day,
pointing out that Committee 12 would appear at 2:15
p.m. rather than the Committee on Constitutional
Matters. Ninety-nine resolutions still remain to be acted
on. He pointed out that at the afternoon session a
decision would be made regarding a possible evening
session.