LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 61

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

it

Ret
5S
2
Us

i

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 61

the conclusion of the previous presentation and with
First Vice-President R. P. Wiederaenders in the chair,
the Elections Committee reported the election of Dr.
Oliver Harms, who responded with a few words of
thanks. After the singing of the common doxology,
pallots for nominating the First Vice-President were
distributed.

Executive Director’s Presentation

Dr. Walter Wolbrecht, Executive Director, gave an
illustrated presentation on the growth patterns of the
country and of the Synod and called attention to such
things as the population explosion, increased disposable
income, leisure time, and population movement and
concentration.

After announcements Missionary Paul H. Strege
gave the closing prayer.

The convention service with Holy Communion was
held on the evening of the same day in the convention
arena. Trinity Lutheran Church served as_ host.
Dr. George Wittmer was the preacher.

Session 3
June 17, Morning

President Alfred F. Miller of the Alberta and British
Columbia District served as liturgist for the opening
devotion. Dr. Paul Streufert presented the first part
of his devotional essay: “The Risen Lord Gave the
Church a Mandate.” The minutes of the previous day’s
sessions were adopted as read.

Committee 17 — Elections
Ballots for First Vice-President were distributed

containing the following names: O. Hoffmann, W. H.
Krieger, T. Nickel, R. Wiederaenders, G. Wittmer.

Committee 5 — Constitutional Matters

The convention received the following into mem-
bership (TB 84, 5-07): Congregations — Bethany, Wel-
lington, Ohio; University, Norman, Okla.; Faith, Olym-
pia, Wash.; Good Shepherd, Lansing, Mich.; St. Matthew,
Holt, Mich.; Divine Shepherd, Ann Arbor, Mich.; As-
cension, Raytown, Mo.; Cross of Christ, Bloomfield
Hills, Mich.; St. Peter, Rockford, Mich.; Messiah, Sagi-
naw, Mich.; Messiah, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Our Re-
deemer, Lexington, Ky.; St. Philip, Houston, Tex.;
Ascension, Burnsville, Minn.; Pastors— Philip Yang,
Jack Allen Geistlinger, James A. Pingel, Luther Werth,
David Albertin, Nicholas Ittzes, William Boys, Leander
Berndt, Robert Sorensen, Donald Waldo, Norman
Menke; Teachers— Kurt Gremel, Roy Kitzmann, Wil-
liam Nehls, Kenneth Wollin.

Committee 1— Missions

The report of the committee was introduced by
a film presentation and a prayer by the assembly. The
convention adopted a series of resolutions affirming that
the church is God’s mission (TB 108, 1-01 A), that the
church is Christ’s mission to the whole world (TB 109,

1-01B), that the church is Christ’s mission to the
church (TB 109, 1-01 C, with “clearly” deleted from
line 16, p. 110, by amendment; another amendment to
strike lines 1 and 2 on p. 110 failed), that the church is
Christ’s mission to the whole society (TB 110, 1-01 D),
that the church is Christ’s mission to the whole man
(TB 111, 1-01 E), and that the whole church is Christ’s
mission (TB 112, 1-01 F, with the parenthetic comment
on line 27 deleted by the committee). The convention
also resolved to effect a single Board for Missions (TB
113, 1-02, with reference to Africa in line 8 withdrawn).

Committee 17 — Elections

Since no majority had been achieved, another ballot
was distributed for First Vice-President with the names
O. Hoffmann, W. H. Krieger, T. Nickel, R. Wieder-
aenders.

Committee 3— Church Relations

The convention adopted a resolution with reference
to the Synodical Conference (TB 102, 3-01) after the
committee had reworded the last “Resolved” to read:
“That in view of the common faith and the harmonious
relationship which has existed between the Synod of
Evangelical Lutheran Churches and our Synod, we de-
clare our willingness to effect a merger and invite the
Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches to affiliate with
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod through some
mutually satisfactory merger arrangements at such time
as they see fit.” It was also decided to commend the
India Evangelical Lutheran Church (TB 102, 3-02) and
to permit continuing use of certain services of the
National Council of Churches (TB 103, 3-03). Time
ran out during the discussion of Resolution 3-04 (TB
104, theological principles for mission churches).

Committee 17 — Elections

Rev. Theodore Koch and Prof. Elvin J anetzki of
Australia were introduced after another ballot for First
Vice-President had been distributed with the following
names: W. H. Krieger, T. Nickel, R. Wiederaenders.

Committee 14— Special Ministries

With Vice-President T. Nickel in the chair the con-
vention adopted several resolutions with reference to
the Commission on Fraternal Organizations: to urge all
Districts to appoint a committee (TB 71, 14-01), to
thank former members of the commission (TB 71, 14-
02), to expedite publication of new materials for the
commission (TB 72, 14-03), to effect Handbook changes
(TB 72, 14-04; a motion to recommit proposed Hand-
book paragraph 14.05 failed to carry), and to accept
the commission’s report (TB 74, 14-05). The time
elapsed during the discussion of a proposed resolution
on The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod F ‘oundation
(TB 74, 14-06).

The time of the session was extended five minutes
by common consent to permit various announcements.
President Edgar Kroeger of the Argentine District led
the convention in prayer.