LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 28

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28 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

36 (TB 234) was declined. The convention, following the
“Behnken rule,” also declined to consider a substitute
motion which was presented. A division of the house was
called for after the chairman had ruled that a motion to
cease debate had received a % majority. The division of
the house indicated by a vote of 594-417 that the %
majority had not been received. Debate on the resolution
was then continued. Following further discussion a
motion to call the question was approved. The request for
a count of the delegate votes was denied by the conven-
tion, which then adopted Res. 2-01A (TB 233).

At this point Pastor Barry introduced leaders of the

. various national churches affiliated with the Synod, each

of whom addressed the delegates briefly. Representatives
of the various churches were Japan Lutheran Church,
Pastor Kuraji Yoshikawa, General Secretary; Guate-
mala, Walter Schieber, Treasurer and Business Service
Officer of the Caribbean Mission Office; India Evangeli-
cal Lutheran Church, Dr. James Gamaliel, professor ‘of
world religions and evangelism at the seminary of the
India Evangelical Lutheran Church; Lutheran Church of
Nigeria, Pastor Nelson Unwene, First Vice-President: of
the church; Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana,
Pastor Paul Fynn, former Secretary of the church. Pastor
Fynn presented Dr. Preus with an egg as a symbol of our
need to be careful not to lose the opportunity of bringing
the Gospel to people throughout the world.

Social Ministry

Before presenting the resolutions coming from his
committee, the Rev. George Rode, chairman of the com-
mittee on Social Ministry, introduced Dr. Leslie Weber,
Executive Secretary of the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief, who spoke to the convention. Chairman
Rode also indicated that Res. 8-11 (TB 171) had been
withdrawn, that Res. 8-13 (TB 173) would appear in a
new form as Res. 8-13A, and that Res. 8-14 would appear
as a new resolution in Today’s Business.

Following these announcements Res. 8-01 (TB 165)
was adopted, asking that serious consideration be given
to 10 areas of opportunities in Social Ministry and World
Relief. These areas had been referred to in the report of
the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief.

Resolution 8-02 (TB 165) encouraging the Commis-
sion on Ministerial Health to continue its program was
adopted. This was done after striking the words “seek to”
from line 53 (TB 165). The resolution thus asked the
Board of Directors and the Districts to fund and encour-
age this program. By adopting Res. 8-03 (TB 166) encour-
agement was given to renew efforts in behalf of world
hunger by setting a new goal of raising at least
$2,000,000 for this purpose and by urging the Govern-
ment to do its utmost in alleviating hunger and starva-
tion wherever possible. This resolution also authorized
the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief to engage
the services of a full-time staff person to assist the
Secretary of World Relief.

Point of Privilege

In relation to the resolution which had just been
passed, a delegate asked that the disaster areas in the

Midwest be considered and included in the prayers of the
convention.

Social Ministry

Resolution 8-04 (TB 167) asking for support of Chris-
tian brothers and sisters in Namibia in their struggle for
racial equality and justice was then introduced. A motion
to strike the first resolved, line 17 (TB 167), was de-
clined. However, another amendment was adopted by
inserting the following at line 16 (TB 167): “And,
Wuereas, The selfsame system of apartheid which op-
presses our black Christian sisters and brothers in south-
west Africa (Namibia) continues to cause suffering
among black Christians, many of whom are Lutherans,
in South Africa; therefore be it Resolved.” The words
“therefore be it” were removed from line 15 (TB 167) by
this change. The amendment also added the words “and
South Africans” after the word “Namibians” on line 27
(TB 167). The resolution was then adopted as amended.

Resolution 8-05 (TB 167) asking the delegates to
declare their solidarity with and support for persecuted
Christians was adopted after declining amendments ask-
ing that the word “Communist” in line 48 (TB 167) be
stricken and replaced with references to oppressive forms
of civil government. The resolution was adopted after the
time had been extended for completion of consideration
of this resolution.

Announcement

Dr. Herbert Mueller, Secretary of the Synod, an-
nounced that a Recognition Night would be held in the
evening. Delegates were not to be restricted to any
particular section of seating for this event.

Closing

The morning session closed with a prayer led by Dr.
Theodore F. Nickel, Third Vice-President of the Synod,
who included the disaster areas of the Midwest in his
prayer as had been previously requested.

Session 5

July 7, Afternoon

Opening Devotion

The opening devotion for the afternoon session was
led by the Rev. Alvin Barry, Executive Secretary of the
Board for Missions, who stressed that we are to sound
God’s note of love in the world today and it must be
sounded repeatedly. The devotion concluded with a
prayer asking God to make us active witnesses for Him
in our world.
Minutes

-The minutes of the afternoon session of July 6 and
the morning session of July 7 were approved as amended.

Elections

Chairman of the Elections committee, the Rev. Al-
bert Marcis, reported that results of some of the elections
were now available. Additional ballots were then distrib-
uted with the instructions for voting. (The full election
results are attached to the Minutes.)