LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1967, Page 28

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28 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

etc. Also by amendment page 242, line 3, reads: “provide
a ministry for,” ete. (TB 241—243, 13-19).

No action was taken on Resolution 13-15 (TB 163 to
164) for lack of time.

Dr. Harms returned to the chair.

Resolution 10-07

The chair raised the question whether the conven-
tion is ready to stand by its decision to adopt Resolution
10-07 (TB 133—134), which was improperly before the
convention on Monday. By formal resolution the con-
vention voted to do so.

Committee 14— Stewardship and Finance

The convention accepted the reports of the Treasurer,
the Controller, and the Board of Trustees for Trust
Funds and expressed its confidence in these officers
(TB 105, 14-05).

Mr. Milton Carpenter, Treasurer of the Synod, spoke
about the budget commitments and the receipts (see
CW 337—338).

The convention called for cooperation between syn-
odical and District fiscal offices (TB 106, 14-06). It de-
clined Overture 14-06 about investing pension fund
moneys in church mortgages (TB 104, 14-04); likewise
Overture 14-07 to include giving units in the Statistical
Yearbook (TB 103, 14-02).

It asked the President of the Synod to proclaim the
third Sunday in October as “Layman’s Sunday” (TB
103, 14-01).

The devotion to close the day was led by Rev. Alfred
T. Scheips and included “An Act of Praise.”

Session 10

Opening July 12, Morning

Dr. John H. Tietjen conducted the devotion to begin
the day with the theme “God, the Savior of All Men.”
The Litany of the Sufferings of Christ and of Men was
used. A prayer was offered for the survivors of Mrs,
Carl J. Sangers.

Dr. Oswald C. J. Hoffmann presented the third part
of his essay. He emphasized that the church is holy;
this holiness is a gift of God and has its origin in Jesus
Christ. The members of the church are called saints.

The minutes of the ninth session were approved as
read. The assistant secretary asked that line 13 of page
268 of Today’s Business be changed to read: “Then it
considered the observance,” ete. In line 16, after the
period, the sentence is to be added, “Time ran out.”

Committee 3 — Church Relations

Committee 3 presented the resolution to authorize
the declaration of altar and pulpit fellowship with The
American Lutheran Church (TB 281—282, 3-22). It
was moved and seconded to amend the last paragraph
of the resolution: “Resolved, That the Synod gathered
in covention in 1969 after The American Lutheran
Church has taken favorable action on the ‘J oint State-

ment and Declaration’ officially declare whether or not
there is altar and pulpit fellowship between The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod and The American
Lutheran Church.” The amendment was debated until
time was up at 10:30 a.m. (see TB 313b—313c, 3-22).

Committee 16 — Elections

Dr. Carl Waldschmidt announced that Mr. J. A.
Mueller had been elected to the Board of Directors of
the Synod by a majority of the 644 ballots cast.

A third balloting to elect two more laymen to the
Board of Directors was conducted. The election closed
at 10:40 a.m.

Committee 13 — Special Ministries and Sundry Matters

The convention accepted the report of the Armed
Forces Commission (TB 307, 13-24). Dr. Kenneth Ahl
presented Chaplain Max Wilk, U.S. Army, who was
injured in a helicopter crash in Vietnam after 8 months
of service. Chaplain Wilk told of his work among the
soldiers.

The resolution regarding Valparaiso University was
discussed. Questions were asked about the teaching of
evolution at Valparaiso University. President O. P.
Kretzmann and Rev. Edgar C. Rakow assured the con-
vention that evolution is taught as a theory, not as a
fact. The convention resolved that the Board for Higher
Education should study the feasibility of reimbursing
Valparaiso University for each Valparaiso student en-
tering one of the Synod’s approved ministries. It urged
the congregations to increase their offerings for Val-
paraiso to a minimum of 50 cents per communicant
member. It encouraged the university and assured it
of the Synod’s continuing support and accepted the
report of Valparaiso University (TB 163—164, 13-15).

Committee 7 — Parish Education

The resolution to authorize the use of the inter-
synodical translation of Luther’s Small Catechism with
recommended changes was discussed, but no action was
taken for lack of time (TB 121—123, 7-04).

Committee 9— Social Action and Welfare

The convention created the office of Executive Sec-
retary of the Commission on Social Action (TB 245,
9-09). It encouraged inter-Lutheran welfare agencies
consistent with the principles of “Theology of Fel-
lowship” (TB 247, 9-11).

Canada’s 100th Anniversary

In recognition of the 100th anniversary of Canada
as a nation, President Frederick A. Schole of the Lu-
theran Church — Canada brought greetings to the con-
vention. He presented Dr. L. W. Koehler, Rev. Philip
Fiess, and Rev. George Rode, the presidents of the three
Districts in Canada. He presented to Dr. Harms the
anniversary medal, mint No. 2, struck to commemorate
the 100th anniversary of Canada and the 450th anni-
versary of the Reformation. Rev. H. Elmer Bartsch