LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 28

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28

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

re Resolution 7-02A” (TB, pp. 143–145) on behalf of the
committee and reviewed the history of the issues addressed
by the resolution and the Report of the Res. 7-02A Committee (TB, pp. 26–38). This introduction satisfied the first
expectation of Special Standing Rule 7. After noting the
change made by the convention to the standing rule in an
earlier session, the 30-minute debate on the main motion
was begun. After the 30-minute period had elapsed, discussion of Res. 8-01 moved into the final 45-minute period of
debate. A motion was introduced to amend Res. 8-01 by
deleting the proposed wording for Bylaw 3.9.2.1.1 and inserting two new paragraphs: “(a) The Commission on Constitutional Matters shall be elected by the Synod in convention. (b) In the event of a vacancy, the President shall
nominate a replacement with the consent of three vice-presidents, that nomination to be effective upon ratification by
a majority vote of the Council of Presidents.” The chair
questioned the propriety of the motion to amend since it included a bylaw change and had not been reviewed by the
Commission on Constitutional Matters. He asked that the
commission look into the matter. As discussion continued
on the resolution, it was noted that amendments to the Bylaws also need to be first considered by a convention floor
committee. The maker of the amendment was asked to take
the matter to the floor committee prior to its consideration
by the convention. Discussion continued on Res. 8-01 until
the chair tested the interest of the assembly in terminating the debate. After the convention voted to end debate
[Yes: 814; No: 384], Res. 8-01 was adopted without amendment [Yes: 905; No: 292].
Recess
Session 4
July 16, 2007
Afternoon Devotion
President Gerald Kieschnick called on convention chaplain Dean Wenthe to introduce the afternoon devotion
leader, Rev. David Muench, Director of the Synod’s Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support. Following the
singing of “A Mighty Fortress” and prayer, 1 Cor. 1:16ff
served as the text for his devotion. Rev. Muench spoke of
the danger of emptying the cross of Christ by divisive
speech and energy, a danger for the Corinthian church and
the church in our day as well. There are times when standing up is necessary, but not at the expense of the power of
the Gospel which is to be found in its pure and simple
proclamation.
Minutes
Attention was called to the minutes of Session 1 of the
convention (TB, pp. 259–261). The chair asked for additions
or corrections. Hearing none, he declared the minutes approved as printed. He then invited the newly elected vicepresidents to the podium and introduced them to the assembly. He spoke of their responsibilities as vice-presidents,
providing counsel and assistance to the President of the
Synod.
2007 Convention Proceedings

Elections of Secretary and Vice-President–Finance—
Treasurer
The chair called on convention chaplain Dale Meyer to
lead in prayer before the elections. Elections Committee
Chairman Larry Harvala then introduced the slate for the
office of Secretary of the Synod. The result of the ballot was
as follows:
Philip J. Esala
Raymond L. Hartwig
David L. Mahsman

425
708
64

Raymond L. Hartwig was declared elected.
The slate for the office of Vice-President–Finance—Treasurer of the Synod was then presented. The result of the
ballot was as follows:
Thomas W. Kuchta

1147

Thomas W. Kuchta was declared elected.
The slate for the ordained minister members of the
Synod’s Board of Directors was presented. The electronic
voting equipment malfunctioned, and the balloting was
postponed to a later time.
Committee 6: Human Care
Committee 6 Chairman David Benke, President of the Atlantic District, introduced Res. 6-02, “To State LCMS Position
on Stem Cell Research” (TB, pp. 113–114). During discussion,
a friendly amendment to the second-last resolve, adding the
word “embryonic” before the words “stem cell research,” was
agreed to by the committee. A motion was introduced to
amend the fifth WHEREAS paragraph by deleting the words
“and has so far shown no success for treatment in humans
even though touted in the media as the source of great cures in
the future.” After discussion, a motion to terminate debate on
the amendment was carried [Yes: 1,095; No: 108] but the
amendment failed [Yes: 410; No: 786]. After further discussion
of the main motion, the chair tested the assembly’s interest in
terminating debate [Yes: 1,163; No: 33]. Res. 6-02 was then
adopted [Yes: 1,165; No: 41].
Election of Board of Directors
Elections Committee Chairman Larry Harvala advised
that the earlier initial ballot for ordained minister members of the Board of Directors of the Synod needed to be redone because of a malfunction of the electronic voting
equipment. The following was the result of the repeated
first ballot:
James E. Fandrey
Vernon D. Gundermann
Robert T. Kuhn
Ulmer Marshall, Jr.
Donald K. Muchow
Jeffrey T. Schrank

438
490
599
198
527
166

No candidate having received the required majority of
the votes cast, the result of the second ballot for ordained
minister members of the Board of Directors was as follows:
James E. Fandrey
Vernon D. Gundermann
Robert T. Kuhn
Ulmer Marshall, Jr.

461
528
640
163