LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 22

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22

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Rule 14 to replace the words “prior to its being” in the
final sentence with the words “immediately after it is.”
After discussion, the motion to amend Rule 14 was
adopted (Yes: 1,108; No: 88).
As discussion of the proposed Special Standing Rules
continued, a motion was introduced to amend Rule 23 to
change the required two-thirds vote to a one-third vote in
its first sentence. After discussion, the motion to amend
Rule 23 carried (Yes: 775; No: 418). A motion was then introduced to amend Rule 7 by adding the sentence “Any
speaking in favor of the motion done by the floor committee will be considered pro speaking and will be followed
by a con speaker” prior to the final sentence of the secondlast paragraph. After discussion, a motion to end debate
on the motion to amend and the main motion failed (Yes:
737; No: 464). After further discussion, the motion to
amend Rule 7 was carried (Yes: 693; No: 503).
As discussion of the Special Standing Rules continued,
a motion was introduced to change Rule 26 to Rule 27 and
to add a new Rule 26 “to allow each candidate for President up to 10 minutes to speak to the convention in assembly sometime prior to the first ballot for President.”
The chair asked the Commission on Constitutional Matters whether this motion would violate the Bylaws of the
Synod. A member of the commission responded by reading the commission’s Opinion 04-2396:
The proposed resolution would require the addition of a
particular election procedure for the office of President that
differs from the general procedures currently contained in the
Bylaws. The current procedures include Bylaw 3.961 e [2004
Handbook Bylaw 3.12.1.2] which describe the current synodical practice for disseminating biographical and other information from the candidates for president, and under the current
Bylaw 3.25 [3.1.9 (i)], the President establishes the agenda,
and the convention is held pursuant to parliamentary procedure. As an amendment of the Bylaws, the resolution as currently drafted is not consistent with Bylaw 14.01 1 e [7.1.1
(b)], in that it does not identify itself as an amendment to the
Bylaws, and has also not been presented to a convention floor
committee for their consideration. In addition, it would not
comply with Bylaw 14.01 1 e [7.1.1 (d)] in that it was not presented to the Commission on Constitutional Matters prior to
the presentation to the convention to assure that it is not in
conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod. Upon
request of a member, the commission is prepared to more comprehensively review this proposed resolution to assure itself
and the convention that no other unintended conflicts with the
current Constitution and Bylaws exist.

The chair ruled the preceding motion out of order.
When the ruling of the chair was appealed, the parliamentarian advised that even if the chair were overruled,
the motion would be in violation of the Bylaws. The chair’s
ruling was sustained [Yes: 836; No: 349]. This was followed by the introduction of a motion to delete Rule 24.
After discussion, a motion to end debate on the motion to
delete Rule 24 was carried [Yes: 1,085; No: 101] and the
motion was then defeated [Yes: 432; No: 760].
A motion was introduced to cease debate on the motion
to adopt the Special Standing Rules. Debate was ended
[Yes: 1,025; No: 176], and the motion to adopt the Special
Standing Rules (as amended) was carried [Yes: 1,079; No:
115]. The Secretary stated that the amended standing
2007 Convention Proceedings

rules would be printed in Today’s Business.
Convention Agenda
The President called attention to the proposed agenda
for the convention. A motion to adopt the agenda was carried [Yes: 1,144; No: 32], and the chair obtained the agreement of the convention to proceed with the first of the convention’s Bible studies [Yes: 1,084; No: 47].
Bible Study 1
President Kieschnick called on Dr. Dean Wenthe, President of Concordia Theological Seminary, to introduce the
Bible study leader, First Vice-President William Diekelman. His study centered around John chapter 3, the story
of Nicodemus, and specifically the word “so” in verse 16,
to be defined “in this manner, in this way,” used here to
call attention to the extent of God’s willingness to have
this world with Him eternally. After his presentation, Dr.
Diekelman invited the delegates to divide into groups of
four to discuss opportunities to speak to those who do not
attend a Christian church and what their congregations
are doing to make known the love of Christ.
President’s Report, Part III
In this third part of his report, President Kieschnick
quoted extensively from a convention address by former
President J. W. Behnken in 1941, noting the similarities
and differences of the world he described compared to
today and the appropriateness of his words for our world
today (the entire Part III of the President’s Report is
printed elsewhere in the Convention Proceedings). He also
addressed current subjects such as confession subscription,
process of dissent, doctrinal solidarity, and particular issues facing our Synod today (close Communion, church and
ministry, service of women, worship, dispute resolution,
and inter-Christian relationships), looking forward to ministry in a country and culture vastly different from the
Synod’s early days. He spoke of moving ahead into the future with courage and wisdom, boldness and resolve, with
the one message: “Christ! His Love Is Here for You!”
Special Greetings and Reports
After calling upon the chairman of Floor Committee 9 for
a further demonstration of the voting system for use in the
elections process, he introduced a video of U. S. President
George W. Bush bringing greetings and encouragement to
the Synod. He also called on Texas District President Kenneth Hennings for words of welcome, before introducing Rev.
Robert Roegner, Executive Director of the Board for Mission
Services, and its chairman, Butch Almstedt, who provided
a brief report of the Ablaze! movement.
Veteran LCMS missionaries with service totaling 173
years were introduced to the assembly: Robert and Arleen
Christian, Walt and Helena DeMoss, Thomas and Adrienne Going, Robert and Lynne Holst, Gerhard and Betty
Kempff, Glenn and Sandra O’Shoney, Rodney and Velma
Rynearson, Vernon and Belva Schindler, and David and
Darlene Schneider. The President thanked them for the
great example, service, and encouragement they have provided to the Synod.