LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 32

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32 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

to clarify its declaration concerning A Statement of Scrip-
tural and Confessional Principles was begun. In response
to a question regarding terminology, Rev. Samuel
Nafzger, Assistant Executive Secretary of the Commis-
sion on Theology and Church Relations, explained that
the words “for study and response” were used in re-
lation to relatively new documents prepared by the
commission. The words “for reference and guidance”
were used for those documents to which reactions had
been received. In the discussion which followed the
introduction of the resolution, the delegates declined
to consider Overture 3-57A (CW 79) as a substitute
resolution. A motion was then made and seconded to
substitute Overture 3-64A (CW 82) for Res. 3-05. After
a call for a counting of the votes, it was determined
by a vote of 498—497 that the convention would con-
sider this substitute resolution. Time, however, expired
before the substitute resolution could be considered.

Constitutional Matters

Dr. Edmund Happel, chairman of the floor committee
on Constitutional Matters, introduced Res. 5-03 (TB 102),
which called for a clarification of the relationship of the
President of the Synod and the Council of Presidents.
Prior to beginning the discussion, the committee added
the words “three times each year and in addition” after
the word “meet” and before “at” in line 15 (TB 103). An
amendment adding the words “or at the request of one
third of the Council of Presidents” at the end of line 16
(TB 103) was adopted. The convention, however, declined
to replace the words “his representatives in the Districts”
with the words “the District Presidents” in line 18 (TB
103). The resolution was then adopted as amended.

After striking the words “to admonish and” and “and
directions” from line 30 (TB 105) and adding the phrase
“while acknowledging the congregation’s right to exer-
cise the Office of the Keys according to the Holy Scrip-
tures” after the words “Resolved, That” in line 64 (TB
105), the delegates adopted Res. 5-06 (TB 105), which
asked that counsel be given to congregations which have
called and installed pastors who are ineligible and unen-
dorsed for ministry in the Synod.

Discussion of Res. 5-07 (TB 106) was begun. This
resolution called for clarification of the status of Mis-
souri Synod clergy persons called by congregations as
assistant pastors who serve as Seminex professors. Time
for consideration of this resolution expired before action
could be taken.

Closing

The morning session closed with a word of benedic-
tion spoken by Dr. Preus.

Session7

July 8, Afternoon
Opening Devotion
After the singing of “A Mighty Fortress,” the dele-
gates listened to the reading of 1 Cor. 1 by the Rev.

Samuel Nafzger, Assistant Executive Secretary of the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations. He

asked the delegates to join in praying the prayer found
in the Convention Workbook, page 47. The minutes of
Sessions 3 and 4 were adopted as amended.

Social Ministry

Resolutions of the floor committee on Social Ministry
were introduced by the chairman of the committee, Dr.
George Rode. Resolution 8-06 (TB 168), calling for expan-
sion of Project Compassion by exploring new areas where
volunteer skills could be utilized by designing materials
and developing projects, was adopted. Before presenting
Res. 8-07 (TB 169) the words “in the cities” were deleted
from line 16 (TB 169). By adopting this resolution the
convention asked the Board of Social Ministry and World
Relief to inform Districts and congregations of means for
creating and improving housing. They also asked that
the church support efforts of the government to provide
employment opportunities and welfare assistance on a
national and local scale and asked the Board of Social
Ministry and World Relief to develop suggestions for
assisting congregations and their pastors in dealing with
problems related to unemployment (Res. 8-08, TB 169).
Before adopting Res. 8-09 (TB 170), calling for an em-
phasis on concern for mental health on the part of
pastors and congregations, the delegates adopted several
amendments. The first amendment added a resolved
which stated: “Resolved, That the Synod encourage both
pastors and lay members to work within their communi-
ties to support the efforts of the community mental

‘health centers in educating their communities toward

mental health understanding and services, in urging
their communities to fund programs for cost sharing, in
supporting the efforts to have mental health programs
and services within their neighborhoods.” An additional
whereas was added on line 21 (TB 120) stating: “WHERE-
aS, Pastoral counseling centers are also being founded
and their services expanding in the community; and.”
They also added the words “and pastoral counseling”
after the word “health” and before “healing” in line 26. A
motion to add the resolution “and be it further Resolved,
That the church offer Christ as the answer to the needs
of people with mental health problems” was declined.
Resolution 8-09 (7B 170) was then adopted as amended.

The floor committee introduced Res. 8-10 (TB 170),
calling for the delegates to affirm the sanctity of life.
Before presenting the resolution, the word “indiscrimi-
nate” before the word “euthanasia” was stricken, line 48
(TB 170). The delegates accepted an amendment adding
the word “sexist” after the word “racist” in line 52 (TB
170). An amendment calling for the elimination of the
word “indiscriminate” and the addition of “for reasons
other than medical” after the word “abortion” in line 48
was presented from the floor. The delegates then declined
a motion to table Res. 8-10 (TB 170) because Res. 3-23A
(TB 244) would deal with a similar matter. Time for
discussion of the resolution expired before the amend-
ment could be acted on.

Missions

Dr. Richard Schlecht, chairman of the floor committee
on Missions, introduced Mrs. Florence Montz, president