LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 56

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56 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

delegates resolved that the Districts and congregations
of the Synod should be encouraged to place the Lutheran
Witness into every household of their membership.
After the floor committee had added the words ‘““The
congregations of” between the words ‘‘Whereas” and
“The” in line 19 (7B 58) and had changed the words
“our” to “these” in lines 22 and 40 (7B58) and after the
delegates had agreed to add the words “and report on
the results of their study no later than the 1986 conven-
tion’ at the end of the last resolve, the delegates adopted
Res. 2-19 (TB 58) as amended. This resolution asked the
Board for Parish Services to alert schools to the false
doctrine contained within some educational materials
and to avoid the uncritical use of them, as well as to
continue to study the feasibility of providing Christian
textbooks for the Christian day schools of the Synod.

Reconsideration

One of the delegates of the convention had filed
notice of his intent to request reconsideration of Res.
2-12 (TB 54) which had previously been adopted by the
convention. After the motion to reconsider had carried,
he proposed consideration of a substitute resolution
printed on page 327 of Today’s Business. Following the
“Behnken rule” related to substitute motions, the dele-
gates agreed to consider the resolution as a substitute
for that which had been adopted. The substitute resolu-
tion (Res. 2-12A) asked the Synod to instruct the Board
for Parish Services to continue publishing the 1943
catechism but also to prepare and submit to the Com-
mission on Theology and Church Relations for approval
and review a new translation of it in contemporary
English. Upon the recommendation of the CTCR, the
Board for Parish Services was instructed to make this
new translation available for use to the church at the
earliest practical date. After some discussion, the dele-
gates adopted the substitute resolution as presented.

With the adoption of this resolution, the work of the
Floor Committee on Parish, Youth, and Communica-
tion Services was declared completed.

Administration and Program Implementation

Chairman Richard Schlecht of the Floor Committee
on Administration and Program Implementation in-
troduced Res. 4-08A (TB 226) which was intended to
provide for improved communications between the
synodical President and Circuit Counselors. Before
considering the resolution, the delegates declined a
substitute motion according to the “Behnken rule”
which would have called for the improvement of such
communications by diligently carrying out the respon-
sibilities which are presently assigned to Circuit Coun-
selors by Bylaw provisions. While discussing the reso-
lution, the delegates adopted an amendment which
added the words “and Circuit lay delegates” after the
word “Counselors” in line 70 (7B 226) and added as a
second resolve on line 9 (7B 227) the words “Resolved,
That Circuit lay delegates be advised of such oppor-
tunities and welcomed at them.” They then agreed to
cease debate on the resolution and adopted Res. 4-08A

(TB 226) as amended. With the adoption of Res. 4-18 (TB
99) the name of the Colorado District was changed to
The Rocky Mountain District. Before the resolution was
adopted, it was pointed out that the word “The” should
be added in line 43 (7B99) and that the “The” on line 68
(TB 99) should be capitalized. It was also pointed out
that the word “Denver” in line 61 (TB 99) should be
changed to the word ‘‘Golden” and that the date of
“August 1” in line 73 (7B 99) should be changed to
“October 1.” The delegates next approved the transfer
of the membership of St. Peter’s, Oyen, Alta., to the
Alberta-British Columbia District by the adoption of
Res. 4-19 (7B 100). This congregation had formerly held
membership in the Manitoba and Saskatchewan Dis-
trict. With the adoption of Res. 4-20A (7B 175) the
matter of a proper observance of the centennial of the
death of Dr. C.F.W. Walther was referred to the Presi-
dent and the Board of Directors for suggestions on ways
in which the Synod, its agencies, and its congregations
might properly observe this occasion. Since Bylaw 2.29
b and c provides that synodical conventions may be
conducted in areas other than St. Louis upon special
request, the delegates adopted Res. 4-09 (TB 96) and
accepted the criteria which had been adopted by the
Board of Directors for selection of sites for synodical
conventions. This action was taken after the assembly
had agreed to cease debate on the resolution. Immedi-
ately following the adoption of this resolution the
delegates agreed that the 1989 convention of the Synod
should be held in Wichita, Kans. This action was taken
by adopting Res. 4-10 (TB 97). Since investment port-
folios have been made available to the members of the
Concordia Plans upon request, the delegates agreed by
the adoption of Res. 4-11 (TB 97) to ask officials
responsible for its various investment programs, ex-
cluding the LCMS Foundation, which holds stock in
trust for others, to continue to disclose upon request at
the end of each calendar year those stocks in which the
Synod’s membership has an interest. They also agreed
to decline Overture 4-52 (CW 180) by adopting Res. 4-12
(TB97). This overture had asked for consideration of the
use of Church Extension funds as loans for the purchas-
ing of homes for church workers. The overture was
declined because it was inconsistent with the purpose
for which the Church Extension Fund has been estab-
lished. Overture 4-53 (CW 180—181) was also declined
by the adoption of Res. 4-13 (TB 98). This overture had
asked that the minutes of the Board of Managers of
Concordia Plans be made available. It was declined ~
because the minutes contain private information about
specific individuals which would not be appropriate
for more general distribution. Overture 4-56 (CW 181)
was also declined by the adoption of Res. 4-14 (TB
98). This resolution had asked for congregational ap-
proval for any changes which would be made in the
Concordia Plans. Since the issues raised in Overture
4-59 (CW 182) are presently under study by the Board of
Managers—Concordia Health Plan, the delegates, -
adopted Res. 4-15 (TB 98) and declined the overture.
During discussion of Res. 4-16 (TB 99) a motion for