LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 32

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82 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

a committee to study specified questions of administra-
tion and report to the 1971 convention (TB 256—257,
4-31). It directed that the concerns of Overture 4-22 be
given full consideration by the Board of Social Ministry
(TB 134, 4-22). In line 12, p. 134 “incorporated into”
was changed to “consolidated with,” and in line 16
“and World Relief”? was added. The membership of
the Stewardship Board was increased to seven (TB
124, 4-09), but the membership of boards was not limited
to nine (TB 125, 4-10).

Higher Education

Chairman E. C. Weber introduced the report of
Committee 6.

The convention encouraged annual offerings for Val-
paraiso University (TB 277, 6-34). The Board for
Higher Education was urged to increase faculty salaries,
the increase to be included in the 1970 budget (TB 104,
6-12). The convention allocated $25,000 for a pilot
program for continuing education for 100 pastors in
the summer of 1970 and asked for an evaluation of this
project at the 1971 convention (TB 105—106, 6-14). It
declined an overture because the subject was covered
in Handbook 6.83 (TB 197, 6-24).

The convention authorized procedures for certifica-
tion of lay persons to perform certain carefully desig-
nated ministerial functions under approved supervision
(TB 197—198, 6-25). There was considerable discussion
on this question.

Church Relations

Rev. Lloyd Goetz, chairman of Committee 3, read .

a statement of the committee and led the convention
in a prayer. Mr. Kenneth Steege of New York City,
a student at Concordia College, Bronxville, was given
an opportunity to address the convention. He offered
a prayer and encouraged the convention to adopt the
resolution on fellowship. In the course of the discus-
sions Dr. J. A. O. Preus addressed the convention. He
voiced a:concern particularly for the doctrine of the
Word of God, saying that he favored a delay to give an
opportunity for further study on this subject. However,
he promised to abide by the decision of this convention
and to use strenuous efforts to draw all Lutherans into
a consensus on fellowship.

The time for the discussion had almost elapsed when
a motion for the previous question was carried. The
vote was taken by ballot. It was resolved that the tab-
ulation of the ballots be postponed until the time of the
Thursday morning session.

Rev. Fred Foard was recognized.

In response to a remark from the floor, the assembly
rose in a vote of thanks with sustained and rousing ap-
plause for the Christian spirit in which Dr. Harms had
conducted the discussions on the fellowship question.

Closing Devotion

The closing devotion was a memorial service at
which Dr. E. J. Friedrich and Rev. Gerhardt E. Nitz
officiated. Mr. Gerhard Schroth led the convention

choir in his own composition, “Beloved, Let Us Love.”
Dr. Paul Manz was the organist. Dr. Friedrich based
his sermon on Colossians 1:12-14, using the theme
“Saints in Light.”

Session 12

1 :
Opening J uly 17, Morning

Rev. Herbert Lindemann and seven other pastors
officiated at the presession Communion. Rev. James
Brockman conducted the opening devotion, using James
5:7-11 as his text. He stressed that patience is an
active exercise in children of God.

Essay

Dr. R. Caemmerer read the final portion of his essay
on “The Edifying Word.” He used Luke 10:38-42 as
a basis for showing what bearing the edifying Word
has on Christian families and on the work of congre-
gations for Christian families.

The minutes for the eleventh session were adopted
as read.

Church Relations

The chairman of the Committee on Elections, Arlen
Bruns, announced that 522 votes were cast in favor of
Res. 3-15, to accept altar and pulpit fellowship with
The American Lutheran Church. Of a total of 961
ballots one was blank and 438 were opposed to the
resolution. The announcement of the affirmative vote
was greeted with applause, for which the assembly rose.
At the direction of the chairman, the assembly sang
the first stanza of the hymn “Our God, Our Help in
Ages Past.”

Several speakers called for the unity of the Synod
now that this issue had been resolved. The Synod
voted to show by a rising vote its unity and its intent
to carry out its work.

President-elect Preus stated that the Synod has
spoken and he will support its position and will carry
out its wishes. He will set about the work of healing,
of promoting the Synod’s task of bringing the Gospel
to others, and of furthering the life of the Synod under
the edifying Word. He asked for the support and
prayers of the Synod. The statement resulted in a
standing ovation.

In response to a question the chairman stated that
the vote on this resolution was a legal expression of
the assembly and no referendum would be held.

Chairman Goetz made the following corrections in
Today’s Business: page 43, 3-06, add 3-268 and 3-269
(CW, p. 197); to TB 41—42, 3-04, add 3-271 to 3-274
(CW, pp. 198—199); to TB 220—224, 3-15, add 3-243
(CW, p. 189), 3-277, and 3-278 (CW p. 199).

Vice-President Wiederaenders took the chair. The
convention resolved to establish altar and pulpit fellow-
ship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada
(TB 243, 3-16). The resolution was amended to the effect
that both the preamble and the conclusion of Res. 3-15
should be appended to Res. 3-16. The resolution was
discussed at some length.

ed

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