LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1977, Page 47

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 47

News Bible, literature in signed English for the deaf,
and the distribution of the Scriptures in eastern Europe.

Orders of the Day

President Preus announced changes which had been
made in the orders of the day, indicating that further
changes might be made later.

Administration

Chairman Wilbert Griesse of the Floor Committee
on Administration introduced Res. 4-10-2 (TB 301),
which called for holding the 1979 convention of the
Synod in St. Louis but also resolved that the members
of the Synod in Kansas City be encouraged to invite the
convention to Kansas City for some future convention
year. This resolution was adopted after striking the
word “tentative” in line 18 (7B 301). This resolution
was to replace the resolution which had previously been
passed by the convention, but about which questions
had arisen after its passage. Discussion was next
resumed on Res. 4-13 (TB 85), declining an overture
which called for the relocation of synodical head-
quarters. Action on this matter had not been completed
in a previous session. A substitute motion which was
under consideration calling for termination of the lease
after a 10-year period was declined. The resolution
was then adopted as presented. The convention com-
mended Dr. Preus and other officers of the Synod for
their leadership, expressed its thanks to God for their
faithfulness and diligence, and assured them of their
continued prayers with a rising vote of thanks (Res. 4-
14, TB 86). The procedure to be followed by the
Synodical Service Commission for acquiring names for
positions to be filled was specified with the adoption of
Res. 4-15 (TB 86), which called for amending Bylaw
2.103 of the synodical Handbook. After the floor
committee had added the words “Pensions and Sup-
port” after the word “Managers” in line 9 and “of
pastors, teachers, and professors” after the word “list”
in the same line (7B 87), the delegates adopted Res. 4-16
(TB 87), which amended Bylaw 10.31 to make the list of
pastors, teachers, and professors appearing in the
current records of the synodical Department of
Statistics the official lists for the purpose of the Board
of Managers—Pensions and Support. After declining to
consider the substance of Overture 4-56A (CW 160) asa
substitute motion, but agreeing to delete the third
whereas, Res. 4-17 (TB 87) was accepted, declining
Overtures 4-56A—B (CW 160). The convention asked
the Pension Work Committee and the Board of
Managers—Worker Benefit Plans to continue to study
the feasibility of increased retirement benefits for
retired workers (Res. 4-18, TB 88).

Point of Order

In response to a question on a point of order it was
declared that Res. 4-10-2, relating to the location of the
1979 convention of the Synod, took precedence over the
resolution which had been passed in a previous session.

Administration
After agreeing to consider Overture 4-64 (CW 162) as

a substitute motion for Res. 4-19 (7B 88), the convention
declined it and then approved the resolution as
presented by the floor committee, thereby declining to
ask the Concordia Retirement Plan to develop plans
through which pastors and teachers who are not
covered by social security might receive additional
coverage through additional payments. After declining
to delete lines 27—49 (CW 89), the delegates approved a
change in Bylaw 2.105 so that the Synod through the
witness of its retirement policies might indicate that
arbitrary retirement at 65 may be impractical, unwise,
dehumanizing, and a form of discrimination (Res. 4-20,
TB 89). This resolution also encouraged persons facing
retirement to avail themselves of preretirement counsel-
ing from the Synod and other organizations, and
encouraged congregations to involve persons of retire-
ment age in their programs. With the adoption of Res. 4-
21 (TB 90) the name of the California and Nevada
District was changed to California-Nevada-Hawaii
District. The Council of Presidents was encouraged to
practice good stewardship and schedule meetings at
locations which would be beneficial to the entire Synod
(Res. 4-22, TB 90). Bylaw 7.23 was amended to include
the Board of Parish Education and the presidents of the
seminaries and teachers colleges in assisting the
President of the Synod in selecting representatives of
the institutions for appointment to the Board of Parish
Education (Res. 4-23, TB 90). Since no definitive
guidelines exist for determining auxiliary status within
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod structure,
questions regarding the status of such organizations
was referred to the Task Force on Constitution, Bylaws,
and Structure (Res. 4-24, TB 91). Because certain groups
have suggested changes in congregational con-
stitutions relating to the disposition of property in the
event of a division of the congregation, delegates were
advised to use extreme caution in making such changes
and were encouraged to seek appropriate legal advice
regarding property rights in the event of division (Res.
4-25, TB 91). This matter is crucial since constitutional
changes may have the effect of altering the con-
fessional subscription of a congregation. Since the cost
of providing guidance counselors on an employed basis
would be prohibitive and since these resources are
already available, members of the Synod were en-
couraged to continue drawing from existing human
resources to provide guidance counseling (Res. 4-27, TB
92). After changing the subject of Res. 4-28 (TB 92) to
read: “To Refer Concerns to the Lutheran Women’s
Missionary League,” the delegates adopted this resolu-
tion, encouraging the congregation which had sub-
mitted an overture expressing concerns about this
organization to share those concerns directly with the
LWML. Overture 4-83 (CW 167), requesting the Board of
Directors to review requests from faithful minority
groups and to assist them financially if necessary, was
declined since structures already exist within the
Synod to answer the needs described in the overture
(Res. 4-29, TB 92). Because the Concordia Retirement
Plan provides for the vesting of benefits in accordance
with the provisions of pension legislation enacted in
1974, and contains provisions for “transferred