LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 36

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36 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

ness of the delegates to assess priorities. About 45
young people participated. They presented Dr. Harms
with token gifts in gratitude for the experiences they
had and as a tribute to the chairman’s Christian spirit.

Closing Devotion

The closing devotion, which began at 9:45 p.m., had
Dr. W. Harry Krieger as officiant. Dr. Herman A. Harms
delivered the message on the basis of Psalm 100:2,
“Serve the Lord with gladness.” He installed the newly
elected President, Vice-Presidents, and members of
boards and commissions of the Synod. An offering for
the hungry was taken at the doors.

Session 15
. July 18, Morning

Opening

The Rev. Dr. A. R. Kretzmann conducted the pre-
session Communion service with seven assistants. Rev.
Walter Enge addressed the assembly in the opening
service on 1 Corinthians 10:13, “God is faithful.” We
thank God for His fidelity to our people. We are faithful
to Him by His power and grace, faithful to His Word
and to the mission of His church.

The minutes of the thirteenth and fourteenth sessions
were adopted.

Procedures

Resolved, That the vote on Res. 3-14, regarding ap-
plying for membership in the Lutheran World Federa-
tion, be by written ballot.

Church Relations

Chairman Lloyd Goetz of Committee 3 introduced
the report.

The convention encouraged continued discussions
with the Lutheran Church in America (TB 155, 3-13).

The resolution to apply for membership in the Lu-
theran World Federation was debated. Dr. Preus asked
that no action be taken now because of the tensions
in connection with the resolution on altar and pulpit
fellowship with The American Lutheran Church. By

ballot vote the resolution was defeated, with 272 affirma-
tive votes and 620 votes against the resolution.
Discussions were encouraged with other Christian
groups, to give opportunity for testifying and witnessing
(TB 154, 3-12). The question of selective fellowship
is to be studied; congregations and members are to
refrain from practicing altar and pulpit fellowship with
congregations of church bodies with whom the Synod
has not yet declared fellowship (TB 245, 3-18). The
convention resolved to decline the overtures calling
for a restructuring of Lutheranism (TB 245—246, 3-19).

Young People’s Work

Chairman Neunaber of Committee 8 introduced the
report of his committee. The Board for Young People’s
Work in conjunction with the Board for Higher Edu-
cation was asked to study and to provide for a Youth
Leadership Training Program for black and Latin-
American youth (TB 168, 8-03). All-Lutheran pro-
gramming in youth work was encouraged by a vote of
413 to 351 (TB 169, 8-05).

The Handbook was amended by adding 1.61 e, giving
youth representatives advisory status, by 473 affirmative
votes (TB 209, 8-10).

Missions

Chairman Waldemar Meyer introduced the report
of Committee 1.

The Synod endorsed principles for campus ministries
and directed the Board for Missions to communicate
and clarify goals of campus ministries (TB 346—347,
1-20).

The resolution that the Board of Missions administer
the work among the deaf through the Districts was
defeated (TB 311—312, 1-18).

The convention called on the congregations of the
Synod to repent, to renew their consecration to evan-
gelism, and to study the extent of their meeting the
spiritual and physical needs of their communities (TB
373, 1-22).

Social Action and Welfare

Chairman Poch of Committee 9 introduced the re-
port of his committee. The mover of the amendment
which was on the floor for the resolution on world
hunger wished to withdraw his amendment. By formal
vote the convention allowed this. After discussion the
resolution expressing concerns for world hunger and
directives for demonstrating these concerns was passed
as amended (TB 212—213, 9-11; Minutes for Session 13).

The convention voted not to declare a moratorium
on capital expenditures, while acknowledging the seri-
ousness of the problem of world hunger and the charge
of institutionalism (TB 323—324, 9-21). On TB 323,
line 24, “balanced by” was changed to “held in tension
with.”

It defined the concept “black power” and affirmed
the legitimacy of black power (TB 371—372, 9-22). In
line 31, TB 371, the phrase is to read “the legitimacy
of this concept,” and in line 2 on page 372 “as defined
herein” instead of “as they defined it.”

RR MEI ROE

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