LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 45

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would be over and above the normal annual support for
the District and the Synod. The Board for Missions was
charged with the planning, direction, implementation,
and administration of this mission outreach at home
and abroad, and the Department of Stewardship and
Financial Support is to develop the financial require-
ments for this program in cooperation with the Board
for Missions. Prior to introducing the resolution the
word “requirements” had been stricken and replaced
with the words “structure and mechanics” in line 15(TB

163).

Notice of Intent

At this point a delegate indicated his intent to
introduce a resolution requesting reconsideration of
Res. 12-08A (TB 283).

Reports

Dr. August Bernthal, leader in the Lutheran Immi-
gration and Refugee Service effort, addressed the dele-
gates. His report was divided into the areas of statistics,
interpretation, and a plea. He reported on the large
number of refugees who had been resettled and stated
that these are not only statistics, but need to be inter-
preted in terms of the people and their needs. He issued a
plea to the Synod asking that it continue this ministry
and thatit challenge its congregations to be involved in
sponsorship of refugees and their families. Dr. Bernthal
pledged the support of LIRS to the congregations in
their efforts. After paying tribute to Dr. Preus for his
support of this ministry, he called upon Rev. Guenther,
a synodical representative who has been closely in-
volved with this program. Rev. Guenther asked the
delegates to join him in the singing of the hymn “I Was
a Stranger,” a hymn which was being sung for the first
time.

Dr. Johannes Gedrat, president of the Ev. Lutheran
Church of Brazil, brought greetings from that partner
church and expressed his gratitude for what The Luther-
an Church—Missouri Synod had done in mission out-
reach in Brazil. He said that this 79-year-old church
body is.now, experiencing a growth in stewardship,
something which is difficult to doin a country where the
rate of inflation is 110 percent. He also cited the close
relationship which the church of Brazil has with the
Lutheran Churches of Argentina and Paraguay. In his
report he pointed to the effective work of “The Lutheran
Hour” which has been instrumental in the opening of
new churches in North Brazil by listeners to this
program.

President Gros of the Argentina Lutheran Church
was then introduced ‘to the delegates. In his remarks,
which were translated by Dr. Gedrat, he thanked Drs.
Westcott and Hintze for their understanding of the
problems which are confronted in Argentia and for their
assistance in seeking solutions to these problems. The
prayers of the Synod were requested for the blessing of
the. Lord upon the work of the Lutheran Church in
Argentina so that it too might soon become a partner
church.

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 45

Point of Privilege

Responding to a point of privilege, one of the dele-
gates introduced a resolution asking delegates to forego
one meal and to contribute the money saved to the cause
of hunger relief in the world. This resolution was
adopted.

Higher Education

Chairman Lloyd Behnken of the Floor Committee on
Higher Education introduced Res. 6-17A (TB 241), call-
ing attention to the fact that discussion of the resolution
was being resumed at the point of consideration of an
amendment which called for a funding of the colleges at
a 25-percent level and which authorized and instructed
the Board of Directors to borrow such funds, if insuffi-
cient funds were available to achieve this goal. After
some continued discussion this amendment was de-
clined. The delegates also declined an additional amend-
ment which called for the striking of lines 33—37 (TB
241). After some additional discussion the delegates
agreed to cease debate on the issue and then adopted the
resolution as presented. Res. 6-18A (TB 242) was also
adopted, calling for an increase in the percentage of
seminary budget support. Prior to introducing the reso-
lution the words “1981—1982” were changed to “1982—
1983” in line 36 (TB 242). Adoption of the resolution
occurred after the delegates had declined a motion
calling for referral of this resolution back to the floor
committee for reconsideration. By the adoption of Res.
6-30 (TB 262) the Board of Directors was authorized and
instructed to borrow up to $1 million if necessary to
restore the $1 million by which it had been forced to
reduce the budget of the Board for Higher Education.
Before adopting the resolution the word “minimum”
was changed to “total” in line 24 (TB 262).

The convention authorized the Board for Higher
Education to modify the policy of the Synod for selected
institutions or to grant an exemption from the church-
worker deposit-fee requirement in order to safeguard the
eligibility of some schools and their students for state
funds. They did this by the adoption of Res. 6-26 (TB
134). The Board for Higher Education was also author-
ized to discontinue the requirement of the Declaration of
Intent form for church-worker students for the same
reason. This authorization was granted by the adoption
of Res. 6-27 (7B 134). In order to broaden the certification
for deaconesses by colloquy to include such certification
by Concordia College, River Forest, Ill., the convention
adopted the Bylaws which were proposed and which
were required to accomplish this. Prior to presenting the
resolution the floor committee had made the following
word changes: line 16 and line 60 (TB 126) the word
“entities” was substituted for “educational institu-
tions”; lines 10, 19, and 30, (7B 127) the words “prepara-
tory entity” were substituted for “educational institu-
tions’; lines 18—19 (TB 128) the words “preparing
deaconesses for” were stricken and replaced with the
words “where deaconesses are prepared.” Res. 6-16 was
adopted with these revisions. After amending line 45
(TB 131) by changing the number “5” to “10,” the