LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1967, Page 26

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26 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

The minutes of the seventh session were approved as
read.

It was resolved that with the consent of those lead-
ing in prayer these prayers be published in Today’s
Business.

Committee 12— Church Literature and Publications

Dr. O. A. Dorn, manager, told of the work of Con-
cordia Publishing House, which will observe its cen-
tennial in 1969. Mr. Alfred T. Leimbach, chairman of
the board, also addressed the assembly.

The convention accepted the report of the Board of
Directors of Concordia Publishing House and offered
its anticipatory felicitations on its centennial (TB 198,
12-02).

Likewise it accepted the report of the Commission
on Church Literature (TB 198, 12-01) and the report of
the Committee on Publishing Walther’s Writings (TB
199, 12-03). It encouraged Concordia Publishing House
to complete expeditiously the publication of a popular
commentary on the Bible (TB 199, 12-04) and to con-
tinue negotiations to make William Beck’s translation of
the Old Testament available (TB 200, 12-05).

It resolved to take no further action on discontinuing
the 1943 edition of the Catechism (TB 200, 12-06). It
encouraged Concordia Publishing House to make an
inexpensive edition of the Book of Concord available, if
necessary in paperback sections (TB 201, 12-07). It
directed Concordia Publishing House to implement the
resolution of the Cleveland convention regarding index-
ing of publications (TB 201, 12-08). It asked President
Harms to appoint a five-man committee to study the
question of editing the theological journals issued by
our seminaries (TB 202, 12-09).

Elections

The chairman of the Elections Committee supervised
the runoff election for three members of the Synod’s
Board of Directors.

Committee I10— Retirement and Benefit Programs

The convention declined the overture to remit to
workers their own and their congregations’ pension
fund payments and called for a study of the problems
connected with this question (TB 134—135, 10-08).

Committee 10 was dismissed with thanks.

Committee 1 — Missions

The Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc., were recognized
and commended for their services (TB 257 1-20), and
the synodical ministries to the blind were asked to co-
ordinate their mutual efforts with the Braille Workers
(TB 258, 1-21).

The convention declined Overtures 1-08 and 1-09
and asked the committee appointed for the purpose to
bring its report to the 1969 convention (TB 259, 1-22).

It encouraged each congregation of the Synod to
study its particular community, to examine existing

structures and to modify them for outreach to specific
groups, and to draw on resource persons for new ap-
proaches (TB 259—260, 1-23). To TB 260, line 10, was
added by amendment: “in proclaiming the Gospel
message.”

President Harms returned to the chair.

Pastors and congregations were asked to exercise
a ministry of concern for college students and to inform
campus pastors “or the nearest Missouri Synod Lu-
theran pastor” (added by amendment), and the Board
for Missions was instructed to assist congregations in
this matter (TB 260—261, 1-24).

The convention called for a reexamination of the
relationship of the Commission on Mission and Ministry
in the Church to the Division of Missions (T'B 257, 1-19).
It commended the Commission on Mission and Ministry,
asked it to seek to retain the services of Dr. Martin L.
Kretzmann, and authorized it to use other staff mem-
bers if necessary (TB 261, 1-25).

The recommitted recommendation on TB 39, 1-05,
was reworded. The new resolution asked that planning
for mission work be done, that, on the basis of forecast-
ing, the Board for Missions be given a firm commitment,
and that the board be allowed to apply special gifts (TB
262, 1-26). In this connection Dr. Arthur M. Ahlschwede
reported that the Synod’s colleges and seminaries an-
nually raise between $65,000 and $75,000 for missions.
As a symbol of the many gifts, he presented a check of
$1,000 from the student body at Portland for the mission
in Hong Kong.

Dr. Fredrik A. Schiotz

Dr. Karl Graesser introduced Dr. Fredrik A. Schiotz,
president of The American Lutheran Church and of the
Lutheran World Federation. Mrs. Schiotz was also
recognized. Dr. Schiotz expressed gratitude that the
“Joint Statement and Declaration” between The ALC
and the Missouri Synod could be released on Jan. 23,
1967. The Church Council of The ALC welcomed the
statement; it will recommend to its October 1968 con-
vention that official altar and pulpit fellowship with the
Missouri Synod be declared; the District conventions of
The ALC will be asked to ratify this act in their conven-
tions in the spring of 1969.

Committee 2— Theological Matters

The convention declared women eligible as advisory
members on synodical boards, commissions, and com-
mittees by appointment only, and “the matter of full
membership of women on synodical boards, commis-
sions, and committees” (the amended wording) will be
given further study (TB 72—73, 2-06).

It gave an interpretation of the Mission Affirmations
of the Detroit convention and asked for continued study
of these affirmations by the members of the Synod
(TB 139, 2-20).

It encouraged the Bible Versions Committee (TB
140—141, 2-21) and urged the Commission on Theology

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