LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 30

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30 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Standing Rules

Before beginning the agenda for the day the conven-
tion considered a resolution amending the standing
rules of the convention. The proposed resolution asked
that “If after 30 minutes have been allowed for debate,
the previous question fails to carry, an additional 15
minutes be allowed to debate the question, after which
time the main motion before the house and all amend-
ments will be voted on if the majority desires it.” The
convention did not accept this proposed change, since
the vote, 504 to 432, fell short of the required two thirds.

A motion that the chairman instruct the Secretary
to record not only the names of those voting negatively
at their request but also the reason for their votes was
also declined. The order of the day was called for from
the floor.

Elections

Chairman Mennicke reported the results of the elec-
tion for the offices of Secretary, Treasurer, and some
of the boards and commissions of the Synod. (See elec-
tion report attached to the Minutes.)

Progress Report

Chairman Edwin Weber alerted delegates to the fact
that of the 231 resolutions which are before the con-
vention, action has been taken on only 34 at this time.

Stewardship and Finance

Chairman Goetz of the floor committee on Steward-
ship and Finance began his report in the context of the
Apostles’ Creed. He introduced Resolution 12-01 (TB
103) which called for a study of supplemental funding
of the church’s mission through private investment and
business ventures. This resolution was adopted by the
delegates. The convention approved the resolution call-
ing for development and promotion of a comprehensive
program of supplemental project giving asking that this
program be developed in a manner which would enhance
the ongoing work of the Synod (Res. 12-02, TB 103),
and encouraged estate planning through The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod Foundation (Res. 12-03, TB
103). They revised the Bylaw pertaining to terms of
office of the Board of Trustees of The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod Foundation (Res. 12-04, TB 104)
and resolved that the Board of Parish Education and
Youth Ministries should join the Stewardship Board
in helping congregations develop an effective ongoing
program of stewardship education (Res. 12-05, TB 104).
By adding point c to Bylaw 9.71 they clarified the policy
regarding appeals from agencies and institutions to the
Synod and Districts for gathering of funds (Res. 12-06,
TB 105). After the delegates agreed to consider Reso-
lutions 12-07 through 12-12 (TB 105—107) as a group,
these resolutions were approved by title. They called
for accepting the reports of the various fiscal officers
and boards, for commending the members and staff
of the Board of Pensions and Support, for asking the
Board of Managers and the staff of Concordia Plans for
an ongoing study of adjustment of pension payments
to the cost of living, for a continuing study of the pos-

sible release of personal savings from Synod’s pension
fund, for pursuing the possibility of instituting a more
liberal vesting provision in the Concordia Retirement
Plan, and for improving retirement arrangements for
transferees.

Communications

Chairman George Wollenburg of the floor committee
on Communications introduced Res. 10-08 (TB 75)
thanking the Lutheran Laymen’s League for its cospon-
sorship in the Synod’s television ministry. After Rev.
Robert Kamprath addressed the delegates regarding
some of the future plans of the Lutheran Television
Ministry the delegates adopted this resolution as well
as a revision of the Bylaws relating to the purposes and
operation of Radio Station KFUO AM and KFUO FM
(Res. 10-09, TB 76). The convention declined to have
the titles of the Bylaw changes read. The convention
also accepted the recommendation of the floor commit-
tee to decline overtures asking the Synod to use Beck’s
translation of the Scriptures and not the Revised Stan-
dard Version as well as those asking that Concordia
Publishing House publish Dr. William F, Beck’s trans-
lation and reprint books by Maier, Arndt, Walther, and
Engelder (Res. 10-01, 10-02, 10-03, TB 73). Concordia
Publishing House is planning to publish the translation
by Dr. Beck and will provide assistance in obtaining the
other books. The delegates agreed that the 400th anni-
versary of the Book of Concord and 450th anniversary
of the Augsburg Confession should be observed and
that the Board of Directors of the Synod appoint a com-
mittee to plan appropriate anniversary events. It
adopted the resolution (10-04, TB 74) after amending
it by adding the following resolveds: “Be it further re-
solved, that the Board of Directors be directed to pro-
vide budgetary resources for the publication of a less
expensive or paperback edition of the Book of Concord
for use by all the members of the Synod and for use
especially in adult membership instruction classes, and
be it further resolved, that this less expensive or paper-
back edition of the Book of Concord be coedited by the
chairmen of the Systematics Department of both semi-
naries in consultation with others of their joint choice.”
By assigning the responsibility for the Walther Publica-
tions project to the Commission on Church Literature
the convention dissolved the special committee on pub-
lishing Walthers writings (Res. 10-05, TB 74). Since
the Lutheran Witness and Reporter are available to
Armed Services personnel at a reduced price through
local congregations it agreed with the floor committee
in declining Overture 10-04 which called for the dis-
semination of official periodicals to service men. (Res.
10-06, TB 75)

Announcements

Dr. Wiederaenders announced that because of the
press of business the schedule for the evening session
would probably be as follows: 6:00 p.m. dinner, 7:00
p.m. the group would reconvene and would consider
resolutions presented by Committee 2, with the evening
session closing at 9:00 p.m.