LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 33

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 33

3. a dedication to the mission of the church.

The way to achieve a God-pleasing result would be
through a period of preparation involving evangelism,
outreach, inreach, and would require expenditure of
manpower and money. It would be carried out on the
assumption that adequate assistance would be provided
by the Board of Directors on recommendation of the
Anniversary Committee, the wholehearted support of
the Board of Directors, the President of the Synod, the
Council of Administrators, the Council of Presidents,
and the staff at synodical headquarters. President Preus
pledged this support and expressed his thanks to Dr.
Harms.

Dr. Lucille Wassmann, who had been recognized in
a previous resolution as the newly elected director of
the Lutheran Deaconess Association, was presented to
the convention.

Church Relations

The chairman of the floor committee, Rev. Emil
Jaech, announced that the committee’s first resolution
would deal with the issue of fellowship with The Amer-
ican Lutheran Church. Prior to the introduction of the
resolution he made a statement to the convention re-
viewing the various overtures which had appeared in
the convention Workbook together with their proposals.
He stated that after spending much time and prayer the
committee had arrived at the resolution which would
be presented. He stated that it would not fully please
all as it had not pleased all the members of the commit-
tee. Nevertheless, they had been able to come with
a single resolution to the convention. He asked the
delegates to improve on the resolution if they could but
to remember that no fellowship is perfect this side of
heaven and asked that the decision be made in mutual
concern for one another, in an evangelical manner, and
in full dedication to Christ and His Word. The resolu-
tion to seek better relations with The American Lu-
theran Church was then introduced. Prior to discussion
Rev. Jaech led the convention in prayer. A motion to
extend time for discussion until 11:00 a.m. was adopted.
A motion was made and seconded to change the resolu-
tion so that it would call for suspension of fellowship.
After considerable discussion, the amendment was de-
clined. Following discussion on the original motion, the
convention adopted the resolution as presented by the
floor committee (TB 269, 3-21). Rev. Jaech then led the
convention in a prayer of thanksgiving.

Statements

A statement was made from the floor pointing to
what was felt to be a need for a change in the Constitu-
tion of the Synod which would allow for voting on
issues such as fellowship by individual congregations.
Another statement requested that dignitaries visiting
the convention and addressing it be asked not to com-
ment on issues before the convention.

Greetings

Dr. Preus introduced Dr. Robert Marshall, president
of the Lutheran Church of America, who addressed the
convention with a Pauline greeting “Grace to you and
peace.” He stated that we cannot save ourselves, our
churches, or our world. Only God can do that, and He
has done it in Christ. Whatever differences we may
have, we have God’s grace in Christ Jesus. We also
have peace, which can be an eschatological hope among
other things. But peace can also be the fruit of unity
in faith. We are more than brothers. We are servants
of one Master. While we may not view our obedience
in the same way, we do work together in many external
things. There have been increased contacts between the
LCA and The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, and
the hope was expressed that these contacts are the
result of taking Scripture seriously.

Elections

Chairman Bruns of the floor committee reported the
following election results:

Board of Appeals: Mr. Elmer H. Theis; Commission
on Mission and Ministry: Rev. Orval Oswald; Board of
Stewardship: Rev. G. Holmes Mendelman; Commission
on Theology and Church Relations: Rev. Paul Bretscher,
Mr. Richard Korthals; Committee for Convention Nomi-
nations: Revs. Karl Barth, Elwood Zimmermann,
Teacher Elden Duensing, Messrs. Elmer Bartels, John
C. Wegner; Board of Parish Education: Teachers Walter
Bleke, Walter Dobberfuhl; Board of Youth Ministry:
Lois Grese, Jonathan Heerboth, David Wangerin; Board
for Missions: Rev. Otto C. Hintze, Rev. Waldo J. Wer-
ning, Messrs. Henry J. Andreas, Wallace J. Bronner,
Ralph Martens, Gordon Nelson; Church Extension
Board: Rev. Raymond Wessler, Teacher Winfried M.
Graebner, and Messrs. Donavon D. Claussen, Herbert
H. Hast; Board of Control, Ann Arbor: Rev. John Streit,
Messrs. William Gast, Ernest C. Laetz, Teacher Walter
E. Senne; Board of Control, Austin: Messrs. Robert
Bauer, Fred Strieter and Teacher Harold Kieschnick;
Board of Control, Bronxville: Rev. Arnold E. Kromp-
hardt, Messrs. Bernard W. Guenther, Theodore Hoff-
man, and Teacher Carl F. Kretzmann; Board of Control,
Milwaukee: Rev. Dale Hansen, Mr. Dale Korth, Teacher
Ronald Pinkepank; Board of Control, River Forest:
Rev. John Lutze, Mr. Lawrence Marquardt, and Teacher
Robert Schlesselman; Board of Control, St. Louis: Mr.
Walter Dissen and Teacher Paul Nickel; Board of Con-
trol, St. Paul: Messrs. Martin Langemo and Wilfred F.
Neumann, Teacher Carl Stelling; Board of Control,
Selma: Rev. Charles Graeber, Mr. Floyd Scott, and
Teacher Paul McCain; Board of Control, Seward:
Messrs. Don Kolterman and Howard P. Doerr, Teacher
Robert Garmatz; Board of Control, Springfield: Messrs.
John D. Biesemeier and Earl Boucher; Board of Control,
Winfield: Messrs. Donald Neff and Al Wipperman.

Closing
The session was closed with prayer led by Rev. R. G.