LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 5

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PREFACE

With Great Boldness wee - Tell Everyone What HE Has Done

Behind any theme which has permeated conventions of
the Synod, and even before such themes were designated,,.
there has been the driving and empowering force of the’
Gospel—the Good News that “God 80 loved the world that
he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life.” It resounds through
such themes as “Alive in Christ” (1986), “Him We Pro-
claim” (1983), “Forward in Remembrance” (1981), “God
Opens Doors . . .” (1979), etc. God’s love and our response
to it are inseparable. Anyone who, by the power of the Holy
Spirit, has come to know and understand and believe that
glorious message is left with no other choice but to share
it. .

For many, the words from the post-Communion collect,
“Tell everyone what He has done,” which constituted the
theme for the 1989 convention, express that relation be-
tween God, His people, and their lives of service so well
that they should not be lost but should be a theme upon
which to build. The urgency of the task becomes more fo-

cused the nearer we-are to the end of another century of **

grace. So it was only natural that the words With Great ©
Boldness were added to the 1989 theme so that the mem-
bers of the Synod were urged With Great Boldness .. . Tell
Everyone What HE Has Done.

That thought was captured in the Mission Blueprint for
the Nineties, which was adopted with its 15 goals reflected
in resolutions proposed by almost every floor committee.
The proposals for restructuring into a Mission and Min-
istry Council, clarifying relationships between individual
corporate units, the establishment of a Concordia Univer-

* sity System, the adoption of new approaches for conflict
resolution, and many other actions were not considered to
be ends in themselves ‘but were ultimately to assist the
Synod, its members, and the members of its member con-
gregations to With Great Boldness ... Tell Everyone What
HE Has Done.

Some people assume that the convention is only “the
. principal legislative assembly, which amends the Consti-
tution and Bylaws, considers and takes action on reports
and overtures, and handles appropriate appeals.” How-
ever, the Bylaw regarding the convention also states, “The
national convention’ of the Synod shall afford an oppor-
tunity for worship, nurture, inspiration, fellowship, and
the communication of vital information.”

During the convention, delegates were nurtured in the
Word as they once again were privileged to participate in
small-group Bible study using newly developed LifeLight
materials and having discussions summarized and focused
in devotional thoughts shared by Dr. Arnold Kuntz. Per-
haps the two most inspiring events—inspiration being one
of the purposes of synodical conventions—were the open-
ing Communion service and the inspiring Sunday morning
mission celebration. * '

Obviously, there were many other elements of celebra-

tion, daily worship with special prayers for “all sorts and
conditions of men” led by convention chaplain, Dr. Wilbert
Sohns, fellowship as delegates mingled in formal and in-
formal special events, and, of course, the communication
of information.

All of these purposes of the convention could not have
been achieved without the cooperation and assistance of
many individuals and groups. Included among them are
the local convention committee, those reponsible for the.
daily production of Today's Business, Dr. D. Ray Halm,
assistant secretary, whose use of computer equipment con-
tinues to make the minutes quickly available and provides
for the ‘more efficient consideration of proposed amend-
ments as well as other matters, Forrest “Woody” Lange
and Lynne Neuman for convention and meeting planning,
the hard-working floor committees and many, many
others.

In order to enable readers to make fullest use of the

‘Proceedings, the following explanation is offered.

Some resolutions have an A or B attached to their iden-
tifying number. This means that the resolution originally

~ prepared by the floor committee was later revised by the

committee, usually in answer to reactions received before
the opening of the convention.

The number in parentheses below each resolution in-
dicates the session in which final action was taken. In some
instances it might be advisable to consult the minutes of .
that session for additional information. The comments in
small type within parentheses below some resolutions pro-
vide still more information from the notebooks of both sec-
retaries and from the minutes.

The abbreviation CW refers to the Convention Work-
book, the book of reports and overtures to the convention.
TB stands for Today’s Business, a. publication that con-
tained the text of the proposed resolutions prepared by the
floor committees. The first issue was sent to all congre-
gations and delegates prior to the convention and con-
tained practically all resolutions. The daily issues
distributed at the convention brought the revised versions

, to the attention of the delegates.

The 1992 convention witnessed many things. A change
in some structures, a change in the presidency, a change
in the system of higher education, some major changes,
some minor movements. Through it all, however, we are
reminded of those well-known words of the hymn, “Change
and decay in all around I see. O Thou who changest not,
abide with me.” May our gracious Lord Jesus Christ be
present with each member of our beloved Synod with His
Word and with His unchanging power and promise so that
we will With Great Boldness ....Tell Everyone What HE
Has Done. .