LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 42

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42 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Work Program

Discussion on the adoption of the 1972 and 1973 work
program was resumed. After declining an amendment
which called for delay of debt reduction until other
commitments had been met, the convention adopted the
program as presented (TB 288, 16-01). It then adopted
a resolution to provide funds for these programs (TB
288, 16-02). The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League
and the Lutheran Laymen’s League were commended
for their work and encouraged to continue to support
the mission program of the Synod and in the case of the
Lutheran Laymen’s League to give special consideration
to opportunities in overseas television (TB 289, 16-03;
TB 289, 16-04). This completed the work of the com-
mittee.

Theological Matters

Discussion on a resolution to repudiate the document
“Openness and Trust” was continued. The resolution
was narrowly adopted after considerable discussion.
After the adoption, Dr. Preus, on a question of privilege
granted by the floor, asked that the words “the inad-
equacies of the” be inserted in the title of the resolution
and in the first resolved. There was no objection to this
request from the floor. He also suggested that a letter
referred to by Dr. John Tietjen, president of Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis, regarding the position of certain
faculty members, be attached to the resolution if Dr.
Tietjen should wish to do so. Dr. Tietjen stated that
he would be happy to provide the letter for attachment
(TB 368, 2-50). A resolution calling for greater fidelity

to the doctrine and practice of baptism was adopted
(TB 279, 2-22). In connection with this resolution a
delegate suggested that it would be useful to have
chaplains available during the convention of the Synod
to counsel people and to provide an opportunity for
private confession and absolution, After adding the
word “pastoral” in the first resolved so that it reads,
“Resolved, That the Synod commend the President for
his pastoral concern for doctrinal unity ...” the dele-
gates adopted a resolution supporting the judgment of
the President of the Synod in appointing a fact-finding
committee (TB 280, 2-23). They adopted revisions of
Section XIV of the Handbook dealing with fraternal
organizations so that it would conform to the format of
other sections (TB 281, 2-25). After declining to include
the resolveds of Overture 2-117 (convention Workbook,
page 82), they accepted a joint resolution from the
floor committees on theological matters and on parish
services and youth permitting congregations to exercise
their judgment in confirmation and first Communion
practices (TB 367, 2-47). The assembly asked the Com-
mission on Theology and Church Relations to continue
its study and evaluation of the historical-critical method
of interpretation and to bring a recommendation con-
cerning its use to the next convention. It also asked for
the participation of District pastor-teacher conferences
of the Synod in this study (TB 377, 2-52). It requested
clarification of participation in ecumenical studies and
the preparation of statements resulting from them, ask-
ing representatives of the Synod to report through the
CTCR on the nature of their involvement when such
statements are issued publicly (TB 377, 2-53). Revisions

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ANOTHER ballot??

steele eh aeene