LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 32

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32 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

many other things Dr. Thompson was cited as being
a “pastor to pastors and people.”
Missions

Chairman Schlecht of the floor committee on Mis-
sions introduced Dr. Herman Kopplemann, who pre-
sented a series of guests to the convention. These guests
consisted of overseas missionaries from many parts of the
world such as Venezuela, New Guinea, Korea, Japan,
Nigeria, Hong Kong, Argentina and others.

Reverend Samuel H. Beckmann, who has retired
after 49 years of service in Argentina, was presented
a plaque by Dr. J. A. O. Preus for his outstanding ser-
vice to Christ. Dr. Meinert H. Grumm was presented
a similar plaque by President Preus for his 41 years
of service as a missionary in India. It was pointed out
that he has been particularly involved in in-service
training in that foreign field.

Chairman Schlecht then presented Res. 1-06 (TB
115) entitled “To Reaffirm Our Church’s Mission.” By
adopting this resolution the convention reaffirmed the
Synod’s subscription to the Mission Affirmations and
reaffirmed the necessity of verbal or written witness to
the Gospel and to the Scriptural truth that deeds of love
flowing from the Gospel are an indispensable part of
the church’s witness. It pledged those who are in-
volved in the mission of the church to work out prob-
lems which confront them in a spirit of brotherly trust
and mutual support. Although the resolution involved
considerable debate, when it was adopted with no dis-
senting vote the delegates joined in singing the com-
mon doxology as an expression of their thanks to God
for granting this unity.

While appreciating the concerns for our doctrinal
and practical heritage expressed in Overtures 1-05 and
2-172 (Workbook pages 25, 96), the convention accepted
the committee recommendation (TB 116, 1-07) to de-
cline these overtures since channels, instruments, and
safeguards exist for dealing with any evident deviation
from a Scriptural or confessional position in either doc-
trine or practice. By adopting Res. 1-02 (TB 50) the
delegates agreed to establish a missionary medical re-
serve fund to deal with unexpected health expenses of
missionaries and their families. They asked that partial
decentralization of responsibility for the Synod’s mis-
sion program be expedited in order to assist in per-
sonalizing interest in the Synod’s worldwide mission
efforts. (Resolution 1-03, TB 51)

Congregations were asked and encouraged to study
and respond on an individual basis to the specific needs
of their communities (Res. 1-04, TB 51). The Districts
and overseas Christian churches were commended for
increased mission support and were encouraged in their
continued efforts for future growth in the grace of mis-
sion giving and program outreach (Resolution 1-08,
TB 117). After accepting a motion to extend the period
of time for discussion, the convention directed the Board
for Missions in conjunction with the Board for Evan-
gelism to secure a full-time resource person to assist
missionaries in developing greater expertise in effective

techniques of evangelism in their areas and their cul-
tures. (Res. 1-09, TB 117)

Higher Education

At the direction of the convention Res. 6-13 had
been referred to the floor committee for rewording of
an amendment which had previously been adopted by
the convention. Chairman Elwood Zimmermann intro-
duced the substitute Resolution 6-13A (TB 169) to the
delegates. After some discussion a motion was made to
amend the substitute motion by substituting the follow-
ing resolved for that which had been presented by the
committee: “Resolved, That the Bylaws of Synod’s
Constitution governing the election of college and sem-
inary presidents be revised to read as follows:

That the faculty committee be changed to a presidential
screening committee. Such a screening committee shall
consist of representation from the Board of Control, fac-
ulty, parish pastors, teachers, and laymen. Fifty percent
of the committee shall be faculty members elected by the
faculty. The remaining members shall be appointed by
the Board of Control. The committee shall make careful
analysis of the needs of the institution and requirements
of the Synod as well as academic and personal qualifica-
tions of the nominees. To this end the secretary of the
Board of Control shall make available to this committee
all information, recommendations, and objections which
he receives. On the basis of its studies, the screening
committee shall make pertinent recommendations to the
electors with regard to the choice of suitable persons from
a list of candidates which they propose for the electors’
consideration. The electors shall elect from the list of
candidates proposed by the presidential screening com-
mittee.
Discussion of the amendment was called to a close
in order to allow the amendment to be printed in the

next issue of Today’s Business.

Parish Services

Dr. Ben Eggers, executive secretary of the Board of
Youth Ministry, presented 56 youth delegates to the
convention. A number of them addressed the conven-
tion presenting their hopes, feelings, and concerns about
the church and its future. They expressed concern over
divisions within the church and fear for its future be-
cause of lack of unity. The presentation closed with
the singing of the first stanza of “A Mighty Fortress”
by the entire assembly and a prayer of one of the youth
delegates that God would grant us peace.

Following this presentation a resolution calling for
meeting the priority needs of youth ministry for 1973
to 1975 through provision of Christ-centered guidance
and resources by the Board of Youth Ministry to con-
gregations to assist them in their ministry to young
people was adopted (Res.7-19, TB 143). In keeping
with the concern for youth, congregations were encour-
aged to study first Communion and confirmation classes
and to implement changes which would enrich the spir-
itual growth of their children in the crucial years of
their development (Res.7-10, TB 45). The delegates
expressed gratitude for volunteer church school work-
ers and asked for improvement of their training through
adequate systematic in-service education and joint in-
ter-parish volunteer training events (Res. 7-11, TB 45).
After amending Res. 7-15 (TB 46) by adding the words