LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 24

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24 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

ministry. Mr. Richard Bimler, executive secretary of the
Board for Youth Services, pointed out that youth minis-
try is a ministry of and to young people. After the
convention we will be involved in a year of youth
ministry, including the Youth Gathering in San Antonio
entitled, “Amigos de Cristo.”” Emphases of the year of
youth ministry will be those of youth and adults together
in ministry, young people as gifts, peer group relation-
ships, and youth as a part of the church. Youth ministry
is founded and grounded in Jesus Christ. The delegates
were granted the privilege of viewing a film which will
be made available to the congregations in the fall
together with a study guide. The film is entitled “Shine
His Light” and refers to fathers, daughters, mothers,
and sons together in ministry.

Mr. Phil Ebeling, chairperson of the Lutheran Youth
Fellowship, brought greetings from nearly 4,000 youth
groups belonging to the fellowship. The theme for the
coming year of the group is “Jesus Frees Us” and is the
focus of Biblical materials which are being prepared.

Fifty special youth representatives from Districts
were welcomed, and presentations were given by several
young people from the Mid-South District and the
California-Nevada-Hawaii District representing these
youth.

Announcement

Mr. Marvin Siebels, convention manager, was intro-
duced and made several announcements to the dele-
gates relating to the rally to be held on Sunday, as well
as other events which will occur.

Closing Devotions

Rev. Paul Devantier, director of communication
services, led the delegates in a closing devotion, pointing
out that we have only just begun to proclaim Jesus
Christ. The 136 years in which the Synod has been in
existence have only been a beginning, laying a founda-
tion for our future activity. The devotion was closed
with the singing of a hymn.

Session 2

Saturday, July 9, Afternoon
Opening Devotion

The opening devotion for the afternoon session was
begun with the singing of the hymn, “All Who Believe
and Are Baptized.” President Boh]mann explained to
the delegates that the afternoon devotions would be led
by young people and introduced Les Stroh, a member of
the staff of the Board for Youth Services, who explained
that the devotions will center about the six chief parts of
Christian doctrine. The Scriptures which would be used
during the devotions would be portions of Scripture
which Luther used in association with specific sections
of Christian doctrine. The Scripture reading used for the
afternoon devotion was Gal. 3:26, which Luther used to
introduce the explanation to the question, What great
thing does Baptism give or work? The devotion con-

cluded with a contemporary hymn led by the youth
delegates to the convention.

Elections

President Paul Wendling, chairman of the Floor
Committee on Registration, Credentials, and Elections,
presented the first ballot for the office of President and
instructed delegates with regard to voting procedures.
After voting had been completed, he declared the ballot
closed.

Structure and Constitution

President BohImann introduced Dr. Wilbert Griesse,
President of the Mid-South District and chairman of the’ °
Floor Committee on Structure and Constitution, to the 3
delegates and indicated the scope of work which had. 3
been carried out by this committee. Following the
introduction, Chairman Griesse gave an overview of the
work which the committee had completed and of the
resolutions which were to be considered by the conven-
tion. The presentation of this overview was accom-
panied by visual materials to assist the delegates in
their future deliberations.

After the overview had been completed, Res. 5-01 (7B
107), calling for a reduction of the number of synodical
Vice-Presidents, was introduced to the delegates. An
amendment calling for the change of the word “two” to
“three” in line 29 (TB 107) was declined after some
discussion.

Elections

Discussion of Res. 5-01 (TB 107) was interrupted in
order to permit the Registration, Credentials, and.
Elections Committee to report on the results of th
voting for President. President Wendling, chairman of
the committee, reported that a total of 1,110 voting:
delegates had been registered at the time of voting, that
1,079 ballots had been cast, and that 540 were needed for
election. The results of the election were as follows:
Lloyd Behnken—95, Ralph Bohlmann—844, Richard:
Hinz—75, Ray Martens—11, and Guido Merkens—54::
Dr. Ralph Bohlmann was declared elected as President
and received a standing ovation from the delegates:.
President Bohlmann expressed his appreciation for the.
support which had been given him and the confidence
which had been placed in him by the Synod and the
convention.

Structure and Constitution

Following the reporting of election results, discus--
sion of Res. 5-01 (7B 107) was resumed. After agreeing to
cease debate, the delegates voted on the resolution an
declined to accept it. Chairman Griesse then reported
that as a result of the decision of the delegates Res. 5-0:
(TB 107) was now meaningless. After Res. 5-03A (TB*
176), which would allow for the extension of terms for *
present members of the Board of Directors, was intr
duced, the delegates began discussion of the issue. Th
desire for dealing with the matter had come abou
because of certain structural changes which wer