LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 69

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’ Session 15

June 23, Morning
President Lloyd H. Goetz of the North Wisconsin
District served as chaplain in the opening devotion.
Dr. Paul Streufert presented the fifth part of his devo-
tional essay: “The Loving Lord Provides a Model.” The
minutes of the previous afternoon were adopted as read.

Committee 9 — Social Action and Welfare, World Relief
The convention took note of the disaster in the
mountain states and Kansas (TB 339, 9-01), commended
the Commission on Social Action (TB 340, 9-02), re-
ferred the question of an executive secretary to the
commission for further study (TB 340, 9-03), com-
mended the Board of Social Welfare (TB 341, 9-04),
provided for District directories of health and welfare
agencies (TB 423, 9-05, replacing TB 342), called
attention to the work of institutional chaplains (TB
342, 9-06), authorized the development of a policy on
clinical pastoral education (TB 343, 9-07), commended
the Commission on Mental Retardation (TB 344, 9-08)
and decided to intensify the work (TB 345, 9-09), and
also commended the Lutheran Immigration Service
(TB 347, 9-11).
Committee 13— Worship, Liturgics, and Hymnology
After Dr. Harms had introduced Dr. J. W. Behnken,
Dr. E. J. Friedrich, and Dr. Herman Harms, Committee
13 presented a resolution (TB 410, 13-01) to accept the
reports of the Commission on Worship, Liturgics, and
Hymnology and to work toward a common core of a
hymnal with other Lutheran bodies. An amendment to
have the commission produce the hymnal on which it
has been working failed to carry. The resolution was
still being discussed when time ran out.

Committee 3—-Church Relations

The convention again took up the resolution con-
cerning the Lutheran Council in the United States
of America (TB 248, 3-12). It voted down the amend-
ment to submit the matter to the congregations for
a vote and also imposed a 2-minute rule. After some
time the assembly formally closed the debate with the
understanding that all who had called for the floor
would still be permitted to speak. It declined to refer
the resolution to the Committee on Constitutional Mat-
ters. At 11:47 the resolution was adopted by an over-
whelming voice vote.

Committee 16-——Sundry Matters

With Dr. R. Wiederaenders in the chair several
presentations were made to Dr. Harms. The convention
gave the Cobo Hall management a rising vote of
thanks (TB 447, 16-14).

President Erwin L. Paul of the Northern Illinois Dis-
trict offered the closing prayer.

Session 16
June 23, Afternoon

President Frederick A. Niedner of the Northern Ne-
braska District led the opening devotion. The minutes

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 69

of the morning session were approved as read. A tele-
gram from Brook Hays was read extending the greet-
ings of President Lyndon Johnson. Dr. and Mrs. Walter
Lichtsinn were introduced. During the course of the
afternoon Dr. Franklin Clark Fry, President of the
Lutheran Church in America, and Dr. Frederick
Schiotz, President of The American Lutheran Church,
addressed the delegates. Col. Harold A. Merklinger,
head of the Canadian Armed Services Chaplains, was
also introduced.

Committee 15— Stewardship and Finance

The resolution concerning a $40-million special
offering was again placed before the delegates (TB
377, 15-18). The first “Resolved” was amended to
read: “That out of gratitude to God for His manifold
blessings, enabled by His Holy Spirit and motivated
by the love of Christ, we strive earnestly to bring
a special thankoffering to the Lord in the amount of
$40 million”? An amendment to drop the fourth
“Whereas” was lost. After considerable discussion, the
previous question was moved, and thereupon the
amended resolution was adopted. This completed the
work of Committee 15.

Committee 11— Communications and Public Relations

The convention decided to decline Overture 11-09
Un (TB 454 a, 11-16). This brought the work of Com-
mittee 11 to a close.

Special Prerogative

A resolution offered from the floor was adopted:

Wuereas, We have been frequently reminded by the
chair that time is running short and may require addi-
tional sessions beyond Friday, 1:00 p.m.; and

Wuereas, Time may indeed run out on many dele-
gates, necessitating completion of convention business
in their absence; therefore be it

Resolved, That the chairman be authorized and en-
couraged to extend time allotments and/or sessions
beyond their scheduled times whenever he believes it
is necessary to keep our convention on schedule.

Committee 2— Doctrinal Matters

Recommitted Resolution 2-07 (TB 362; former TB
129) was introduced providing for a comprehensive
study of Biblical hermeneutics. An amendment to the
first “Resolved” to specifically rule out form-critical
and neo-orthodox approaches failed to carry. The reso-
lution was then adopted. Next the convention took up
a resolution dealing with woman suffrage in the church
(TB 365, 2-36). A motion to refer the matter to the
two theological faculties failed to carry, as well as
a motion to recommit. The convention then amended
the second “Resolved” to read: “As stated at St. Paul
in 1956 and at San Francisco in 1959, we consider
woman suffrage in the church as contrary to Scripture
only when it violates the above-mentioned Scriptural
principles” (as restated by Committee 2 with the con-
sent of the convention on Wednesday evening). The
entire resolution was then adopted as amended.