Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1981 · 54th Convention › Page 2
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 2

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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Later, during a press conference, Preus admitted intentional "ambiguity"
in his convention remarks on ALC fellowship, "just to keep all the options
alive."

The primary Task Force II recommendation that Preus favored was the switch
from bienniel conventions to those held every three years, which the
convention approved later in the session.

He reported on growth in Black ministry and the success of the LCMS Youth
Gathering and Great Commission Convocation in 1980. He noted that the church
faces exciting mission and ministry with the impetus of the almost $75 million
pledged through Forward in Remembrance, Synod's extraordinary appeal.

He told delegates that he was leaving office not because of his
controversial term as president of the Missouri Synod, but because "the Synod
needs a yOunger man. The Synod needs a period of peace...it needs the
opportunity to work on youth, evangelism, and multi-ethnic ministries and to
build its parochial schools and continue its mission work--particularly in
Canada and Mexico."

In closing, Preus wished "...the Synod God's richest blessings as it moves
on into what, under Him and with His blessing, can be the most marvelous era
that our beloved church body has ever known."

"Now is the time for the church to go to work and carry out its marvelous
mission of preaching the Gospel and loving our fellowmen," he said.

Dr. Ralph A. Bohlmann, president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, was
elected the ninth president of the Synod on Sunday.

Dr. Bohlmann received 722 votes on the fourth ballot to 388 for Dr.
Charles S. Mueller, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Roselle, I1l.

New Synod officers will be installed Sept. 27.

While he led on each ballot, it required the limit of four to give Dr.
Bohlmann the required majority. With five nominees on the first ballot, the
one receiving the least number of votes was eliminated on succeeding ballots.

Bohlmann led on the first ballot Saturday with 313 votes. Following were
Mueller-278, Dr. Walter A. Maier-238, Dr. Gerhardt Hyatt-180, Dr. Robert
Sauer-98.

On the second ballot, taken Saturday but not tabulated until Sunday when
it was reported to the convention, Bohlmann again led with 394 votes.
Following were Mueller-329, Maier-270 and Hyatt-1ll.

On the third ballot, Bohlmann received 504 votes, Mueller-372 and
Maier-215.

On Tuesday Bohlmann gave his formal acceptance remarks and urged the
church to exercise "utmost patience and understanding and study" in dealing
with other Lutheran bodies and to move forward the denomination's work in the
spirit of "consensus" shown at the convention.

Thanking the delegates for their support, he asked that he not be regarded
as being "messianic" or "a genius or miracle worker," but pledged himself to
seek information and counsel at all levels before "I answer Or before I act."
He said he did not intend to offer "speedy and easy answers" to the great
issues the church faces.

Dr. Bohlmann commended outgoing President J.A.O. Preus for his "colorful,
dynamic and often controversial" leadership since 1969, and said he will be
recognized as one of the “most remarkable" leaders in the history of American
churches. He said Dr. Preus had reversed "the trend toward more liberal
leadership but "in a way in which the church remains whole, intact and
committed."

The 49-year-old president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis said he
looked forward to "serving with my good friend, Dr. Robert Sauer and others to
be elected at the convention."

As to his own election, Dr. Bohlmann said he was not "a preferred
candidate of any organized political group within the Synod," and added, "This
means you want a president who is free to represent the whole Synod and that