LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 29

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Special Greetings

Mrs. Betty Duda, president of the Lutheran Women’s
Missionary League, addressed the convention, highlight-
ing the efforts of the league in their endeavor to “Tell ev-
eryone what He has done.” She noted that in 1991 the
league will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. The mis-
sion of the LWML is to assist each woman of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod and The Lutheran Church—
Canada in affirming her relationship with the Triune God
so that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the
people of the world.

The LWML is currently seeking to fulfill six critical
objectives:

1. That young women become aware of and Participate
in the LWML

2. That all LCMS congregations have active, growing
LWMLs

3. That women in the workplace recognize the values
of LWML for their unique circumstances

4. That synodical leadership understand and promote
the mission and work of the LWML

5. That clergy support the mission of the LWML and
encourage women to use their spiritual gifts in par-
ish ministry

6. That all members demonstrate openness to and par-
ticipate in the developing ministry of the LWML

Nominations for Convention Nominations (9)

Dr. Robert Kuhn, president of the Central Illinois Dis-
trict and chairman of the committee presented the final
report on candidates for the several boards and commis-
sions of the Synod. The Commission on Constitutional Mat-
ters was called upon to rule regarding the eligibility of Dr.
Elwood Zimmermann to serve on the Board of Regents of
Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, if elected.
In view of the fact that a triennium has not passed since
his last service on that board, the commission ruled that
Dr. Zimmermann was not eligible. The slate was adopted
by the assembly as presented by the committee and the
nominations were closed.

Change of Order

The Chair announced that the orders for the day would
be modified slightly to allow for a statement to be made
by the Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod.

Dr. George Mohr read a joint statement by the directors
and Mr. Hinnefeld, which is reprinted in its entirety in
Today’s Business, page 215.

Following the statement read by Dr. Mohr, President
Bohlmann made a statement to the delegates regarding
expressions which came to him after the speech made by
former President J. A. O. Preus. Dr. Bohlmann noted his
deep understanding of the struggle of the presidential of-
fice, which he and Dr. Preus shared, and his ready iden-
tification with Dr. Preus’s concerns. President Bohimann
called for healing and love within our Synod, and he
pleaded with the Synod to move forward in joy and with
a determination to be about the mission of telling the world
of the saving grace of Christ.

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 29

As a first step ina process that will address the issues,
Dr. Bohlmann offered the microphone to a representative
of Balance, Inc., to make a response to the convention. Mr.
KE. A. Weise spoke of his and Affirm’s intense desire to
defend the orthodox doctrine of the Church.

Dr. Bohlmann and Mr. Weise shared a strong hand-
shake following Mr. Weise’s comments. President Bohl-
mann assured the convention that it is his personal goal
to avoid at all costs any activity which serves to undermine
the mission of the church.

Elections (10)

A motion was made to change the orders of the day to
delay the balloting until Wednesday morning to allow time
for the biographical data on floor nominations to be dis-
seminated. The motion was defeated since this information
had already been made available in an issue of Today’s
Business.

Witness and Outreach (1)

Dr. Wil Sohns led Committee 1 in the presentation of
resolutions for the witness and outreach endeavors of the
church.

Res. 1-01, Today’s Business, page 31, was returned to
the floor as amended in session 3. (It is also noted that the
committee added the following reference to line 7 of the
notations for Res. 1-01: “Report R1-01 Convention Work-
book, pp. 6-15.)

An amendment was proposed to change the words a
high to the highest in the fourth resolve. The amendment
was adopted by common consent.

An amendment was proposed to add the words and the
Synod itself immediately after the word district on line 55.
The amendment was adopted by common consent.

Res. 1-01, which calls for an intensification of our mis-
sion endeavors throughout the Synod, was adopted as
amended.

Dr. Sohns introduced Rev. Thomas Armour, president
of Mill Neck Foundation, who, together with Rev. Howard
Schoenfeldt, presented the John of Beverly Medal to Dr.
Elaine Costello, director and editor-in-chief of the Gallau-
det University Press, who has made truly outstanding con-
tributions in the areas of education and communication
with respect to those who are hearing impaired and pro-
foundly deaf.

Dr. Sohns introduced Mr. Roger DeMeyere to present
the Ephphatha Award to Rev. Walter Busby for his con-
tributions to ministry and education to the deaf.

Res. 1-16, Today’s Business, pages 38-39, to celebrate
the centennial of ministry to the deaf, was adopted unan-
imously by the convention.

Res. 1-02, Today’s Business, pages 31-32, which calls
for a renewal and reaffirmation of mission goals, was
placed before the delegates. The committee noted the fol-
lowing minor changes in the resolution: Line 8, misspelling
of “cooperating” corrected. Line 36, the words all too often
were deleted. Because time expired, action on Res. 1-02
was delayed.

Elections (10)
Dr. Alvin Kollmann acquainted the 1,134 delegates reg-