LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 56

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56 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

mittee for the Division of Campus Ministry and Educa-
tional Services (DCMES) of LCUSA ($54,000 per annum),
specifically, support services and campus ministry ($28,000
per annum) and campus ministry communications ($26,000
per annum); and :

WHEREAS,, the LCMS is thus unable to provide its own
editorial service, i.e., Bible study and devotional materials,
book reviews, etc., because of this financial commitment to
LCUSA,; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS give thanks for the work of its
pastors, lay ministers, and students serving and attending
our universities and colleges; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS set aside the present policies
of the Board for Missions, its financial commitment to
campus ministry communications ($26,000 per annum);
and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Missions implement its
editorial service for campus ministry communications that
will enable the LCMS campus ministries to meet the
Mission challenge for the ’80s with the clear direction and
witness for the church on campus; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod encourage its Districts to
continue to pursue vigorously a challenging and vital
campus ministry.

After some discussion on the matter the delegates
adopted the substitute resolution as presented and
thereby removed Res. 1-09 (TB 41) from consideration.
They adopted Res. 1-07 (TB 40), which asked the general
secretary of LCUSA to implement a mutual review of the
“Guidelines for Regional Planning Consultations” for
the purpose of clarifying the consultatory relationship
which we enjoy with our fellow Lutherans. After some
discussion Res. 1-06 (TB 39) was also adopted, calling
for the intensification of a membership conservation
program and encouraging the Board of Directors to
fund a staff person to serve as Secretary for Membership
Conservation, whose duties would involve the develop-
ment of programs in conjunction with the Department
of Research and Planning which could be implemented
by both Districts and congregations. The goal of the
program is to be that of reducing defections by 10
percent each year. After declining to delete line 65—66
(TB 37), Res. 1-02 (TB 37) was adopted, calling for 60
percent of the congregations of the Synod to have an
ongoing training program for evangelism callers, for 75
percent of the congregations to provide training for
their members in personal witnessing, reduction of
defection by 10 percent each year during the next five
years in membership of the congregations, and an
increase of 10 percent in the number of adults gained by
Baptism or confirmation in each of the next five years.
With the adoption of Res. 1-10 (7B 41) the convention
encouraged the Districts of the Synod to review and
evaluate District policies concerning subsidized congre-
gations and to develop mission subsidy policies which
would challenge self-sufficiency, self-initiative, self-
respect, and self-support. By the adoption of Res. 1-11
(TB 42) the colleges which had developed programs
providing intensive evangelism training programs for
the preparation of directors of evangelism were com-
mended, and congregations were urged to consider
adding a director of evangelism when increasing their
professional church-worker staffs. After adding a resolu-
tion which stated, “Resolved, That the Board for Parish
Services provide suitable materials to assist the congre-

gations” the delegates adopted Res. 1-12 as amended.
This resolution encouraged the congregations of the
Synod to study the New Testament Scriptures which
speak about the gifts and ministries that God gives to
each member and encouraged the congregations of the
Synod to develop ways and means to help their members
identify and use these gifts. Res. 1-13A (TB 232) was
adopted after it had been amended by adding the words
“and to prayerfully study new avenues for defusing the
new, increasing anti-Semitism in our world” after the
word “work” in line 43 (TB 232). This resolution called
for the expansion of Jewish missions work and request-
ed the seminaries as a part of their program to empha-
size the challenges also provided by Jewish com-
munities and to stand ready to assist the committee on
witnessing to Jewish people. The convention then recog-
nized the anniversary of the National Indian Lutheran
Board and the contributions which it had made during 4
the past 10 years by adopting Res. 1-15 (TB 232). With 4
the adoption of this resolution the work of the Floor
Committee on Missions was completed and the com- :
mittee was dismissed with thanks.

Point of Privilege

Responding to a point of privilege, a member of 3
Bethany, Amherst, N.J., spoke to the delegates of th
importance of work among the Chinese. In his remark
he emphasized the fact that attention to witnessing t
Chinese students and preaching the Gospel to them a
they study in the United States and Canadaisespecially |
important because these people will be the future leaders
of China.

Orders of the Day

Responding to a motion from the floor, the conven
tion agreed to extend the time for this session to 1 p.m.

Handbook of the Synod

In response to another motion from the floor, the
convention agreed that copies of the new Handbook o
the Synod should be mailed to all lay delegates of the
convention.

Theology and Church Relations

The Floor Committee on Theology and Church Rela:
tions introduced its final resolutions beginning with
Res. 3-15 (TB 73). This resolution was adopted andg
pastors and congregations serving the college and
university campuses were thereby instructed to carry
out their ministry in accordance with the Synod’s
understanding of altar and pulpit fellowship and in
accordance with the evangelical pastoral care. Th
convention declined to consider Overture 3-10 (C.
162—163), which called for a study of certain questio
relating to authenticity, canonicity, and inspiration, DY
adopting Res. 3-16 (TB 73). They took this action sincé
some of the questions raised have already been 2
dressed by previous statements of the Commission
Theology and Church Relations, since some of t
questions raised in the overture are currently being