LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 34

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34

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

The committee introduced Res. 7-06A, “To Amend Bylaws 3.9.2.2.4 and 3.3.5.3” (TB, pp. 202–203). The resolution was adopted without discussion [Yes: 1,044; No: 80].
The chair recalled attention to Res. 7-05B, the voting
delegate registration total having been determined to be
1,239. Discussion of the resolution continued, and a proposed amendment to add the words “or electronic via email” after the word “written” in the second resolve was
agreed to by the committee. The Orders of the Day again
becoming an issue, the chair tested the will of the assembly
regarding ending debate [Yes: 1,076; No: 71]. Res. 7-05B
was then adopted [Yes: 1,053; No: 109].
Committee 5: Seminary and University Education
The question-and-answer session prior to formal consideration of Res. 5-01B (TB, pp. 280ff) continued from the
committee’s previous appearance before the convention.
The chair asked whether the assembly was ready for formal discussion of the resolution [Yes: 794; No: 298]. Res. 501B was introduced by the committee, and discussion followed until the current appearance of Committee 5 before
the convention was ended by the Orders of the Day.
Recess
Session 6
July 17, 2007
Afternoon Devotion
President Gerald Kieschnick called the session to order
and invited convention chaplain Dale Meyer to introduce the
devotion leader, Dr. Kurt Krueger, Executive Director of the
Board for University Education and President of the Concordia University System. With Acts 17:10–12 as his text and
“One Message—Christ! A Message of Truth to a Postmodern
World” as his theme, Dr. Krueger spoke of the bad and good
news of postmodern belief: the bad news being that there is
no absolute truth but only relative truth, and the good news
being that the postmodern worldview replaced the modern
worldview, which was no friend of Christianity with its denial of the miraculous or spiritual. The fact that postmodernists are open to new ideas and are more likely to listen to
all truth claims, including the truth of the Gospel, offers opportunity for the Gospel. The inquisitiveness of the Bereans
in the text bears some similarity to the postmodernists of
today. The devotion concluded with the hymn “How Shall
They Hear, Who Have Not Heard” and prayer.
Minutes
The chair called attention to the minutes for Sessions 2
and 3 printed in the Tuesday edition of Today’s Business
(pp. 294–302) and asked for corrections. None were offered,
and the chair declared the minutes approved as printed.
Several concerns associated with the “big ballot” were
noted, including an ongoing concern for delegates having
sufficient time. The chair asked that the assembly again
consider changing the Orders of the Day in the manner previously described [Yes: 853; No: 295]. This time the required two-thirds vote was obtained to change the Orders of
the Day. Copies of the new schedule for the afternoon were
distributed to delegates.
2007 Convention Proceedings

LCMS in Mission Presentation
Scott Snow, Director of Outreach for LCMS World Mission, after a personal witnessing story was shared with the
assembly out of Kenya, encouraged delegates to share their
own stories while at the convention and to share their faith
using the multicolored bracelets provided at registration.
Committee 4: Program and Finance
Res. 4-02, “To Begin a Stewardship Renewal Through
Enhanced Communication” (TB, pp. 79–80) was introduced
by Floor Committee 4. A motion followed to amend the resolution: “WHEREAS, Godly, pious stewardship is part of a
Christian’s sanctified life that flows from being justified by
God’s grace; and WHEREAS, Justification is accomplished
through the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments; and WHEREAS, The lectionaries of
our Synod are designed to communicate the whole counsel
of God to God’s people; and WHEREAS, The amount of money
received by the Synod is not an accurate or reliable measure of the stewardship of individuals, congregations, or
districts of the Synod; and WHEREAS, Individuals, congregations, and districts also exercise their stewardship
through support of recognized service organizations, planting of new congregations, supporting the ever-increasing
costs of Concordia Plans Services, disaster relief, etc.; therefore be it Resolved, That the President of the Synod, district presidents, and circuit counselors encourage the pastors under their ecclesiastical supervision to continue
administering the Sacraments and preaching to their congregations the whole counsel of God with the Gospel predominating.” After the chair ruled this proposal to be a substitute motion, the assembly voted not to consider it [Yes:
403; No: 764], and Res. 4-02 was again the subject of discussion. After debate was ended [Yes: 935; No: 240], Res.
4-02 was adopted [Yes: 914; No: 277].
Res. 4-12A, “To Encourage Participation in Concordia
Plan Services, LCEF, and LCMS Foundation” (TB, pp.
243–244), was introduced by the committee. After discussion, debate was ended [Yes: 827; No: 341], and the resolution was not adopted [Yes: 521; No: 654]. Committee 4 then
volunteered the remainder of its time slot to the Fan Into
Flame Report and Floor Committee 1.
Fan Into Flame Report
First Vice-President William Diekelman provided a
progress report of involvement by districts and congregations
in the Fan Into Flame funding effort. LCMS World Mission
Director Robert Roegner explained the purpose and mechanics of the funding effort, emphasizing unique features not a
part of previous major funding efforts by the Synod. It was
particularly noted that Fan Into Flame has exceeded its goal
of $20 million by the time of this convention.
Committee 1: Missions
Committee 1 Chairman Robert Newton introduced Res.
1-09, “To Report Detailed Accounting of Fan Into Flame
Funds” (TB, p. 59). The resolution was adopted without discussion [Yes: 1,094; No: 62].
Res. 1-05S, “To Make Outreach the Top Priority in
Worker Training” (TB, p. 57), was introduced for consider-