# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1979_S46 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 46 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION Session 11 July 12, Morning Opening Devotion In the opening devotion for the session the chaplain for the convention, Dr. Nitz, led the delegates in the singing of ahymn on the theme of the convention, “God Opens Doors,” written by Carl E. Zahrte, found on page 314 of Today’s Business, and in the morning prayer on that same page. The devotion was closed with a brief meditation. Higher Education Chairman John Zimmermann of the Floor Commit- tee on Higher Education presented Res. 6-11 (TB 129) to the delegates, calling for the provision of graduate school fellowships for potential faculty members. An amendment to substitute the words, “WHEREAS, Our Synod maintains graduate schools at St. Louis, Fort Wayne, River Forest, and Seward which offer accred- ited advanced degrees” for the third whereas, and to change “school” to “schools” in line 55 (TB 129) was declined. The resolution was then adopted as presented. After hearing from President Glenn O’Shoney of the Texas District, who stated reasons for the expansion, and after some further discussion, Res. 6-12A (TB 195) was adopted, granting Concordia College, Austin, Tex- as, authorization to move to four-year status under the guidance and direction of the Board for Higher Educa- tion and the Board of Control of the college. The junior year of the program at Austin is to be begun no earlier than the fall term of 1980. Reconsideration A delegate who had voted on the prevailing side during the passage of Res. 4-14 (TB 112) as amended made a motion for reconsideration of the resolution with particular reference to the amendment which required the Board of Directors to implement a second faculty salary adjustment retroactive to Feb. 1,1979. Acall fora division of the house showed that the delegates by a vote of 503 to 429 expressed their desire to do so. After discussion and after agreeing to cease debate on the amendment, they then declined it. Resolution 4-14 (TB 112) was then adopted as originally presented by the committee. Point of Privilege The delegate who had moved for reconsideration requested the privilege of making a motion which he felt would deal adequately with similar situations in the future. He was asked to refer his proposed resolution toa committee for consideration before it was presented. Higher Education Resolution 6-13 (7B 130), calling for recognition and encouragement of creative programs for church min- istry, was adopted. In this resolution the colleges were thanked for designing and establishing creative pro- grams for special ministries, and the Board for Higher Education in consultation with the Commission on Theology and Church Relations was asked to study the various emerging ministries of the church in order to define and standardize their program of preparation. Congregations of the Synod are to be alerted to the various kinds of special ministries available to the church and were encouraged to utilize these ministries wherever possible for the proclamation of the Gospel. By adopting Res. 6-14A (TB 195) the convention directed the Board of Assignments to return to the placement procedures for teacher candidates which were in effect prior to May 1977 and requested it to review its placement procedures for teacher candidates and report to the 1981 convention. A call fora division of the house showed that this resolution had been adopted by a vote of 530 to 296. Point of Privilege Dr. Ralph Bohlmann, president of Concordia Sem- inary, St. Louis, was granted a point of privilege to address the convention, expressing his concern about the action taken by the convention in its reconsidera- tion of Res. 4-14 (7B 112). He stated that it was his view, as well as that of other presidents of higher educational institutions of the Synod, that the problem of faculty salaries still remained unsolved. A proposed resolution which was offered by a delegate at this point was referred to Committee 12 after brief discussion. Higher Education Following this action the delegates adopted Res. 6-15 (7B 131), which asked the Districts concerned with urban ministry to secure appropriate funds for the establishment of vicarages and teaching internships in urban parishes and schools. An amendment offered after this resolution was adopted, calling for the fund- ing of 10 such vicarages, was declined. Since the director of Christian education is an approved ministry of the Synod and it is therefore appropriate to include colloquy procedures towards becoming directors of Chris- tian education, the responsibility of implementing and supervising the colloquy program for this office was assigned to the Colloquy Board for the Teaching Min- istry, and the necessary Bylaws were adopted (Res. 6- 17A, TB 196). By adopting Res. 6-18A (TB 197) Bylaw 6.53 b of the Handbook was changed to allow for the development of a list of approved potential faculty members for initial appointment at institutions of higher education of the Synod. After inserting the word “continued” between the words “the” and “provision” on line 37 (TB 134), the Floor Committee on Higher Education introduced Res. 6-20 (TB 134), calling for an intensification of recruitment efforts for church voca- tions. This resolution was adopted as presented. By adopting it the convention asked that each pastor, teacher, parish worker, and parishioner pray for the success of recruitment efforts as well as carry on intensified personal efforts for enlisting capable, dedi- cated people into church vocations. It also urged the Board for Higher Education to assign a high priority to seletenianeasiaiaminaaiiiateebemeamtetiaiteet amet metre