LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 62

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62 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Session 4

June 17, Afternoon

President Karl Graesser of the Atlantic District led
the opening devotion. The minutes of the morning
session were approved as read.

Committee 17 — Elections

The final ballot for First Vice-President, containing
the names of T. Nickel and R. Wiederaenders, was dis-
tributed, after which Dr. Harms introduced several
distinguished visitors.
Committee 11—Communications and Public Relations

Resolutions were adopted recognizing and intensi-
fying our television ministry (TB 97, 11-02), commend-
ing television stations for their cooperation (TB 101,
1-04), encouraging support of The Lutheran Hour (TB
139, 11-05) and of all-Lutheran public-relations work-
shops (TB 97, 11-01), making Handbook provisions for
channeling press relations at conventions (TB 141,
11-08), designating the Lutheran Witness Reporter
as the medium for official reports and announcements
(TB 142, 11-09), providing for the observance of the
450th anniversary of the Reformation in 1967 (TB 140,
11-07), and approving representation at the Vatican
Council after “the members of” had been substituted for
“our separated brethren in” (TB 140, 11-06).

Nominations

Dr. Harms made a statement that as a result of mis-
understanding some may have been deprived on the
previous day of making nominations, and inquired if
any delegate wished to make a nomination at this
time. Such a wish was indicated. The convention re-
solved to reopen the nominations. The following were
then added to the list of nominees: Board of Directors
—Mr. Leslie Allenstein and Mr. John Mueller; Board
for Young People’s Work — Pastors Gilbert Oldsen and
Michael Stelmachowicz; Board of Stewardship, Mission
Education, and Promotion — Mr. G. B. Wiederaenders.
The nominations were then declared closed by the
President since no additional names were offered.

Committee 17— Elections

During this time the Committee on Elections re-
ported that R. Wiederaenders had been elected First
Vice-President and distributed the nominating ballots
for the other four vice-presidential positions. Pastor
Theodore Koch of Australia read a message.

Division of Church Literature

With Vice-President A. Nitz presiding the Division
of Church Literature presented its illustrated report.
After the recess President Harms returned to the chair.

Committee 2— Doctrinal Matters

The convention adopted the resolution to reaffirm
unwavering loyalty to the Scriptures as the inspired
and inerrant Word of God (TB 125, 2-01) after the
amendment to substitute on line 13 the words “are re-
quired” for “have been urged” failed to carry. The

assembly referred the author of Overture 2-06 to the
revised statement of the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations on revelation, inspiration, and in-
errancy (TB 125, 2-02), adopted the commission’s
statement (Appendix D) on English Bible versions (TB
126, 2-03), declined to remove the word “desertion”
from the Sixth Commandment of the synodical cate-
chism (TB 127, 2-04), encouraged wider reporting on
conferences between District Presidents and theological
faculties (TB 127, 2-05), and concluded that no action
was necessary regarding Overture 2-45 Un, 1 (TB 128,
2-06). The resolution (TB 129, 2-07) to authorize the
CTCR to produce a comprehensive study ef Biblical
hermeneutics was given extensive discussion. The com-
mittee changed the wording of line 26 to read “the
President of the Synod in consultation with the Vice-
Presidents.” The convention amended the resolution
by inserting at the end of line 24 the words “and to
make provision for leaves of absence for men appointed
to participate in the study.” The amendment was made
and seconded to strike the words “and use” on line 30.
The motion to amend the amendment by substituting
for “and use” the suggestion of consideration at a
future convention failed. Then the amendment to strike
the words “and use” was also lost. It was then moved
and seconded to amend the resolution further by insert-
ing between lines 31 and 32 a new “Resolved”: “That
any such findings shall not be made the basis of teaching
in any of our colleges and seminaries until such a time
when they shall have been approved by The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod in regular synodical conven-
tion.” It was then moved and seconded to recommit the
resolution until the delegates could hear the other reso-
lutions that speak to this matter. The chair ruled that
the motion to recommit had not carried. The amend~
ment was then put to a voice vote and was lost. How-
ever, the ruling of the chair on the voice vote on
recommitting was challenged. The voice vote was taken
again and once again the chair ruled that the motion
had lost. A standing vote was called for. This showed
357 in favor of recommitting, 300 opposed.

Dr. Harms offered a prayer for the residents of the
Denver area who are suffering from flash floods and
storms. President Arnaldo J. Schmidt of the Brasil
District led the closing prayer.

Session 5
June 17, Evening
President August Bernthal of the Florida-Georgia

District conducted the opening devotion. The minutes
of the afternoon session were approved as read.

Ruling on Nomination

Since the Handbook requires that pastors nominated
for the Commission on Theology and Church Relations
must be parish pastors, the chair ruled that Prof. Wil-
bert Rosin would be ineligible to serve as a nominee.

Committee 17 — Elections

Ballots for electing the four Vice-Presidents were
given to the delegates. N ominated in the write-in ballot