LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 21

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Opening Worship

The opening worship service for the 58th Regular Con-
vention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was
held on July 10, 1992, in the David Lawrence Convention
Center, Pittsburgh, Pa. The Rev. Dr. Ralph A. Bohlmann,
president of the Synod, was the preacher, with Rev. Barry
J. Keurulainen, pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church, serv-
ing as the presiding minister.

Delivering a message based on Acts 4:29 to a full con-
vention hali, Dr. Bohlmann emphasized the blessings of
the Spirit which evoked faith and courage within the early
church, President Bohlmarin spoke of the opportunities
awaiting our response as congregations and individuals,
and he encouraged us to be about our Father’s business
that we might, with great boldness, tell everyone what HE
has done.

Session 1 _ i
July 11, Morning :
Opening Devotions
The opening devotions were conducted by the Rev. I Dr.
Wil Sohns, chaplain to the convention.
LifeLight™ Bible Study
Dr. Earl Gaulke introduced LifeLight Bible Study to the
delegates and the visitors to the convention.
Committee 10: Credentials, Registration, and Elections

The Rev. Dr. Donald Sandmann, president of the New
Jersey District and chairman of the Committee on Cre-
dentials, Registration, and Elections, reported on the num-
ber of voting delegates registered to this point in the
convention. As of 9 a.m., July 10, there were 576 voting

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Assistant Convention Secretary D. Ray Hatm

pastors and 570 voting laypersons registered. The total
number of voting delegates present was 1,146, constituting

a quorum. Registered pastoral advisory delegates, 52; ~
teacher delegates, 98; representatives from the Synod’s
boards, commissions, and faculties, 204; youth represen-
tatives, 24; others, 28. The total registrations: 1,552.

Dr. Sandmann also reminded the delegates that the
convention will utilize the electronic voting system
throughout the convention. All delegates were asked to be
present for an introduction to the system.

A subsequent registration tally was made which in-
cluded all delegates officially registered as of 10 a.m. The
count was 566 voting pastors and 562 voting laypersons,
for a total count of 1,128.

Convention Gavel

Dr. August Suelflow, director of the Concordia Histor-
ical Institute, presented a gavel of historical significance
to Dr. Bohlmann for use in the opening and closing of the
convention. This historic gavel has been used since 1911,
and President Bohlmann is the fifth synodical president
to use it. The gavel was first used by President Pfotenhauer
and had been prepared in 1910 by a layman from a piece
of wood taken from a beam of the log cabin in Perry County
that served as the church’s first seminary.

Call to Order

After receiving the gavel with thanks, President Bohl-
mann declared the 58th convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod open in the name of God the Fa-
ther, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Following the call to order, a media presentation was
shared with all present.

Welcome

The Rev. Dr. David Belasic, president of the Eastern
District, warmly welcomed the delegates. He shared a wel-
come from the mayor of the city of Pittsburgh, who has
declared July 10, 1992, to be Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod Day. He expressed appreciation for all the volun-
teers for the convention from the greater Pittsburgh area.
Dr. Belasic closed with a plea for harmony.

A response to.the welcome was given by the Rev. Dr.
Henry Koepchen, chairman of the Board of Directors of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Dr. Koepchen
prayed for the joy and peace of Christ for every participant
at the convention.

Greetings and Introductions

President Bohlmann indicated that special greetings
have been extended to the convention by our partner
churches throughout the world. The only living past pres-
ident of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the Rev.
Dr. Jacob A. O. Preus, was unable to be present at the
convention, but he addressed the delegates through a
video. ,

Dr. Bohlmann introduced the officers of the Synod: the
Rev. Drs. August Mennicke, First Vice-President; Robert
King, Second Vice-President; Robert Sauer, Third Vice-

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