LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 21

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Opening Service

Opening service of the 54th regular convention of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was held July
3, 1981, in the Alfonso J. Cervantes Convention and
Exhibition Center, St. Louis, Mo., with Dr. Robert
Sauer, Fourth Vice-President of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod serving as the preacher and Rev.
Raymond Mueller, pastor of Holy Cross, St. Louis,
serving as the presiding minister. Dr. Sauer used as his
text the words from Acts 20:35, “In everything I did, I
showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help
the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Him-
self said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
The Chorale Service followed the tradition of Luther’s
German Mass of 1526.

Session 1
aan July 4, Morning
Opening Devotion

The opening devotion for the 54th regular convention
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was con-
ducted by Dr. J. A. O. Preus, president of the Synod, and
began with the singing of “God Bless Our Native
Land.” In his address he spoke of the blessings of God
upon 200 years of our nation’s history and over 134
years of the history of the Synod.

Registration and Credentials

Dr. Alvin Kollmann, chairman of the Committee on
Registration and Credentials, was called upon to report
on the number of registered delegates and guests pre-
sent. He introduced Rev. Marcus Strohschein, who
reported for the committee that 538 pastoral voting
delegates and 528 lay delegates were registered for a
total of 1,066 registered voting delegates. There were 463
other official delegates registered, making a total regis-
tration of 1,529 excluding guests and visitors. The
number of delegates registered constituted a quorum
which would allow the convention to proceed with its
business. Dr. Kollmann reminded the delegates that the
registered number of delegates would fluctuate during
the convention as a result of late registrations as well as
the necessity of some leaving prior to the conclusion of
business.

Convention Gavel

Dr. Gerhardt Kramer, chairman of the Board of
Concordia Historical Institute presented a historic
gavel to Dr. Preus for use during the convention. Of the
seven presidents of the Synod, four have used this gavel,
which was given in 1911 by Theodore Lange who had
hadit constructed from a beam from a log of the cabin in
Perry County which served as the first seminary.

Call to Order

oe After receiving the gavel, Dr. Preus, using the his-
toric gavel which had been presented, declared the

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convention open in the name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit.

Welcome

Following tradition, guests were welcomed by the
host school of the District in which the convention of the
Synod is held and by the President of that District. In
this case, President Ralph Bohlmann, president of
Concordia Seminary welcomed the guests, reminding
them of the many institutions in St. Louis which are
closely involved in the history of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod. He invited convention delegates to
visit the seminary and spoke of the many things which
God has done in recent years in building up enrollment
at the seminary to an all time high. He asked the
delegates to think of all those things which have
happened and to pray that the Synod may now move
Forward in Remembrance.

Since the Missouri District and the Southern Hlinois
District were serving as cohosts for the 1981 convention
of the Synod, a welcome was issued by the President of
each of these Districts. Dr. Paul Spitz, President of the
Missouri District, welcomed the convention delegates in
the name of the 280 congregations and 100,000-plus
members of the District. He asked for God’s blessings
upon the convention so that all things might be done to
the glory of God. Dr. Alvin Kollmann, representing the
Southern Illinois District spoke of the fitness of the
theme of this convention, Forward in Remembrance, on
which The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has con-
centrated in the last two years. During this time funds
have been gathered to help the Synod move through
doors which God has opened to it.

Dr. Robert Hirsch, a member of the Board of Direc-
tors who is retiring from the board after 12 years of
service, responded to the greetings which had been
issued, extending thanks to the Districts and to the city
of St. Louis. He concluded his remarks with a bene-
diction from 2 Corinthians.

Announcements

After the greetings and responses, Dr. Preus intro-
duced Dr. Mark Steege and Mrs. Mable Stickel, who will
serve as timekeeper and parliamentarian for the con-
vention, as well as Dr. Herbert Mueller, Secretary of the
Synod, and Dr. Walter Rosin, convention secretary.

Registration and Credentials

Dr. Alvin Kollmann, reporting for the committee,
stated that no formal objections challenging the voting
delegates had been received.

Standing Rules

Dr. Herbert Mueller, Secretary of the Synod, pre-
sented the proposed standing rules for the convention to
the delegates. They appear on page 8 of Today’s
Business. After hearing them the delegates adopted