LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 226

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226 UNPUBLISHED REPORTS AND OVERTURES

far greater moment than the changing of a name or the
frequency of convening; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod, assembled in convention at Detroit in 1965,
assure her constituent congregations that no binding
commitment or alliance of any nature involving the
Synod’s participation in any church federation or church
council or body of national, international, or interde-
nominational character be made until a two-thirds
majority of the constituent congregations have voiced
their affirmative vote; and be it further

Resolved, That a negative vote on a proposal of
involvement or alliance must be filed by the congre-
gation in writing with the Secretary of the Synod no
later than 3 months after the issue has come before the

general convention.
Sr, Paut’s LUTHERAN CHURCH

Fairmont, Minn.

Otro F. Krauss, Pastor
Ear L. Nourse, Chairman
J. A. Furtney, Secretary

Identical resolutions sent in by —

Trinity Lutheran Congregation, Waterville, Minn.,
Melvin Jepsen, Secretary;

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Mankato,
Minn.;

Our Savior’s Lutheran Congregation, Mankato,
Minn., Paul V. Meyer, Secretary;

Immanuel Lutheran Congregation, Courtland Twp.,
Minn., Lorenz Bode, Chairman, Fred Stolt, Jr., Secre-
tary.

[5-38 Un]
To Amend Section 1.33 of the “Handbook”

Wuereas, Some Districts of the Synod are accus-
tomed to having detailed minutes taken by their secre-
taries during conventions; and

Wuereas, Oral reading of such minutes consumes
time which might well be devoted to other considera-
tions; and

Wuereas, Duplication of the minutes and distribu-
tion of the same to the delegates would provide each
one with the opportunity to note any necessary changes
that should be made; therefore be it

Resolved, That the California and Nevada District of
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in convention
assembled at Oakland, June 16—19, 1963, respectfully
memorialize the Synod at its 1965 convention to amend
the Synod’s Handbook by the addition of the following
to Section 1.33 (which presently reads: “Brief daily
minutes shall be read at synodical conventions.”):

In such cases where oral presentation may consume too

much time, the following procedure shall obtain:

a. Minutes shall be duplicated and distributed to all dele-
gates at the beginning of the session following.

b. Delegates shall be permitted to read over these minutes
during the first part of the session.

c. After recess, the chair shall ask if there are any additions
or corrections to be made in the minutes.

d. The minutes shall then be officially adopted.
CALIFORNIA AND NeEvaDa DIsTRICT
E, THeo, DELANEY, Assistant Secretary

[5-39 Un]
To Reconsider Section 6.25 f
of the “Handbook”

Wuereas, The Synod in 1962 adopted the following
resolution (11-23):

Wuereas, The growing complexity of the business op-
erations of the church make it mandatory that they be
conducted according to the best business practice; and

WHEREAS, Synodical and District board and committee
members should not be open to criticism which may be
harmful to their best interests and those of the church;
an

Wuereas, The Synod has already found it desirable to
forbid members of a Board of Control from entering into
gainful business contracts or relationships with the insti-
tution (Handbook, 6.25 f); and

Wuereas, The church in its business dealings should
set an example for others; therefore be it

Resolved, That no member (official or advisory) or
any synodical or District board or committee be per-
mitted to enter into any business contract involving the
business with which that board or committee is con-
cerned; and be it also

Resolved, That the Synod, its Districts, and its boards
and committees be committed to the principle of com-
petitive bids to written specifications; and be it finally

Resolved, That this resolution be made a part of the
bylaws of the constitutions of the Synod and its respec-
tive Districts.

and

Wuereas, This resolution has been interpreted to
mean that no personnel from subsidized congregations
can serve as members of the District’s Board of Direc-
tors; and

WHEREAS, Such interpretation seems to relegate some
congregations to second-class membership in the Synod;
and

Wuereas, Such interpretation, if followed through to
its logical conclusions, would also preclude certain per-
sonnel from candidacy for the offices of President, Vice-
President, Secretary, etc., and also cause such officers
to remember this possibility when considering a call
from a subsidized congregation — a factor which has no
actual bearing on the merits of the call itself; and

Wuereas, Such interpretation seems to have ruled
out Christian integrity as a factor in actions and deci-
sions of such officials — when even the courts of the
land recognize the integrity of judges to abstain from
certain matters because of their former connections with
some aspect of the particular cases; and

Wuereas, The apparent intent of the Synod in adopt-
ing the 1962 Resolution 11-23 has reference to contrac-
tual relations wherein personal profit is realized by the
party involved in the conflict-of-interest situation
rather than to such matters as are referred to above;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the California and Nevada District

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