LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 65

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

FRO ERNE CAE PR MN

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 65

Committee 17 — Elections

With Dr. T. Nickel chairing the meeting the dele-
gates proceeded to elect many boards and committees.
After they were dismissed by the benediction, the Elec-
toral College met to choose members of the various
boards of control.

Session 9

June 19, Morning

The opening devotion was conducted by President
Edgar C. Rakow of the Indiana District. The minutes
of the previous session were adopted as read.

Committee 15 — Stewardship and Finance

The convention accepted the reports of the Stew-
ardship Board and Staff (TB 144, 15-01 and 15-02),
arranged for greater aid to Districts and congregations
in developing greater mission consciousness (TB 145,
15-04), declined Overture 15-10 (amortization program,
TB 147, 15-08), and Overture 15-17 (loans from Pen-
sion Fund, TB 148, 15-09), liberalized amortization
policies for the construction of dormitories and other
select auxiliary facilities (TB 149, 15-11), thanked the
Aid Association for Lutherans for offering to produce
a filmstrip for the Synod (TB 148, 15-10), declined
Overture 1-18 (District initiative, TB 150, 15-12), ac-
cepted the report of the Division of Controllership (TB
147, 15-07), provided for greater assistance in enlisting
lay talents (TB 145, 15-03), thanked the Lutheran
Women’s Missionary League (TB 146, 15-05), and ac-
cepted the Faith Forward report (TB 150, 15-13).

Committee 4— Administration

Since the matter had been reassigned, the committee
withdrew Resolution 4-11 (TB 166). The assembly
approved a new election schedule for boards of control
(TB 167, 4-12), called upon all officers and boards to
give continued study to principles and problems of ad-
ministration (TB 204, 4-13), changed several Handbook
sections regarding divisional grouping (TB 204, 4-14;
TB 205, 4-15), made divisional chairmen advisory mem-
bers of divisional agencies (TB 206, 4-16), and ap-
proved the division of the Western District into two
Districts, Missouri and Mid-South (TB 207, 4-17).

Committee 1— Missions

The convention resolved to urge congregations to
use the programs of evangelism already developed (TB
115, 1-04), to encourage service organizations to con-
tinue their emphasis on evangelism (TB 115, 1-05), to
authorize the possible establishment of hostel facilities
in Europe for Lutheran students (TB 120, 1-12), to give
attention to foreign students (TB 122, 1-15), to expand
the campus ministry (TB 214, 1-25), to encourage local
congregations to serve community college students (TB
214, 1-26), to study the problem of ministering to
church-isolated students (TB 215, 1-27), to give con-
Sideration’ to adding additional staff for the Com-
mission on College and University Work (TB 216,
1-28), and to encourage laymen overseas to witness
(TB 229, 1-33). The John of Beverley Medal was

presented to Rev. Ernest C. Mappes in recognition of
long service to the deaf. It was decided to establish
wherever possible training programs for teachers of
Sunday school classes of deaf children (TB 184, 1-18),
to investigate the establishment of a program to train
the deaf for service in the church (TB 184, 1-19), to
decline Overture 1-21M (TB 216, 1-29) and part 3 of
Overture 1-17 (TB 185, 1-20), to take no action on
part 4 of Overture 1-17 (TB 186, 1-21), to encourage
employment of the blind (TB 186, 1-22), and to give
emphasis to medical missions (TB 229, 1-32). A pro-
posed resolution regarding the training of linguists
(TB 230, 1-34) was discussed. The convention referred
to the committee the amendment offered from the floor:
“Be it further Resolved, That the Board for Missions
and the Messengers of Christ work in constant mutual
consultation to ascertain both the need for such trained
personnel and recruitment and training possibilities to
meet such needs.” During part of this time Dr. A. Nitz
took the chair.

Committee 8—-Young People’s Work

President Harms extended a warm welcome to the
young people who were in the arena. Dr. Elmer Witt
made a statement with reference to the forthcoming
Walther League convention and conducted a panel dis-
cussion with three young people. Resolution 8-01 (TB
232) on the Walther League convention at Squaw Valley
was introduced. When the chair was asked to rule that
it does not pass judgment on political affiliations, the
chair cautioned delegates to speak with deliberation
and declared that it was ready to make a formal state-
ment if necessary. After extended discussion, a motion
to recommit was lost (302 ayes, 311 nays). A call for
the previous question succeeded by more than the
required two-thirds vote (401 ayes, 169 nays). When
the resolution was put to vote, division of the ques-
tion was called for which showed that the resolution
had been adopted by a vote of 335 to 291. A delegate
inquired whether he might be permitted to introduce
a resolution at this point. The convention gave its con-
sent by formal motion. The resolution offered: “Be it
Resolved, That the previous resolution be not inter-
preted as the Synod’s blanket approval of the whole
program being presented by the Walther League at the
Squaw Valley convention.” After adoption was moved
and seconded, it was necessary to break off discussion.
President Harms asked the press to take the welfare
of the young people and the reputation of the church
body into their kind and earnest consideration.

The session closed with a prayer spoken by President
Fred Ilten of the Iowa District East.

Session 10
June 21, Morning
President Gustav W. Lobeck of the Iowa District
West conducted the liturgical service, and Dr. Paul

Streufert presented the third part of his devotional
essay: “The Gracious Lord Gave the Church a Method.”