LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 55

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Recognition

By a rising vote of thanks, the delegates recognized
George Wollenburg, Vice-President of the Synod, and
expressed their gratitude to him for the years of service
‘which he had provided. In a brief statement, President
Preus acknowledged the many contributions which he
had made to the work of the Synod.

Point of Privilege

; _ Dr. Gerhardt Hyatt, a newly elected Vice-President
of the Synod and director of Forward in Remembrance,
stated that he felt the concerns and hurts of the District
Stewardship executives needed to be addressed. He
expressed his conviction that in the new structure
which had been adopted by the convention, the Scriptur-
al principles of Christian stewardship would not be
violated. He stated it as his belief that the Board of
Directors does not intend to interdict the work of the
Stewardship executives or presume on the theological
responsibility of pastors, congregations, and Districts,
but would work very closely with the District Presidents
and other units of the Synod as the new structure takes
shape.

Constitutional Matters

Chairman Spitz of the Floor Committee on Constitu-
tional Matters began the presentation of the committee
by introducing Res. 5-15 (TB 107), which would amend
the Bylaws to enable emeriti pastors to serve as Circuit
Counselors. After some discussion, the resolution was
adopted. A change in Bylaw 1.57 relating to the change
in election procedures for advisory delegates was also
approved with the adoption of Res. 5-13 (TB 106), after it
was pointed out that the number of advisory clergy and
advisory teachers would be changed in conformity with
resolutions which had been previously adopted by the
canvention. Bylaw 2.141 extending the time for sub-
mission of nominations for officers and boards of the
Synod to eight months prior to the synodical convention
was approved by the adoption of Res. 5-14 (TB 106).

Since the Commission on Constitutional Matters
had assured Concordia Publishing House Board of
Directors of its right to read manuscripts according to
its established policy prior to actual publication and if
‘the board found theological problems could present
those views to the Board of Doctrinal Review, the
delegates agreed that the question raised by Overture

5:20 (CW 224) had been satisfactorily answered and so
‘adopted Res. 5-16 (TB 108).as presented. Res. 5-11 (TB
105) was also adopted, requiring Districts to elect their
committees on nominations by the delegates at its
convention rather than appointing them as had been
the case in some Districts. Affirming the position that
the purpose of all disciplinary action is to gain the
erring through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, the
convention adopted Res. 5-10(TB 105), urging all respon-
sible officials of Districts and the Synod to take prompt,
appropriate, and pastoral action in cases of discipline.

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 55

Points of Privilege

Several delegates who were granted points of priv-
ilege requested a printing of the statement made by Dr.
Hyatt earlier in the session as well as the statement of
Dr. Herbert Mueller, Secretary of the Synod, in which he
pointed out that the structure of the Synod is neither
strictly congregational nor hierarchical in the legal
sense but contains elements of both, though the stress is
on the congregational.

Constitutional Matters

In approving Res. 5-12 (TB 105) the convention
resolved that teachers not on the roster of the District
should continue to be designated as guests, agreeing
with an opinion which had been rendered by the
Commission on Constitutional Matters relative to this
subject. After declining to consider Overture 3-40 (CW
172), as a substitute resolution the delegates adopted
Res. 5-17 (TB 108), which declined consideration of the
overture since its substance has been covered by an
opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters.
It also declined to consider Overture 5-22 (CW 224) and
Overture 5-23 (CW 254), the first of which would have
required each District President to state in writing the
rulings of the Commission on Constitutional Matters
which have not been put into effect in the District and
the second which would have forbidden the synodical
President to be an ELIM or Seminex supporter, by
adopting Res. 5-18 (TB 108) and Res. 5-19(7B 109). With
the adoption of these resolutions the work of the Floor
Committee on Constitutional Matters was declared
completed and the committee was dismissed with
thanks.

Correction

Victor Bryant, director of Public Relations for The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, announced a cor-
rection to statements which appeared in a press release
which had been distributed to the delegates. He notified
them that the words “The Commission on Black Min-
istry will cease functioning in 1986” should be deleted.

Point of Privilege

A delegate who had been a member of the Floor
Committee on Elections, responding to a point of priv-
ilege, stated his concern that some arrangement should
be made so that members of this floor committee would
not be required to be absent from the floor of the
convention for long periods of time.

Missions

Following the Behnken rule, the delegates agreed to
consider a substitute resolution for Res. 1-09 (TB 41),
which had been offered by the Floor Committee on
Missions. The substitute resolution read as follows:

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod inits
1979 convention resolved to accept the mission challenge
for the ’80s to establish 20 new LCMS campus ministries;
and

WueEreEas, The LCMS is currently participating ina
purchase of services (CW page 4) from the standing com-