LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 42

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42 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

functions and duties of the Board for Evangelism. After
adding the words “in the area of overseas evangelism” in
line 22 (TB 26) between the words “position” and “was,”
the floor committee on Evangelism introduced Res. 1-07
(TB 26), which requested the Board of Directors of the
Synod to authorize the calling of an additional staff
person for the Board of Evangelism. The resolution was
adopted by the delegates after they declined to consider a
substitute resolution to request the Board of Directors to
spend an equal amount of money to assist the sister
churches overseas to carry out the evangelism task.
After amending the resolution with an additional re-
solved reading: “Resolved, That our congregations and
Districts seriously study the statements of the Lausanne
covenant,” and changing the word “man” to “person” in
line 63 (TB 26), the delegates adopted Res. 1-08 (TB 26).
The resolution as amended asked for consideration and
study of the summary statements of the World Congress
on Evangelism, as well as the statements of the Lau-
sanne covenant. Resolution 1-09 (TB 27) was then adopted,
commending colleges and seminaries which have
implemented the teaching of the concept and practice of
evangelism in their curricula and affirming that personal
evangelism is not an optional activity for the members of
the Synod. After adding the words “and circuit” after
“District” and before “and” in line 29 (TB 28), the
convention adopted Res. 1-10 (TB 28), which encouraged
members of the Synod to participate in parish and com-
munity volunteer organizations which seek to reach peo-
ple with special needs. This resolution asked the Board
for Evangelism of the Synod, as well as those of the
Districts, circuits, and congregations, to prepare a sum-
mary of volunteer agencies which provide opportunities
for Christian service and evangelism. The convention
also asked the Board for Evangelism to intensify its
efforts to produce evangelism materials which are attrac-
tive, functional, and fully in accord with Lutheran doc-
trine and encouraged Concordia Publishing House to
print and publish these materials (Res. 1-11, TB 28). It
also asked the Board for Evangelism to continue to
develop specialized literature and techniques for evange-
lizing persons belonging to anti-Christian sects and cults
(Res. 1-12, TB 29). The adoption of Res. 1-13 (TB 29),
which asked all congregations and pastors to follow up
contacts made through the television ministry and the
Lutheran Hour, brought considerations of resolutions
from the floor committee on Evangelism to a close. The
floor committee was dismissed with thanks for its work.

Parish Services

Rev. Wilbert Griesse, chairman of the floor committee
on Parish Services, presented Res. 7-16 (TB 159) to the
delegates. This resolution, which asked for support for
the establishment of Lutheran schools by the Synod and
all of its Districts, was adopted. The assembly encour-
aged representatives of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod to the Lutheran Council in the United States of
America in cooperation with the Commission for Services
to the Mentally Retarded to explore further cooperation
and coordination of intersynodical ministries to the men-
tally retarded and to report their findings to the 1977

synodical convention (Res. 7-17, TB 160). Pastors and
laymen were asked to assess Christian education needs
in their respective congregations and to explore the
possibilities of sharing a Director or Coordinator of
Christian Education with other congregations of the
Synod (Res. 7-18, TB 160). By adopting Res. 7-19 (TB
161) the Synod reaffirmed its mandate to the Board of
Parish Education to continue the production of educa-
tional curricula. By common consent the words “based on
Article II of the Constitution of the Synod and the
Scriptures” were added at the end of the first resolved of
Res. 7-15 (TB 159), and the word “consider” as the first
word of line 28 (TB 159). The delegates then adopted
Res. 7-15 (TB 159), encouraging publication of “New Life
in Christ” Sunday school materials. After declining to
eliminate the word “study” from the subject of Res. 7-20
(TB 162), the delegates adopted this resolution, which
called for continued study of the use of Bible and Cate-
chism versions in the educational materials of Concordia
Publishing House and the Board of Parish Education.
After extending time to complete the work of Floor
Committee 7, the delegates agreed with the floor commit-
tee in declining overtures which asked that Concordia
Publishing House be directed to publish Dr. William
Beck’s translation of the Old Testament (Res. 7-21, TB
162). The adoption of Res. 7-22 (TB 163), which encour-
aged pastors and teachers to utilize filmstrips of the
“Concordia Catechism Series,” brought consideration of
resolutions from the floor committee on Parish Services
to a close. It was stated that recommendations regarding
letters of thanks (Res. 7-23) had been filed with the
Secretary. Since this completed the work of this floor
committee, they were dismissed with thanks.

Missions

Chairman Schlecht of the floor committee on Missions
reintroduced Res. 2-06 (TB 34), which asked the dele-
gates to ratify the Commission on Constitutional Mat-
ters’ opinion regarding the campus ministry of the
Synod. After considerable discussion and after first de-
clining a motion to terminate debate by a vote of 448—
470 and declining to consider Overture 2-30A (CW 37) as
a substitute motion, the resolution was adopted by a vote
of 556—439. After extending time for consideration of
resolutions from the floor committee on Missions until
adjournment, the delegates began consideration of Res.
2-07A (TB 237), replacing Res. 2-07 (TB 35). This resolu-
tion called for reaffirmation of the Synod’s position on
campus ministry. The delegates declined to consider
Overture 2-22 (CW 35) as a substitute resolution, as well
as a motion to strike the fourth whereas and the third
and the sixth resolveds (TB 237) from the resolution.
After adopting an amendment adding the words “and
applying the Communion guidelines of Lutheran mili-
tary and institutional chaplains” at the end of the fourth
resolved, line 42 (TB 237), the convention adopted the
resolution as amended.

Closing

After singing several stanzas of the hymn “I Know
that My Redeemer Lives” Dr. Preus closed the afternoon