LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1977, Page 26

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26 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

president of the SELC District, read Luke 10:1-9 in the
Slovak language. Dr. Streufert led the delegates in
prayer.

Elections

Chairman Ziegler of the Floor Committee on
Elections announced the final results of the election for
President of the Synod. 1,083 votes were cast, all of
which were valid. 542 were required for a majority. The
results of the election were as follows; Bernthal—38,
Maier—119, Mueller—330, Preus—596. President Preus
received a standing ovation from the convention for his
election to a third consecutive term as President of the
Synod. Ballots were then distributed for the election of
the First Vice-President of the Synod

Constitutional Matters

Dr. Richard Schlecht, chairman of the Floor
Committee on Constitutional Matters, presented Res. 5-
06 (TB 105), calling for a change in the Bylaws of the
Synod to provide for a better method of signing Synod’s
Constitution by pastors, teachers, and congregations.
The change in the Bylaws would allow the pastors and
teachers to file a signed statement which indicated that
they had read the Constitution and with the filing of
the statement affix their signatures to it. The delegates
adopted the proposed Bylaw changes. With the adop-
tion of Res. 5-07 (TB 105) the length of terms for
members on the Commission on Constitutional Matters
was changed to 8 years from 4 years, which had been
the case previously. Adoption of this resolution in-
cludes a change in the Bylaws and was accepted after
the delegates had declined to add a final resolved
asking that the matter be given to the Task Force on
Constitution, Bylaws, and Structure for further con-
sideration.

Point of Privilege

Dr. Milton Carpenter, Treasurer of the Synod, was
granted a point of privilege to present Mrs. J. A. O.
Preus to the convention and to honor her with a
bouquet of flowers. After receiving a standing ovation
from the delegates, Mrs. Preus expressed her thanks
and dedicated the flowers to Mrs. Edwin Weber, the
wife of the First Vice-President of the Synod.

Parish Services

Rev. Walter Zeile, President of the New Jersey
District and chairman of the Floor Committee on
Parish Services, introduced Dr. Victor Constien,
Executive Secretary of the Board of Parish Education,
who in turn introduced Dr. Al Senske, Secretary of
Elementary and Secondary Schools. Both of them
referred to the growth in the number of Lutheran high
schools as well as the 75th anniversary of Lutheran
high schools, which will be celebrated during the
academic year 1977-78. Following this the floor com-
mittee introduced Res. 7-01 (7B 132), which called for
the church to recognize with gratitude and provide
support to volunteer church school workers. By adop-
ting the resolution the delegates asked that this be done
through expressions and official publications, through

demonstration of appreciation by the congregations,
and through support of the work of these people.
Resolution 7-02 (TB 132) encouraged congregations to
support the “Year of the Sunday School” by emphasiz-
ing it, improving the quality of Sunday schools, and by
seeking to enroll all members in formal education
experiences. The convention approved this resolution
as well as Res. 7-03 (TB 133), which encouraged
participation at the 1978 convention of our church
school workers to be held in Chicago July 14-16, 1978,
and asked congregations to provide financial
assistance to enable workers to attend. After adding the
words “set up a system of personal contacts” after the
words “be urged to” (line 48, TB 133), members of the
Synod were encouraged to participate in Biblical and
confessional studies “That We May Grow” (Res. 7-04,
TB 133). Delegates declared their support for early
childhood/parent education programs by asking con-
gregations to promote them (Res. 7-05, TB 134). After
changing the word “develop” to “encourage” in line 50
(TB 184), the convention asked for promotion of
evangelism among youth as well as an affirmation of
the youth ministry directions for the future as
presented in the Convention Workbook report (C W 279).
They did this by adopting Res. 7-06 and 7-07 (TB 134—
135). Resolution 7-08 (7B 135) was presented, asking for
the development of a synodical youth organization.
This was done after changing the word “a” to “the” in
line 37 (TB 135). Time for discussion of this matter
elapsed before action on it could be completed.

Point of Privilege (Nominations)

Dr. Wilbert Rusch, member of the Committee on
Nominations, asked for a point of privilege, stating
that because of Bylaw 2.71 of the synodical Handbook,
which did not allow for two members on the Board of
Directors from the same District, the name of Ralph
Niedert would have to be eliminated from the slate of
nominees for the Board of Directors of the Synod.
Vernon R. Brugge of Memphis, Tenn., was approved by
the convention as a replacement.

Administration

Dr. Wibert Griesse, chairman of the Floor Committee
on Administration, presented Res. 4-01A (TB 200) to the
delegates, who subsequently adopted it. By doing so
they urged the Synod and its Districts to make greater
use of the Circuit Counselor in communicating the needs
of the parish pastor and the person in the pew to
Districts and the Synod, and asked the Task Force on
Constitution, Bylaws, and Structure to strengthen the
role of the Circuit Counselor, so that maximum use
would be made of him. The delegates also asked for a
rearrangement of financial responsibilities in order to
improve the accounting procedures of the Synod. This
resolution also provided for a change in the Bylaws to
facilitate the matter (Res. 4-02A-1, TB 200). In order to
make it possible to assemble, review, and coordinate
position descriptions more easily, they approved Res. 4-
02A-2 (TB 202) which made this possible by changing
the Bylaws. This resolution was approved after they had
agreed to retain the present wording of 2.83 b of the

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