LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 21

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 21

Those receiving the highest number of nominating bal-
lots were:

J. A. O. Preus _...- 2,678 Guido Merkens .......... 15
Oswald Hoffmann. ........ 1,172 August Bernthal _. 44
Roland Wiederaenders 46 Emil Jaech __........ _. 12
Charles Mueller _.......... 17. “~William Kohn __........- 12

Drs. Hoffmann and Wiederaenders had declined
nomination. Because of a tie the slate consists of six
candidates.

After adopting a motion to close the nominations
the convention accepted the slate of candidates as pre-
sented.

The morning session closed with a devotion led by
Dr. Theo. Nickel, Second Vice-President of the Synod.

Session 2

July 7, Afternoon
Opening
Following the opening devotion led by Dr. Edwin
Weber, Third Vice-President of the Synod, President
Preus relayed greetings which had been received from
Archbishop Hanna of the New Orleans diocese.

125th Anniversary

Dr. William Buege, chairman of the 125th Anniver-
sary Committee, introduced Dr. Oliver R. Harms, for-
mer President of Synod, who addressed the convention
regarding the plans and activities of the committee. He
expressed gratitude to his co-workers in this endeavor
and to the Aid Association for Lutherans for providing
funds for the bulletin inserts. Referring to the goal of
125,000 souls reached he pointed out that while this
goal had been exceeded the number of losses and esti-
mated losses was high, making it impossible to assess
the total net gains during the 15-month period of the
anniversary celebration. The primary motivation and
hope of the committee was that their efforts would “help
all members of the Synod to elevate their priorities and
to place proclamation and the accompanying deeds of
love above all other considerations,” and that “polariza-
tion might lose its vigor in the concentration on the one
thing needful.” Some of this has been achieved and
some still needs to be achieved under the blessing of

God.

Rev. Victor Rickman referring to the four objec-
tives set by the Steering Committee to meet the goals
of the Milwaukee convention indicated that these goals
had been achieved. They are recorded on page 187 of
the convention Workbook. According to the latest re-
ports 2,383 congregations have given definite commit-
ments totaling over $444 million. This represents 38.4
percent of the 6,200 congregations in the Synod. He
stated that many normally knowledgeable people are
unaware of the Thankoffering, which means that there
has been a breakdown in the line of total communica-
tion. Latest evaluations indicate a 125th Anniversary
Thankoffering of 24—25 million dollars during the next
2 years to be used in mission and ministry for the Lord
Jesus Christ. While the staff is concluding its services

to the Synod it remains on ¢all for future workshops
and other areas where help is needed.

Elections

Rev. August Mennicke, chairman of the Committee
on Elections, addressed the delegates briefly. Objections
were raised to the handing out of publications in the
electioneering manner providing slates for candidates
to be elected. After considerable discussion a motion
“that the Board of Directors take up the matter of poli-
ticking and how to prevent individuals and groups from
securing the names and addresses of the synodical dele-
gates” was declined.

President Mennicke explained the election proce-
dures, and after distribution of ballots for the election
of the President the election was declared closed.

Constitutional Matters

Rev. Ellis Nieting, chairman of the Committee on
Constitutional Matters, introduced the resolution asking
that the statement “All matters of doctrine and of con-
science shall be decided only by the Word of God” be
clarified (Res. 5-03, TB 64). A motion was made
to recommit this matter to Committee 5 for further
study and clarification. A motion to table the reso-
lution for recommitment until the conclusion of floor
discussion of the original motion was declared out of
order when the chair sustained an objection raised from
the floor. In response to a question as to whether re-
committal meant that no doctrinal matters could be
discussed until the original motion had been acted upon,
the chair indicated that there might be difficulty in
dealing with such issues and therefore if the matter
were to be recommitted the committee should be al-
lowed to bring the resolution back to the floor for dis-
cussion as soon as possible. The motion to recommit
Res. 5-03 (TB 64) was declined. A motion to extend
time one half hour to complete discussion of the Reso-
lution was also declined.

Elections
Rev. Mennicke reported the results of the presiden-
tial elections:

August Bernthal -..........
Emil Jaech _............. Charles Mueller .... .
William Kohn _................ J. A. O. Preus -............-

1,057 ballots were cast, 529 were needed for a ma-
jority, and two ballots were declared invalid. On the
basis of this tabulation Dr. Preus was declared elected
President of the Synod.

Dr. Preus stated that it was difficult to find words
to respond to the action of the convention and thanked
the delegates for their confidence in his leadership. He
pledged to serve the Synod under the grace of God
during the time of his presidency.

Rev. Mennicke stated that the committee would soon
be ready to proceed with the election of the First Vice-
President.

Guido A. Merkens

Missions

Rev. Richard Schlecht, chairman of the Missions
Committee, introduced the committee report giving a