LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1962, Page 54

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54 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Committee 2— Missions

The convention resolved to intensify the evangelism
program (TB 174,1), adopted a resolution containing
proposals for an expansion program on the District level
(TB 174,2), approved the establishment of a national
church and an indigenous seminary in Latin America
(TB 175,3), and thanked all men and women who work
in the mission to the blind (TB 176,4). A resolution
was offered (TB 177,5) to place a resident counselor in
Europe and to continue subsidies and other assistance
to various church groups in Europe. The last “Resolved”
was amended to read that support be granted to the
Polish Lutheran Church in Exile until it can be amalga-
mated with the ELCE. It was pointed out that the
implementation of the entire resolution would be sub-
ject to the approval of the Fiscal Conference. The dis-
cussion could not be completed.

Honorary Presidency

While Second Vice-President Wiederaenders was in
the chair, it was decided to instruct Committee 13
to prepare a proper resolution naming Dr. Behnken
Honorary President.

Committee 3— Doctrinal and Intersynodical Matters

The Committee on Doctrinal Matters proposed a res-
olution memorializing the Lutheran Synodical Confer-
ence to take immediate steps to form an international
Lutheran Synodical Conference (TB 196,1). A motion
to amend the resolution by inserting the Word “ortho-
dox” on line 42 failed to carry. The resolution was then
adopted. It was resolved to continue the graduate fel-
lowships sponsored by the Committee on Doctrinal
Unity (TB 197,2). After the word “Praesidium” had
been changed to “President” in both “Resolveds,” a res-
olution (TB 198,3) was approved to continue to send
observers to various national and international conven-
tions and conferences. A proposed resolution (TB 200,5)
to approve acceptance of the invitation to participate
in doctrinal discussions between Lutherans and Presby-
terians was discussed at length. Later the committee
was recalled, and discussion was continued but not
completed. When the previous question was moved,
the chair advised against it since a doctrinal matter was
involved and ruled accordingly. No objection was
offered to the ruling of the chair.

Committee 13 — Miscellaneous Matters

The convention received with gratitude the report
of First Vice-President Harms (TB 192,1), of the Con-
cordia Historical Institute (TB 192,2), of the Commit-
tee on Church Architecture (TB 194,3), of the Lutheran
Hour (TB 194,4), and of the Nominations Committee for
Executive Secretaries (TB 195,5).

Elections Committee

The Elections Committee reported that 159 men had
been proposed for the four vice-presidencies and that
Dr. R. Wiederaenders had been elected by securing
more than the required 75 percent of the votes. The

nine highest remaining candidates were listed on the
ballot which was distributed.

After announcements the meeting was adjourned
with the Apostolic Blessing by the chairman.

Session 4
June 22, Morning

President Gustav Karkau of the Eastern District
served as liturgist for the opening devotion. “Thou
Art the Man— Behold the Man” —the essayist, Prof.
M. L. Koehneke, declared that these two statements
of Scripture, representing Law and Gospel, summarize
the burden of a confessing church’s message to the
world. The Lutheran Confessions themselves stress the
necessity of properly distinguishing between and prop-
erly applying Law and Gospel. It is not much use but
the proper use of the Bible that makes a church strong.
The essayist pleaded that convention issues themselves
might be brought into relationship with Law and Gospel.

The minutes of the previous session were adopted.

Elections Committee

The Elections Committee informed the convention
that Dr. Theodore Nickel had been elected to a vice-
presidency and distributed ballots to fill the two re-
maining vacancies.

Committee 1— Colleges and Seminaries

The convention adopted the following Handbook par-
agraph revisions: 1.59, 2.147, 4.09, 4.109, 4.111, 4.113, 5.81,
6.03, 6.07 (amended to read “pastoral and teaching min-
istries,” lines 12 and 13), 6.27. The committee itself
held back action on 2.15, 5.23, and 6.23. Paragraph 2.09
was referred back to the committee for the purpose of
clarifying “full-time employ.” The convention decided
to implement immediately the provision of 6.27d (see
TB 137,5 ff.). It was decided to defer the introduction
of coeducational teacher education at Milwaukee (TB
163,17). The committee presented for action the general
planning and operating principles (TB 159,16). After
the first three propositions had been adopted, all re-
maining propositions were read at one time. The mo-
tion was then made and seconded to adopt the remain-
ing propositions. The chair ruled that each point would
now be discussed in order. Point 4 was discussed. An
amendment was offered to proposition 5 to call for the
elimination of all education on the high school level.
The debate on this amendment was not completed.

Committee 6— Constitutional Matters

The convention took up again the proposed resolu-
tion declaring the so-called Resolution 9 unconstitu-
tional (TB 166,1). A motion to postpone action until
later failed to carry. The previous question was moved
since the point at issue in this resolution is a constitu-
tional rather than a doctrinal matter. The chair de-
clared that it was only on this basis that he would place
the question to the convention, as requested, before
all who had asked for the floor could be heard. Resolu-
tion 1 was thereupon adopted. Dr. Behnken then asked