LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 44

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44 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Elections

Since the convention would not be closing until
later in the evening and ballots needed to be destroyed,
the delegates approved a resolution stating:

Resolved, That the convention authorize and direct
the Committee on Elections to destroy the ballots from
the elections in this convention at a time convenient
before the close of the convention, notwithstanding the
provisions of Bylaw 2.121 d.

Recordings

The delegates approved a motion asking that two
copies of the tape recordings of convention proceedings
be made and that one be placed in the hands of Con-
cordia Historical Institute and the other in the hands
of the keeper of the corporate records of the Synod.
Greetings and Recognition

Greetings were brought to the convention from The
Lutheran Church in Ghana. Rev. Jobst Schoene of the
Lutheran Church in Germany was recognized.

Dr. William Kohn, executive secretary of the Board
for Missions, introduced Dr. Nao who brought greetings
from the Japanese Lutheran Church. At the end of his
remarks which were interpreted, he presented Dr. Preus
with a vase from Japan to be placed in the President’s
office. This year is the 25th anniversary of Lutheran
missions in Japan.

Rev. Kenneth Mahler brought greetings from the Lu-
theran Church in Central America and wished for the
convention the kind of unity which is being experienced
in that area. This was also the 25th anniversary of Lu-
theran work in that area of the world.

Missions

By agreement of the delegates Resolutions 1-15
through 1-19 (TB 152) were adopted as a group by
title. These resolutions dealt with matters relating to
the Church Extension Fund, encouraging Districts to
secure increased investments in such funds and to foster
the expansion of loan services. They expanded the func-
tion of the Church Extension Fund through a revision
of the Bylaws, asked for guidelines which would pro-
vide uniformity in Church Extension policies and pro-
grams, and requested that Church Extension Fund loans
be made available only where fair employment con-
tractors are involved or the goals of Project Equality
are pursued. By a revision of the Bylaws membership
in the Board for Missions was changed so that begin-
ning with the 1975 convention two teachers would be
included as members of the Board (Res. 1-20, TB 212).
Another revision of the Bylaws relating to the Board
for Missions resulted in a reduction of the number of
advisory members on that Board (Res. 1-21, TB 212).
This action was taken after delegates had declined to
change line 69 (TB 212) to read “full-time advisory
members in this category shall not exceed three” and
to strike the remainder of the resolution. The resolu-
tion itself was adopted by a 437 to 419 vote.

Welcome

Representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
were welcomed to the convention by Dr. Preus.

Synodical Administration

Chairman Stanfel of the floor committee presented
the committee’s resolution calling for Bylaw changes in
the area of general staff services (Res. 4-26, TB 185).
After a period of discussion the orders of the day were
called for before the convention had taken action on
the resolution.

Seminary Issues

Chairman Niemoeller of the floor committee on
Seminary Issues introduced Resolution 3-02 (TB 95)
which called for a change in the Bylaws of the Hand-
book incorporating the recommendations of the special
Task Force on accreditation. An amendment calling
for the deletion of the words “or the synodical Presi-
dent” from Bylaw 6.80 (Line 66, TB 98) called forth
considerable discussion. After the previous question
on the amendment had been called by a vote of 630 to
294, the motion to delete the words “or the synodical
President” failed by a vote of 467 to 478, The previous
question on the resolution was then called by a vote of
602 to 350 and the resolution was adopted by a vote of
575 to 381.

Point of Order

Prior to the actual introduction of Res. 3-12A (a
resolution distributed to the delegates), a delegate ob-
jected to the bringing of this resolution prior to the
consideration of Res. 3-12. The committee stated that
it was replacing 3-12 with Res. 3-12A. The chair ruled
that since Resolution 3-12 had not been brought before
the convention, it was permissible for the committee to
introduce another resolution.

Seminary Issues

Resolution 3-12 was then presented to the conven-
tion for consideration. This resolution called for deal-
ing with Dr. John Tietjen under the provisions of the
Synod’s Handbook. In the discussion which. followed
it was stated by the committee that Res. 3-12 no longer
exists as far as the convention is concerned. Because of
this, by common consent “Resolution 3-12” in the first
whereas of 3-12A was replaced by the phrase “the above
named overtures,” and the following overtures were
listed under the subject: “Overtures 3-112, 3-161,
3-162A—B, 3-163A—B, 3-164, 3-165, 3-196 (CW, pp.
145, 157—158).” Dr. John Baumgaertner made the
statement he had requested earlier in behalf of Dr. Tiet-
jen. A motion was made and seconded to amend Reso-
lution 3-12A by adding the words: “Resolved, That we
apologize to Dr. Tietjen for the appearance of Resolution
3-12 in Today’s Business.” After the convention had
agreed to extend the time of the session until Res. 3-12A
had been considered and acted upon, the previous ques-
tion on the amendment was moved by a vote of 768 to 43.
A motion to vote by means of a secret ballot was de-
clined. The amendment was then declined by a rising
vote. By a vote of 743 to 38 the decision was made to call
the question on the entire resolution as presented. Ona
point of privilege a motion was made and seconded to
delete the first whereas from the resolution. This

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