LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 58

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58 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Minutes

Dr. Walter Rosin, assistant secretary, presented the
Minutes for Sessions 9 and 10 to the delegates. The
Minutes were adopted as printed.

Theology and Church Relations

Chairman Arthur Kuehnert of the Floor Committee
on Theology and Church Relations introduced Res. 3-20
(TB 72) reminding the congregations of the Synod of
their responsibility to review, in the light of Scripture
and the Confessions, all hymns, instructional, liturgi-
cal, and practical materials used in their total ministry
and encouraging them to seek the advice and counsel of
their Circuit Counselors if in doubt as to the suitability
of such materials. The resolution was adopted as pre-
sented. The convention commended the CTCR and its
Social Concerns Committee for their work, encouraged
continuing liaison between the Board for Social Min-
istry Services and the CTCR and its Social Concerns
Committee to address major social issues, and sup-
ported an expanded budget and staff appropriations for
the study of social-ethical concerns and issues when
additional funds became available. The delegates did
this by adopting Res. 3-22 (7B 73). With the adoption of
Res. 3-23 (TB 73) the convention commended the Com-
mission on Organizations for its work and study and
encouraged it to continue its study of groups, move-
ments, and organizations such as resurgent pagan
religions, parachurch organizations, and quasi-reli-
gious lodges. Pastors and congregations of the Synod
were encouraged to make use of the resources produced
by the Comission on Organizations. During considera-
tion of Res. 3-24 (TB 74), which encouraged congrega-
tions and pastors to educate their members on the
designs and wiles of Satan and to pray that no one be
lured into evil by what is seemingly harmless and
entertaining, the delegates declined to replace the sec-
ond and third whereases of the resolution with the
fourth and fifth whereases of Overture 3-47 (CW 111).
The motion to take this action was ruled to be a
substitute motion and was declined for consideration,
following the procedures outlined under the “Behnken
rule.” The delegates then adopted Res. 3-24 (TB 74) as
presented. As a final resolution, the Floor Committee on
Theology and Church Relations presented Res. 3-25 (TB
74), requesting the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations to prepare a study of the end times,
including millennialism, for the guidance of the church.
The resolution was adopted as presented. With the
adoption of this resolution the work of the Floor Com-
mittee on Theology and Church Relations was declared
completed.

Greetings

The chairman introduced President Rakow of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of England to the con-
vention and asked him to bring words of greeting to the
delegates. In his remarks President Rakow spoke of the
responsibilities which he was asked to assume upon the
sudden death of Dr. E. George Pearce. He thanked the

_ 240) on which discussion had begun in a previous

Synod for its support of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of England during the past year and assured
the delegates of his prayers for the blessings of God
upon the convention. Following his remarks, President
Bohlmann referred to greetings which had been re-
ceived from a number of other partner churches during
the convention.

Structure and Constitution

Chairman Wilbert Griesse of the Floor Committee on
Structure and Constitution reintroduced Res. 5-20A (TB

session. This resolution called for the establishment of
new regulations on adjudication and appeal and in-
volved the adoption of bylaws related to these matters.
Before beginning discussion the delegates were re-
minded that most of the material found in pages 200—
213 of the Convention Workbook was also being consid-
ered with this resolution. An amendment was intro-
duced, asking for the deletion of lines 19 and 26—30(TB .
242). These lines dealt with refusal to cooperate and 3
advocacy of false doctrines as reasons for removal of .
faculty members from office. After agreeing to cease
debate on both the amendment and the resolution, the
delegates declined the amendment and adopted the .
resolution as presented by the floor committee. Since
there are times when a pastor or teacher cannot be
recommended at least temporarily by the District Presi-
dent for a call, the classification of c.r.m. does not -
appear to be appropriate. Because of this, the delegates wa
agreed that Res. 5-24 (TB 127) should be adopted and ;

that the proposed Bylaws contained in the resolution |
should be included in the Handbook of the Synod. Res. -
5-25A (TB 300) was next presented by the floor commit
tee for consideration. During discussion of the resolu- :
tion the words, “Resolved, That the following process be .;
adopted on atrial basis” were accepted by the committee
to replace the words, “Resolved, That the following
amendments be adopted” in line 28 (TB 300). During *
further discussion the delegates declined to consider
substitute motion which called for the first three
whereases and the first two resolves of Overture 5-6
(CW 230) and the addition of a final resolve, asking for
the development of Bylaws by the Commission of
Constitutional Matters, to replace the resolution offered
by the floor committee. Res. 5-25A (TB 300) was then
adopted, as revised by the floor committee. Since col
loquy practices and requirements for teacher colloquy,
programs are not uniform and consistent among syno0€
ical colleges, a condition which is not desirable, t
Board for Professional Education Services was dire
to appoint a committee to study present teacher colloq
requirements and practices and to recommend uniform
guidelines for this program to participating syno'

colleges. This was done with the adoption of Res. 5:
(TB 130). Through the adoption of Res. 5-26A (TB 30
including the Bylaws contained in the resolution,. ©
convention agreed that the Teacher Colloquy Coma
tee should be reorganized and that the President of thi
Synod should appoint two of the presidents of