LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 38

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38 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Session 10
July 9, Evening
Opening
Dr. Preus declared this session open in the name of
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and led the delegates in
prayer for various people who were ill or who were

experiencing problems and asked for the guidance of the
Holy Spirit on the convention as it made its decisions.

Sundry Matters

Dr. Fred Niedner, chairman of the floor committee
on Sundry Matters, introduced Res. 9-01 (TB 175) to the
delegates. After substituting the word “authorize” for the
word “supervise” in line 18 (TB 175) and after moving
“a)” to a position after the word “funding” in line 22 (TB
175), the delegates adopted this resolution, which called
for an observance of the Black Centennial of ministry
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod among black
brothers and for a Synodwide thankoffering for funding
the development of this celebration program. It also
encouraged funding for the recruitment and financing of
the training of black professional church workers.
They urged all congregations of the Synod to participate
fully in the observance of the bicentennial of our nation’s
birth and to use the materials provided by the American
Bicentennial Committee (Res. 9-02, TB 175). By adoption
of Res. 9-03 (TB 176) the convention amended the Bylaws
of the synodical Handbook relating to the work of the
Armed Forces Commission. Bylaw 5-31 k, stating that
records of appeals cases be kept in locked files, was
changed by the adoption of Res. 9-04 (TB 177), placing
these records in the custody of the. Concordia Historical
Institute. In line 19 (TB 177) the number “5.41” was
changed to “15.41.”

Bylaw 11.25 e was amended to provide for archives’
copies of certain synodical publications (Res. 9-05, TB
178). A change in Bylaw 3.19 eliminated the Excuse
Committee for District conventions (Res. 9-06, TB 178).
The resolution was adopted after the committee had
changed the words “are encouraged to” to “shall” in line
10 (TB 179). By the adoption of Res. 9-07 (TB 179) the
delegates admonished the secular and religious press to
avoid malicious and slanderous attacks against synodical
officials and other brethren who have been vilified and
attacked due to false information. In the same resolution
it expressed its regrets to those who have been vilified
and encouraged those who have been guilty of such
unchristian acts to repent and to ask forgiveness of those
whom they had offended. This action was taken after a
motion to refer the resolution back to the committee was
declined and after the delegates had also declined an
amendment asking for inclusion of the words “and the
eight District Presidents specifically” in line 38 (TB 179).
In response to a question from the floor, Dr. Preus
indicated that the best way to avoid such attacks would
be by self-control on the part of those who are making
such attacks and by respect for brothers and sisters in
the faith.

The convention expressed thanks and support of sy-
nodical officials and assured them of its continued prayers

and support of their work in behalf of the church (Res. 9-
08, TB 179). During consideration of the resolution the
convention declined to substitute the words “all persons
involved in synodical differences” for the words “our
synodical officials” in line 56 (TB 179), the words “many
brothers and sisters” for the words “our synodical offi-
cials” in line 62 (7B 179), and to insert the words “and
all other persons involved in our various controversies”
between the word “officials” and “and” in line 68 (TB
179). They also urged congregations to follow synodical
procedures in the calling of pastors and teachers (Res. 9-
09, TB 180). After substituting the words “St. Louis” for
the words “(801 DeMun)” in lines 39 and 52 (TB 180),
Res. 9-10 (TB 180), advising the Rev. Herman Otten to
apply to the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, for
certification into the ministerium of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, was introduced. A motion to
substitute Overture 9-12A (CW 411) was declared by the
chair to be out of order. The delegates then adopted the
resolution. They also declined to consider overtures rela-
tive to Christian News since the Council of Presidents
had acted in good faith and given its rationale for the
repudiation of this publication (Res. 9-11, TB 181).

After declining to consider Overture 9-09 (CW 411) as
a substitute resolution, the delegates discouraged congre-
gations from becoming involved in lawsuits for the set-
tlement of differences which might arise within them
and asked them to use every avenue available within our
fellowship to achieve reconciliation (Res. 9-12, TB 181).

Theology and Church Relations

After one of the delegates had expressed his apologies
to Dr. Preus and Dr. Preus responded by saying that no
apology was necessary, Dr. August Mennicke, chairman
of the floor committee on Theology and Church Rela-
tions, introduced Res. 3-07 (TB 53), which urged congre-
gations to examine their existing structures and proce-
dures in order to develop plans to make any changes in
personne! and other matters. which would enable them to
utilize the gifts which God has given to women. This
resolution was adopted by the delegates. After striking
the words “as necessary” at the end of line 27 (TB 54)
Res. 3-08 commending the Task Force on Women was
presented to the convention. This resolution called for
assignment of the goals and plans of the task force to the
Social Concerns Committee of the Commission on Theol-
ogy and Church Relations for study and implementation
and for the use of task force members as consultants by
this committee. After hearing several different opinions
from women who were involved with the task force,
which had been established at the previous convention,
the delegates agreed to amend the resolution by striking
the last resolved and replacing it with “Resolved, That
the task force be continued for 2 years of further study
and report to the 1977 convention.” The resolution was
then adopted as amended. After declining a motion to
refer the matter back to the committee for a new resolu-
tion by 9:00 a.m. Friday and an amendment to delete the
words “and that we decline all overtures which call for a
division of the Synod” in line 56 (TB 54), as well as the
words “continue to” in line 55 (TB 54), the delegates