LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 34

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34 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

voluntarily. At that time statements were made that
the issues involved were too difficult for the laymen.
Nevertheless they did play an important part in this
solution. Dr. Suelflow closed this portion of the essay
by quoting the writer to the Hebrews urging us to
remember our leaders who taught to us the Word of
life.

Progress Report

Dr. Preus reported that of the 279 resolutions before
the convention one had been withdrawn, one was de-
feated, and 76 had been adopted. This means that 201
resolutions must still be brought before the convention.
Point of Privilege

Acting on a notice given to the convention during
the sixth convention session held the previous day,
delegate Gilbert LaHaine Sr. of Lansing, Mich., made,
verbatim, the motion which is included in the minutes
of the sixth session of the convention. After consid-
erable discussion the question was called on the basis
of a two-third majority delegate vote, 668 to 333. The
chair declared the motion passed when a division of
the whole house showed 548 for the motion with 479
against its passage. The vote for the passage was a
majority of the 1,064 reported registered pastoral and
lay voting delegates.

Elections

Chairman Mennicke of the floor committee on Elec-
tions made another election report to the convention
(see attachment). He indicated that almost all posi-
tions were now filled and run-offs for the remaining
positions would be carried out as soon as possible.
Point of Privilege

On a point of privilege one of the delegates notified
the convention that this was a special day for one of the
fathers among us, Dr. Roland Wiederaenders, First
Vice-President of the Synod. This was his 65th birth-
day and the delegates were requested to join in cele-
brating his birthday in thankfulness to God by rising
and wishing Dr. Wiederaenders a happy birthday and
God’s blessing in song.

In response to a question from the floor, Dr. Preus
stated that he had been in touch with Dr. Harms since
the last session of the convention and that Dr. Harms
would appear later during the present session.

Point of Information

In response to a question regarding the proper pro-
cedure for requesting a secret ballot, Dr. Preus stated
that the parliamentarians would be consulted and would
provide the answer at a later time.

Dr. Harms

A motion from the floor asking that the convention
express its public apology to Dr. Harms for not allow-
ing him to appear last evening was discussed. By com-
mon consent the delegates agreed with Dr. Preus that
the expenditure of time and money would best be used
to hear Dr. Harms. He then presented him to the con-
vention.

Dr. Harms stated that it was his love and concern
for the Synod which had been so good to him which
caused him to request permission to address the as-
sembly. He indicated that he was concerned about the
impossibility of arriving at agreement on many of the
issues before the convention. He then proposed that the
delegates place these difficult issues into the hands of
the District Presidents and the Vice-Presidents of the
Synod. He indicated that his remarks regarding sem-
inary issues would be retained until a later time if the
chair would allow this and concluded his presentation
by expressing thanks for the privilege of addressing the
convention.

Elections

At this point Chairman Mennicke declared the elec-
tion for the remaining positions on the boards and
commissions of the Synod closed.

Social Ministry

Resuming discussion of Res. 9-03 (TB 53) the con-
vention first adopted an amendment adding an addi-
tional resolved to the resolution which asked “That The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod establish a goal of
$1 million over the next 2 years to meet the needs in
India, Africa, Central America, and other parts of the
world and that this be done through the Board for
Social Ministry and World Relief.” They then approved
the entire resolution as amended calling upon the dele-
gates to sensitize the members of Synod to the hunger
problem in the world.

Before considering a resolution dealing with the
problem of racism, the convention was addressed by
Mr. Richard K. Fox Jr., former executive staff member
of St. Paul and St. Louis Urban Leadership and presi-
dent of the Lutheran Human Relations Association of
America. He stated that the association had been in
its existence almost 20 years, addressing itself to the
issues of racism and lovelessness in the world and in
the church. He pointed out that people in foreign lands
find it difficult to understand how a nation which can
do great things and produce great leaders can also bring
about the death of such men as Martin Luther King and
the Kennedys. In his opinion racism is still the most
tragic problem of our times and he urged the delegates
to love not only in words but in deeds and truth. After
hearing this presentation, the convention adopted Res.
9-22 (TB 91) which instructed the Board of Social Min-
istry and World Relief to continue its efforts to combat
racism and to promote equal opportunity in synodically
controlled agencies and institutions.

Offering

On the basis of a resolution from the floor the dele-
gates were urged to sensitize themselves to hunger
through a fast here in New Orleans and to use any
monies saved to provide an offering at this convention
for relieving the hunger needs of the world.

Procedures

The delegates declined a motion to limit presenta-
tions of the floor committees to periods of from 5 to 8
minutes.