LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 34

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34 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Point of Order

Responding to a point of order which stated that the
President should relinquish the chair if he intended to
participate in the debate, Dr. Preus indicated that if the
delegates believed that he was participating in it, they
would have the opportunity to make this request.

Constitutional Matters

President Preus spoke to the convention delegates,
referring to sections of the synodical Handbook which he
felt made it necessary for the convention to deal with
this matter. He stated that he was ready to ask for
withdrawal of Res. 5-02A if the District Presidents in-
volved were now ready to walk with the Synod and abide
by its Constitution. A number of Vice-Presidents of the
Synod, as well as other District Presidents, were then
allowed to address the delegates.

Elections

Chairman Marcis of the floor committee on Elections
reported that in the election for the Board for Missions
the vote had been as follows: Werning—448, Lavalais—
188, Gruell—373. The name of Lavalais was then re-
moved from the ballot, and delegates were asked to vote
on the remaining two candidates. After the distribution
of ballots and voting by the delegates, Chairman Marcis
declared the election for the Board for Missions closed.

Orders of the Day
President Preus informed the delegates that discus-

sion of Res. 5-02A (TB 202) would continue the next day. —

The convention also agreed to resume its business ses-
sions at 8:30 a.m. and to resume discussion of Res. 5-02A
at that time.

Closing

The convention session was closed with the Aaronic
Benediction spoken by Dr. Preus.

The presidents of the LWML and the ILLL:
Florence Montz and Gus Melde

Session 8
July 9, Morning

Opening

The morning session opened with small-group Bible
study, song, and prayer. In keeping with the resolution of
the previous day, Dr. Preus called the session to order at
8:30 and led the delegates in prayer. Missionary Paul
Bartling, who had become ill and was hospitalized, was
included in the prayer.

Orders of the Day

The chairman announced that Committee 5, the floor
committee on Constitutional Matters, would present its
resolutions between 8:45 and 9:45. The agenda for the
day would then be followed with the evening session
devoted to the work of Floor Committees 9 and 3. Dr.
Harkins would speak to the convention delegates early in
the afternoon session.

Announcements

The Committee on Convention Arrangements an-
nounced that for the safety of all concerned visitors
would be restricted to the gallery.

Elections

Chairman Marcis of the floor committee on Elections
reviewed the sequence in balloting for the Board for
Missions and announced that the Rev. Eugene F. Gruell
had received a majority of the 1,056 votes cast. The tally
showed Gruell—557, Werning—499. The convention
then granted the Committee on Elections approval for
destroying the ballots and dismissed the committee with
thanks since its work was now completed.

Constitutional Matters

Discussion of Res. 5-02A (TB 202) was resumed as
had been directed by the convention at its last session.
Dr. Preus announced that some of the Presidents would
be allowed to speak and then discussion would come from
the floor. A motion to adopt the procedure of hearing one
pastor pro and con and one layman pro and con in
sequence was adopted. Dr. Oliver Harms, Past President
of the Synod, and Dr. Edwin Weber, First Vice-President
of the Synod, addressed the delegates briefly. A motion
from the floor asking that five more District Presidents
be heard was declined by the convention. Dr. Edmund
Happel, chairman of the floor committee on Constitu-
tional Matters, again spoke of the reasons for the presen-
tation of this resolution. He stated that there was no
animosity among the members of the Council of Presi-
dents. Rev. George Wollenburg, President of the Mon-
tana District and a member of the committee, spoke to
the delegates of the difference between the authority of
the pastoral office and that of the District President.

» Point of Information

Responding to a point of information, Dr. Preus indi-
cated that the Handbook is still applicable even if the
resolution before the house was declined.