LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 72

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72 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Committee 2-—- Doctrinal Matters

The convention adopted the report on the status
of women teachers, with an addition (TB 409, 2-21,
originally TB 257), made provisions to study the eligi-
bility of women to serve on synodical committees (TB
259, 2-24), adopted the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations statement on the authenticity of New
Testament books (TB 356, 2-25), and reaffirmed the
belief that the Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled
in Jesus Christ (TB 356, 2-26). A resolution was pre-
sented by the committee concerning the authorship of
the Pentateuch and the Book of Isaiah (TB 364, 2-35).
An amendment was offered to refer this question to the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations. When
the question had been moved both on the referral and
on the main motion by the necessary two-thirds vote,
the convention decided not to refer and adopted the
resolution as presented. A resolution was presented on
the historicity of the Jonah account (TB 357, 2-27, cor-
rected). After the question had finally been moved,
the resolution was adopted. In the evening session Rev.
Bernard Hemmeter asked that the minutes record his
objection to the constitutionality of this resolution, as
well as the floor committee’s declaration that this reso-
‘lution is not to be regarded as a doctrinal statement.

Committee 8— Young People’s Work

President Harms announced that Vice-Presidents
W. Harry Krieger and Paul Streufert had accepted, as
well as the other Vice-Presidents. The delegates then
considered the resolution that had been proposed from
the floor concerning the Walther League convention:
“Be it Resolved, That the previous resolution be not
interpreted as the Synod’s blanket approval of the
-whole program being presented by the Walther League
at the Squaw Valley convention” (TB 313, line 25, with
reference to TB 232, 8-01). An amendment was offered
calling upon the President to attend and to give an
evaluation and report to the Synod. When the previous
question had been moved, the amendment lost. The
assembly then resolved to limit debate to those who
had already called for the floor. A substitute motion
was offered but withdrawn. When the previous ques-
tion had been moved, the resolution was adopted.

Again after the previous question had been moved,
the convention adopted a resolution on Arena Magazine
(TB 233, 8-02). It was decided to transfer within the
next biennium the ministry among youth to the Board
for Young People’s Work (TB 234, 8-03).

Just before adjournment a delegate requested a
vote by ballot on the resolution concerning federal
aid. The chair stated that it would take the request
under advisement over the dinner hour. President Wil-
liam H. Kohn of the Southeastern District gave the
closing prayer.

Session 20
June 24, Evening

Dr. J. W. Behnken served as preacher in the in-
stallation service, Dr. H. A. Harms as liturgist, and Dr.

W. F. Lichtsinn as officiant for the rite of installation.
The minutes were approved after a delegate had re-
quested that his exception to TB 357 and the floor com-
mittee’s explanation be incorporated in the minutes.
In reference to the request for a ballot vote on the
federal aid resolution, the chairman ruled that the vote
had not been challenged at the time, that no irregu-
larity had been noted, that the motion had been carried
as asserted. Committees were asked to dispense with
the reading of the “Whereases.”

Committee 6— Higher Education

The convention took up again the resolution on the
role of the individual colleges in the system (TB 468,
6-26, and revised TB 274). A lengthy amendment to
point 14 (Selma) failed to carry. The resolution was
adopted as amended earlier. New regulations were
approved regarding tenure, rank, nomination, election,
and promotion of teaching personnel (TB 370, 6-34).
The convention adopted resolutions on a proposed Saint
Louis seminary extension center in southern California
(TB 374, 6-35), on the house of studies proposal (TB
376, 6-37), on the admission of social work students
(TB 376, 6-38), and on the classification of capital fund
requests (TB 375, 6-36) after an amendment to move
the Oakland library from column IV to I lost by a vote
of 166 to 361.

Committee 5— Constitutional Matters

With respect to Resolution 5-31 (TB 456), the con-
vention agreed to consider a new wording submitted
by the floor committee for part of Section 6.85 as a sub-
stitute motion for the amendment that had been under
consideration. Amendments changed “District” on line
39 to “synodical” and inserted a reference to 1 Timothy
5:19 after the words “properly charged.” Another
amendment was made and seconded to insert in the
substitute resolution after “faculty” the words “from
the ranks of the clergy.” Before this could be voted
on, the convention declined to refer the whole Section
6.85 to the committee but did resolve to refer the
entire resolution to the Board for Higher Education to
be considered at its plenary sessions with recommenda-
tions to be offered to the next convention. Handbook
changes regarding overtures to conventions were
adopted (TB 474, 5-38).

‘Committee 9 — Social Action and Welfare, World Relief

The delegates approved a resolution on racial ten-
sions (TB 420, 9-22). A resolution on the dilemma
presented by conflicting laws (TB 421, 9-23, corrected)
was tabled by a vote of 273 to 226. A resolution was
introduced on fair housing and employment practices
(TB 422, 9-24). Amendments to strike everything after
“practices” on line 7, to change “similarly” to “also to”
on line 11, to restore line 7 and following, but to change
“engaging” to “favoring” and to change “will” on line 8
to “have pledged” all failed to carry. During this time
the convention refused to rescind the 2-minute limit.
An amendment to change “pledged” on line 6 to “urged”
was eventually withdrawn by permission of the as-