LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 48

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48 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

95) and thereby reaffirmed the commitment of the
Synod to the Forward in Remembrance mission and
ministry statement.

Point of Privilege

Responding to a point of privilege, a delegate intro-
duced an amendment to revise Standing Rule 5(TB8) to
change the number “30” to “15” in order to reduce the
time in which the assembly would be given the oppor-
tunity to determine if they wish to cease debate. The
delegates agreed and amended the standing rule as
suggested.

Greetings

Dr. Robert Abolins, vice-president of the Latvian
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was intro-
duced to the convention. This church is an immigrant
church which has a problem of training Lutheran
pastors for its constituency because it does not have a
seminary. Some pastors of the Latvian Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America are being trained at
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and President Abolins
asked that vicarages for such persons be in Latvian
churches so that they might be better prepared to
minister to this group of people.

Special Award

Chaplain Jim Shaw, the newly elected executive
secretary of the Armed Forces Commission, was intro-
duced to the convention to present the silver Martin of
Tours Award to Dr. Gerhardt Hyatt, Vice-President of
the Synod and former chief of chaplains of the army. In
his remarks, Chaplain Shaw pointed out that this
medal is given only to those who have made highly
significant contributions in service to the Armed Forces
and that only nine medals had been given in the past.
The one being presented to Dr. Hyatt was the tenth. The
citation was read by Dr. Edward Westcott, executive
secretary of the Board for Mission Services. Among
other things it referred to Dr. Hyatt’s service to military
personnel and their families and the culmination of his
military career as army chief of chaplains. Following
the presentation Dr. Hyatt expressed his appreciation
for this honor which had been given.

Point of Privilege

Speaking on a point of privilege, Mr. Albert Wing-
field, chairman of the Board for Mission Services,
informed the delegates that the Board for Mission
Services now has three members from the same District
and the same congregation as a result of the recent
elections. He informed the delegates that he was consid-
ering resignation from the board at its September
meeting and asked the delegates to remember the board
in its prayers as the decision is made.

Parish, Youth, and Communication Services

In presentations accompanied by visuals, Dr. Victor
Constien, executive secretary of the Board for Parish

Services, Mr. Richard Bimler, executive secretary of the
Board for Youth Services, and the Rev. Paul Devantier,
executive secretary of the Board for Communication
Services, described for the convention the scope and
activities of each of their boards. The presentation
involved both present services which are provided and
future plans in each of these areas. Pastor Devantier
reported that he is investigating the possibility of
putting together a packet of 40 slides which could be
used by the delegates in reporting to their Circuits on
the activities of the convention.

Announcement

In response to a request made in a previous session,
Dr. John Schuelke, administrative officer of the Board
of Directors, announced that the total offering received
at the opening service and Sunday morning service was
$7,900. He read a resolution of the Board of Directors
which designated $4,500 of this offering to be used for
strengthening the youth evangelism program and
$3,400 for the Luther birthday celebration.

Point of Privilege

Responding to a point of privilege, a delegate asked
whether Res. 4-02A, which had been adopted as two
separate resolutions in a previous session, would be
printed as a single resolution or as two separate resolu-
tions. The chairman pointed out that the matter would
be taken under advisement since some editorial diffi-
culties might be involved as a result of the preamble
being applicable to both resolutions.

Parish, Youth, and Communication Services

Dr. Arnold Kromphardt, chairman of the Floor.
Committee on Parish, Youth, and Communication Ser-.
vices, reintroduced Res. 2-12 (TB 54) on which discus-
sion had begun in a previous session. Discussion was
resumed at the point of considering an amendment
which called for striking the words ‘abstain from
developing” and substituting the words “begin to.
study” in line 3 (TB 55). After some discussion the,
amendment was declined. During the discussion an.
amendment to the amendment had been declared out of;
order at that point since it was not really an amendment:
to an amendment but an entirely separate resolve. This,
would have stated “Resolved, That language and style:
of such revision should be congruent with the style of:
Lutheran Worship, particularly in translation of Bibl
passages and wording of material in liturgical ser~
vices.” Immediately after declining the amendment, th
delegates agreed to cease debate on the resolution by a%
vote of 688 to 234. Judgment based on a voice vot
indicated that the resolution had been declined. How:
ever, a division of the house showed that Res. 2-12 (TB;
54) had been adopted by a vote of 533 to 425.

Point of Privilege

Responding to a point of privilege, a delegate asked
that those voting be given a third option, that ag
abstention. It was ruled that this could be done but thaby