LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1967, Page 19

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20 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Executive Director’s Report

Dr. Walter F. Wolbrecht, executive director of the
Board of Directors, gave his report to the Synod. He
told of the losses and gains in membership of the Synod,
ending with a word of encouragement for the great
work which the Synod has to do.

Committee 5— Constitutional Matters — Membership
Applications

Ten congregations, 14 pastors, and 55 teachers were

admitted to the Synod and will sign the Constitution in -

their respective District conventions (TB 34—36, 5-01).

Committee 1— Missions

The convention expressed thanks to God for the
blessings which He brought through Dr. William H.
Hillmer (TB 41, 1-08). Dr. Hilimer responded, pointing
especially to the Detroit mission resolutions and the
creation of the unified mission board. President Harms
expressed his personal thanks for the services given by
Dr. Hillmer.

Dr. William H. Kohn

Dr. William H. Kohn was installed as executive sec-
retary of the Board for Missions by President Harms.
Dr. Kohn then addressed the assembly, pointing out
that God created the church and gave it the mission
of bringing the message of redemption to mankind.

The chairman of the Board for Missions, Mr. Alfred
Jordan, was introduced by President Harms. Mr. Jordan
addressed the assembly briefly.

Committee 1— Missions

The resolution was adopted to express thanks to God
for His blessings on the mission fields, to extend greet-
ings to missionaries, to demonstrate concern and sup-
port for missions, and to request the President to offer
a special prayer (TB 40—41, 1-07).

Resolved to improve procedures for transferring
members (TB 38, 1-03), to request District and synod-
ical church extension departments to cooperate in pro-
motional programs (TB 37, 1-01), to pursue all oppor-
tunities for cooperative endeavors in mission work
without a denial of God’s Word (TB 37—38, 1-02), and
to refer the recommendations on self-financing back to
the Board for Missions for further study (TB 38, 1-04).

Resolved to instruct designated boards and agencies
to make a cooperative study of mass media (TB 39—40,
1-06).

A resolution for fiscal planning for missions was
recommitted to the committee (TB 39, 1-05).

Ebenezer Thankoffering

Dr. Martin L. Koehneke, executive director of the
Ebenezer Thankoffering, was given the floor. The as-
sembly sang the Ebenezer hymn, “The Lord Hath Helped
Me Hitherto.” Dr. Koehneke emphasized the excitement
of casting ourselves upon God. “To give thanks is ex-

citing and to give is exciting,’ he said. “Giving is
loving.” There is the excitement of receiving the Gospel
by men, women, and children. The assembly sang “Now
Thank We All Our God.” Dr. Koehneke referred the
convention to the progress report to May 31, 1967.
After he had gone through the report, the assembly
sang “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past.”

Dr. Harms led the convention in the prayer pre-
viously requested, a prayer of repentance, of thanks-
giving, for Ebenezer, for our missionaries, and for our
government. The assembly prayed the Lord’s Prayer
in unison.

Committee 3— Church Relations

The convention expressed appreciation for fellowship
and fraternal relations with other churches and asked
that a well-planned program of contacts and conferences
with these churches be maintained (TB 45, 3-01). It
invited Lutheran churches in America not in fellowship
to join in consultation with the Missouri Synod (TB 45,
3-02). It encouraged the sending of observers to various
church bodies and participation in ecumenical dialogs
for members of the Synod (TB 46, 3-03). It expressed
appreciation for having been invited to participate in
the talks with the Presbyterians and encouraged further
participation (TB 46—47, 3-04). It commended the
exchange study program (TB 50, 3-07). It recommitted
a resolution to make additions to Chapter XVI of the
synodical Handbook (TB 50—51, 3-08). It expressed
confidence in our representatives to the Lutheran Coun-
cil in the U.S.A. (TB 51—52, 3-09). It declared itself
in favor of the dissolution of the Lutheran Synodical
Conference (TB 52, 3-10). It expressed joy for unity
of faith in the body of Christ and for greater evidence
of unity with other Lutheran bodies; it asked for con-
tinued efforts for a fuller expression of unity and re-
quested congregations to exercise patience before prac-
ticing selective fellowship (TB 52—53, 3-11).

Committee 13 — Special Ministries and Sundry Matters

The convention resolved to adopt the report of the
Commission on Fraternal Organizations (TB 55, 13-01),
to accept a report of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod Foundation (TB 55—56, 13-02), and to implore
God’s blessings on The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod Foundation (TB 55—56, 13-03). It accepted the
report of the Lutheran Laymen’s League (TB 57, 13-04)
and resolved to continue its support of the league, com-
mending it for the work it has done for the past 50 years
(TB 57—58, 13-05).

The convention commended Bible societies (TB
58—59, 13-06) and encouraged support of the American
Bible Society (TB 59—60, 13-07).

It voted to encourage support of Bethesda by prayers
and gifts (TB 60, 13-08). It accepted the report of the
Council of Lutheran Ministries (TB 60—60a, 13-09).

It adopted the report of the Committee for the Cele-
bration of the 450th Anniversary of the Reformation
(TB 60a, 13-10).