LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 63

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64 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

cially happy to welcome the delegation from our Brazil
District. In recent conventions, it was generally impos-
sible for more than a few of our Brazil brethren to be
present. However, because of the generosity of some
of our congregations in North America, it was possible
for more than 15 official delegates from Brazil to be
present for this great convention, and to learn more of
our congregational life in North America. They have
cared enough about the affairs of this convention to
familiarize themselves with our whole operation, and
to visit with a number of our people in the United
States. You should know that Brazil is our fastest
growing District in The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod. I do not doubt that the Brazilian delegates could
teach all of us something about evangelism and dedica-
tion to the mission of the church. One of the pastoral
delegates told me recently that he is presently serving
10 stations and that he has just been able to buy a new
Volkswagen, which will enable him to open two addi-
tional stations. Think of it! Twelve congregations
served by one pastor! On behalf of the Synod I want
to take this opportunity to apologize publicly to the
Brazil delegates, and to all our brethren in the Brazil
District, for the unfortunate reference to these brethren
as a “foreign invasion.” I know that I speak for all of
us in apologizing for such unbrotherly and tasteless lan-
guage, in assuring these brethren that we are happy
to have them here, and in inviting them to participate
freely and responsibly in the decision-making process
of their church body.

While we are welcoming delegates, we are also
happy to welcome delegates for the first time from new
Districts of the Synod, the representatives of the New
Jersey and New England Districts, which were formerly
part of the Atlantic District. In addition to the dele-
gates from these two new Districts, we are also happy
to welcome the larger number of delegates from certain
Districts which have recircuited. The English District,
for example, is sending 10 more delegates than were
sent in 1971; the Florida-Georgia District has added 12
delegates; and the California and Nevada District has
sent an additional 8. We welcome all of you and look
forward to your positive and helpful contributions to
our deliberations.

Convention Procedures

The church is people — people from various parts of
the world and of various kinds and conditions, carrying
out various purposes and callings in the name of Jesus
Christ. That is never more in evidence than in a con-
vention such as ours, which is the largest convention
of our Synod ever held. Precisely because we are peo-
ple concerned about other people, we will need to be
careful to observe proper procedures in our convention
sessions. Doctor Wiederaenders will be orienting the
delegates with regard to convention procedures and
protocol. I think it is safe to say that the delegates can
reasonably expect a great deal of parliamentary maneu-
vering, points of order, and perhaps even some delaying
and diversionary tactics, especially in the opening ses-

sions of the convention. He will be showing you your
rights in these matters and also explaining how you can
take appropriate action to speed up our proceedings and
keep us from getting bogged down in all kinds of has-
sles which neither edify the church nor advance the dis-
cussion of important issues. We will need to guard our
time very carefully if we are to finish our work. Breth-
ren, we need to accomplish our work in order that the
mission of our Synod can move forward. I earnestly re-
quest all of you to reflect your Christian kindness and
charity in your dealings with one another on the floor
of this convention.

A Concluding Word

And now, a concluding word. We have been looking
at various aspects of our life together in The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod. We have emphasized that
we are a church body dedicated to sharing Christ with
all the world, committed to a strong program of Chris-
tian education, active in helping our fellowmen in pro-
grams of social ministry, interested in a responsible
Christian witness to our fellow Christians in other
churches, generous in our gifts and support, and deter-
mined to preserve our doctrinal heritage on the basis
of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. In all
of these areas, God has enabled us to accomplish much,
but much remains to be done.

It is to be expected that since we are sinners and
live in a sinful world, we will have troubles. No presi-
dent of any church body can ever report that all is com-
pletely well with the church. For, if such were the
case, there would be no need for the church. We are
an ever-living symbol of the sinfulness of man and of
his need for the grace and forgiveness of our heavenly
Father through Jesus Christ our Lord. However, with
the exception of the doctrinal problems which we ad-
dressed earlier, it is my pleasure to report that few of
our problems actually come from within. We are living
in a highly secularized and materialistic society, in
which we are surrounded on every side by sin, death,
and the devil. Yet, despite this, under the wonderful
mercy and grace of God, the Synod continues to move
forward in nearly every area. My general report to the
delegates, and through you to our congregations, is that
you belong to a wonderful church, with a great heritage.

We are also a church with a very great present. God
is laying before us in these days opportunities which
have seldom been granted to the church of any other
age. I am confident that under God’s grace and blessing
our church is capable of rising fo meet these challenges
and ministering faithfully for the spreading of His king-
dom and the glory of His name.

I am also convinced that under God’s grace and
blessing we face a wonderful future. We are in many
ways a unique church with a unique heritage, a unique
origin, a unique history, and in the days that lie ahead
also a unique and wonderful mission to people every-
where. We have no problems or challenges so great that
we cannot meet them by the power of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. Let us draw from that Gospel of Jesus

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