Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1981 · 54th Convention › Page 3
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 3

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

-3-

is what I hope to do with the help of God and your leadership and cooperation.'

He said he did not seek the office because he believes "the office should
seek the man." But seeing his election as "the will of God," he told the
convention it gave him "a happy but humble heart with a deep sense of
excitement ."

Dr. Bohlmann said he hoped his presidency "will serve to promote unity and
reconciliation within our church body." And he said he hoped "all of us"
prefer a label of "disciples of Jesus Christ rather than conservative,
moderate or liberal."

Dr. Robert C. Sauer of St. Charles, Mo. was elected first vice president
of the Synod.

An assistant to President J.A.O. Preus and fourth vice-president, Dr.
Sauer received 548 of 1,007 votes on the third ballot for election. Dr.
Charles S. Mueller, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Roselle, I1l.,
received 426 votes, while Dr. Walter A.Maier, professor at Concordia
Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, received 33 votes.

Dr. August Bernthal, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church at Winter Haven,
Fla., amd Dr. Paul Zimmerman, president of Concordia College in River Forest,
Ill., were eliminated on the first ballot, and Dr. Joseph G. Lavalais of
Philadelphia was eliminated on the second ballot.

Dr. Sauer thanked the delegates at the convention upon announcement of his
election. He said, "...it was a great privilege to work with Dr. Preus ard I
am delighted to be able to serve with Ralph Bohlmann."

Dr. Edwin C. Weber, first vice-president since 1973, had announced his
retirement.

Dr. Joseph G. Lavalais of Philadelphia Tuesday was elected second vice
president, the first black to be named to that high a post among the major
Lutheran bodies.

Lavalais, 67, pastor of St. Philips Lutheran Church in Philadelphia,
received 642 votes to head the ballot.

Dr. Guido A. Merkens, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church, San Antonio,
Tex., waS elected third vice president; Dr. Gerhardt Hyatt, president of
Concordia College, St. Paul, Minn., fourth vice president; and Dr. Walter A.
Maier, Fort Wayne, Ind., fifth vice president. Maier's election came ina
"run-off" with Dr. Charles S. Mueller. Each had received 503 votes on the
previous ballot; but Maier's final win came with 524 votes, to Mueller's 503.

Dr. Herbert Mueller and Norman Sell of St. Louis Wednesday were re-elected
secretary and treasurer of the Synod, respectively. Mueller begins his fifth
term and Sell his second tern.

Delegates cast 852 ballots for Mueller to 154 for Rev. Richard A. Krogen
of Blaine, Minn. Mueller was first elected LCMS secretary in 1965.

Sell, first elected in 1977, received 862 votes to 127 for Wayne E.
Krueger of Springfield, Ill.

Also elected were 110 other positions on LCMS boards and cammissions.

After three hours of lively debate, delegates on Sunday voted 590-494 to
rescind altar and pulpit fellowship with The American Lutheran Church.

The resolution was amended to include the words "with deep regret"
regarding the ending of fellowship.

The decision means, ordinarily, that ALC and LCMS pastors are no longer
free to exchange pulpits for preaching and church members may no longer take
cammunion in each others‘ churches.

However, the resolution also provides that congregations and pastors "as
circumstances warrant, may provide responsible pastoral care to individuals of
the ALC" and that the LCMS will continue doctrinal discussions with the ALC
with the goal of reaching doctrinal agreement and eventually resuming altar
amd pulpit fellowship. —

A motion to reconsider this vote was later denied.