LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 33

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 33

of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, to the
convention. She brought greetings from the 200,000
members of the league. In her remarks she said that we
often speak of the good old days, but if a choice were
given to her, she would choose now as the time to live.
There are tremendous opportunities to serve the Lord in
the present day. She stated that the LWML is alive, well,
and working, and will be holding its international con-
vention in Minneapolis in the near future. The theme for
this convention will be “Saints, Arise.” At the close of
her remarks, Mrs. Montz presented a new series of
“mustard seeds” to Dr. Preus.

Following the adoption of Res. 2-03 (TB 33), which
commended the Synod’s workers in the world’s mission
fields and asked the Synod to expand and increase its
support for mission work, Pastor Wilbern Michalk pre-
sented a check for $1,000 to Dr. Preus and the Synod as a
mission contribution from his congregation. Resolution
2-04A (TB 236), a substitute for Res. 2-04 (TB 33),
calling for a study of the possibility of beginning mission
work in Angola and Mozambique, was adopted by the
delegates. They also asked for an enlargement of mission
work among the North American Indians and com-
mended Concordia College, Seward, Nebraska, for initi-
ating specialized training for Indian ministry (Res. 2-05,
TB 34).

The floor committee on Missions then introduced Res.
2-06 (TB 34), asking the convention to ratify the opinion
of the Commission on Constitutional Matters regarding
campus ministry. The convention declined to consider
Overture 2-30A (CW 37) as a substitute motion. Time for
consideration of this resolution: expired before final ac-
tion could be taken on it.

Elections

The Rev. Albert Marcis, chairman of the floor com-
mittee on Elections, announced additional election re-
sults (attached to the Minutes), distributed additional
election ballots, and explained the procedures for elec-
tion. He offered a corrected report on the elections for the
Board for Missions, which now indicated that only one
pastoral member had been elected since Dr. Waldo Wern-
ing had not received a majority as had been previously
reported.

During the distribution of the ballots a motion was
made and adopted by the convention asking guests not to
applaud during the discussion of resolutions.

Chairman Marcis declared this session of the elec-
tions closed.

Administration

Dr. Elwood Zimmermann, chairman of the floor com-
mittee on Administration, introduced Res. 4-02A (TB
257) as a substitute for Res. 4-02 (TB 72). This resolution
called for dissolution of the English District. While pre-
senting this resolution, he also called attention to a
minority proposal prepared by seven members of the
committee and found on page 259 of Today’s Business. At
this point he called upon Mr. Philip Draheim, legal
counsel for the Synod, who read a position paper of the
Board of Directors of the Synod which outlined a proce-

dure to be followed in solving any disagreement which
might occur if the convention should adopt the resolution
for dissolution of the English District and the English
District felt compelled to oppose this action of the con-
vention. Because of the timetable involved in such a
procedure, the date of January 15, 1976, was changed to
July 15, 1976, in lines 47, 50, and 56 of Today’s Business.

By adopting a motion made after a point of privilege
had been granted, the delegates approved distribution of
this position paper to the convention. By another point of
privilege the President of the English District, Harold
Hecht, was permitted to address the convention. In his
remarks he stated that the question before the delegates
was how we would deal with one another. It was his
opinion that passing this resolution would take away a
ministry from a large segment of people.

The delegates then declined to consider Overture 3-41
(CW 74—75) as a substitute motion. By a vote of 473—
517 they also declined to consider the minority proposal
(TB 259) as a substitute motion. Following further dis-
cussion, a vote was taken on the resolution for dissolu-
tion of the English District. The resolution was declined.

Elections

Chairman Marcis of the Elections committee stated
that no majority had been received in the election for the
second position of pastor on the Board for Missions. The
vote in the election was as follows: Gruell—340, Meyer—
229, Lavalais—289, Werning—532. In accordance with
the election procedure, the delegates would be asked to
vote on the three candidates who had received the largest
number of votes.

Constitutional Matters

Chairman of the floor committee on Constitutional
Matters, Dr. Edmund Happel, reintroduced Res. 5-02A
(TB 202), on which discussion had not been completed in
a previous session. This resolution asked that District
Presidents who had ordained or authorized ordination of
persons who were not properly endorsed be dealt with.

Elections

Before beginning discussion of Res. 5-02A (TB 202)
elections for the Board for Missions were declared closed.

Constitutional Matters

Dr. Preus informed the convention delegates that he
had given the eight District Presidents affected by Res.
5-02A (TB 202) permission to speak under the 2-minute
rule. After several of them had spoken but not completed
their statements, the delegates agreed to a motion asking
that time be allotted for the Presidents to complete their
statements even though this exceeded 2 minutes. The
District Presidents who addressed the convention, stat-
ing their reasons for the actions which they had taken,
were Frincke, Hecht, Neunaber, Jaech, Jacobs, Meyer,
Ressmeyer, and Riedel. The convention agreed to extend
time for consideration of this resolution and asked the
President of the Synod to respond to the statements of
the District Presidents.