LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Sheet 36

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Artif SEEN BR Ry ee PE ET

MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 35

Constitutional Matters

Continuing discussion of Res. 5-02A (TB 202), the
convention declined to change the standing rules of the
convention and to limit speaking to one minute. The
delegates then adopted a resolution asking that New
Orleans Res. 3-09 be printed and placed in the hands of
the delegates by noon if possible. A petition from the
Eastern District with some 5,000 signatures calling on
its President to resist and oppose any action which would
depose him from office or force him to act contrary to the
directions of the Eastern District convention was pre-
sented to the delegates. A motion asking that the media
be respectfully requested not to televise proceedings of
the morning session was declined. After 30 minutes of
discussion had elapsed, the question was called and
debate was terminated by a vote of 711—334. In response
to a question from the floor, Rev. Rudolph Ressmeyer,
President of the Atlantic District, informed the conven-
tion that the eight District Presidents affected by Res. 5-
02A had stated their position previously. This position
had not changed. A motion asking for vote by ballot on
the resolution was declined as was a resolution to divide
the question. The resolution was then adopted by a vote
of 626-466. {In Session 11 a delegate asked that the
following be included at this point in the Minutes: Ona
point of order that for removal from office a % majority
is required, the chair ruled that this is not a motion to
remove from office.]

Statements

Following adoption of the resolution, President Emil
Jaech, President of the Northwest District, representing
the District Presidents affected by this resolution, was
granted the privilege of reading a statement to the
convention. In it he stated that the District Presidents
whom he was representing felt that the convention had
erred in their judgment. They felt compelled to act as
they had in the past, but they also pledged themselves to
work toward a resolution of the problems which face the
Synod.

In commenting on the passage of the resolution, Dr.
Preus stated that the resolution calls for patience and
brotherly and fraternal administration. He described it
as a resolution which allows time to pass and asked the
Synod to include a prayer that God would grant wisdom
and charity so that no one would act in any other
manner.

Orders of the Day

Since considerable time had elapsed in the discussion
of Res. 5-02A, the orders of the day were changed so that
one hour and 20 minutes would be devoted :» the work of
the floor committee on Higher Educatica and one-half
hour to the floor committee on Parish Services in the
morning session. After dividing the question, the dele-

gates declined to have either negative or positive votes :

recorded in the convention Proceedings but asked that
the statement of Rev. Jaech be included in them.

Higher Education

Dr. Ellis Nieting, chairman of the floor committee on

Higher Education, introduced Res. 6-05 (TB 134), which
called for clarification of the status of Seminex gradu-
ates. Prior to discussion of the resolution the word “certi-
fied” in line 30 (TB 134) was changed to “endorsed.” A
substitute motion to replace Res. 6-05 (TB 134) with
Overture 6-44A (CW 331) with the addition of the words
to the overture, “and be it further Resolved, That the
Commission on Constitutional Matters prepare such by-
laws which will implement this resolution and present
them for approval at the 1977 convention of the Synod,”
was declared by the chair to be equivalent to a resolution
for reconsideration of a resolution previously passed by
the convention. No resolution for reconsideration was
introduced.

Announcement

At this point the Committee on Convention Arrange-
ments announced that the gallery would have to be
cleared if the guests did not cooperate.

Higher Education

After agreeing to terminate debate, the convention
then adopted Res. 6-05 (TB 134). After introducing Res.
6-06 (TB 134) asking Concordia Seminary-in-Exile to
desist from the use of this name, the words “is illegal” in
lines 56 and 57 (TB 134) were replaced by the word
“deplores.” After declining to delete the words “author-
ized to take such action as might be” in line 61 and all of
line 62 (TB 134) and replace them with the words “di-
rected to encourage this institution,” the convention
adopted the resolution.

Resolution 6-07A (TB 247), a substitute for Res. 6-07
(TB 135), asking for a number of actions which would
establish the future development of the synodical educa-
tional system, was introduced. Dr. Nie: .ng stated that
this resolution was dealing with overall directives for a
higher education system relating to student enrollment,
costs, and other factors. A substitute resolution was
presented to the convention. A motion to cease debate
failed to receive the required % majority. The conven-
tion then agreed to follow the orders of the day.

Parish Services

Rev. Wilbert Griesse, chairman of the floor committee
on Parish Services, introduced Mr. Gus Melde, chairman
of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League. In his
remarks to the convention Mr. Melde thanked the dele-
gates for transferring the television ministry to the
International Lutheran Laymen’s League. He directed
the attention of the convention to Convention Workbook
page 429 and its description of the work of the organiza-
tion. During the past year this organization has main-
tained its budget and oversubscribed it, a budget in
excess of $6,000,000. He also referred to the tremendous
need to get the Gospel out to the world and reminded the
delegates that they are members of the International
Lutheran Laymen’s League. He asked them to support
the continuation and expansion of the programs of the
league. ;

After adding the words “and congregations” after the
word “Directors” and before “of” in line 19 (TB 154), Res.