LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 148

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148 ADMINISTRATION

Fraternal Discussions between Board and Staff for Missions

One day of each of several Board for Missions meetings has
been devoted to fraternal discussions between the board and
staff on problems between them. The subjects discussed have
been authority in the church and missions and the Mission
Affirmations. Discussions will be continued at future meetings
until the board and staff fee] their concerns have been resolved.
A Missions board member has said, ‘‘These discussions have
gone a long way in laying out board and staff concerns. I pray
that we will continue to have our heart and minds open to each
other through future forum discussions, with God’s direction.”

Mission Study Commission

The Mission Study Commission, which was appointed by the
Board of Directors and reports to the Board of Directors, has
been meeting on an average of 2 days every other week since
early June. The commission consists of the following:

Walter Beran, of Beverly Hills, Calif., a certified public accoun-
tant in charge of West Coast operations of Ernst and Ernst.

William J. Harbeck, of Lake Forest, Ill., a lawyer who has spent
most of his business career with Montgomery Ward & Co.,
where he is a vice-president of facilities development.

Rev. Louis Meyer, chairman, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran
Church, Mahwah, N. J., and former executive secretary
of Stewardship, Evangelism and Parish Services of the
Atlantic District.

Rev. Edward Westcott, pastor of Church of the Holy Cross,
Scottsdale, Ariz., and former missionary to Nigeria.

Dr. Eugene Linse Jr., executive secretary of the Mission Study
Commission, on loan from Concordia College, St. Paul, Minn.,
where he is chairman of the Division of Social Sciences.

The task assigned the Mission Study Commission by the
Board of Directors is exceedingly broad: to make a thorough
study of the entire mission operations for the purpose of assess-
ing the efficacy of its present operation and further to propose
to the Board of Directors and the Board for Missions recommen-
dations as to objectives, purposes, goals, structure, operations,
and any other aspect necessary to determine how the church’s
mission can best be served. To do this, the commission has to
receive input from many people.

“Committee of 20°

The work of this committee in the seminary matter has been
quite extensively reported. The members of the Executive
Committee have attended the two meetings as observers.

Five and Five

The board joined the President in inviting five representa-
tives of ELIM to meet with five members of the Board of Direc-
tors. Two meetings have been held to date.

Theological Convocation

The Board has agreed to cosponsor the theological convoca-
tion of some 300 individuals during April. The results of this
additional effort will be known by the time this report is read.

* * *

It is self-evident from this report that much time, work, and
effort have been expended during this time to help our Synod
in its day of trouble. At times progress seems to have been slow:
nevertheless, progress is being made. It appears that discussions
between the Board of Control, former faculty members, and
others may be productive. The Executive Committee whole-
heartedly supports these discussions. Although the goal of
putting “801” back together the way it once was is no longer
a realistic one because of the passage of time, the bigger goal
of bringing peace and reconciliation to the Synod is still with
us. We hope that all parties to the discussions genuinely want rec-
onciliation and are willing to do what is necessary to achieve it.

The Board of Directors is confident that the results of the Mis-
sion Study Commission efforts will be very helpful to the mis-
sions program of our Synod for the North American and over-
seas ministry of bringing Christ to men, women, and children
who need Him more than they need anything else. In the process

our church will find in greater measure the joy of sharing
salvation.

The Board prays that the other consultations now going on,
including the meetings of the Advisory Council for Doctrine
and Conciliation, in which it is not directly involved, and of
regular standing boards and commissions, which are devoting
much of their time and energies to the problems of the Synod,
will be productive.

Let all our prayers be to this end: that with the help of God
we can together bring reconciliation and peace to our church
and better carry out the Great Commission of our Lord to bring
the Gospel to all nations.

App. 4-04C

Possible Transfer of Television Ministry
to Lutheran Laymen’s League

(In the January 1975 meeting of the Board of Directors an ad hoc
committee was appointed to negotiate with the LLL on the potential
transfer of the TV ministry to the League. The report of the combined
committees of the Synod and the League was presented to the board at
its April 4 meeting and is being printed in the Workbook. The report
will be considered by the Board at its May meeting, and a recommenda-
tion will be made to the floor committee).

Report of Negotiating Committee

A number of meetings have been held with representatives
from the Lutheran Laymen’s League concerning the future of
Television Ministry in the LCMS. The following resolution at-
tempts to detail the rationale and future relationships for trans-
ferring the administration of the Television Ministry to the
Lutheran Laymen’s League.

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Laymen's League sponsorship of
mass communications programing of the Lutheran Hour is now
in its 42d year: and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Hour broadcasts provide the Gos-
pel message to millions of persons around the world: and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Laymen’s League has long had an
interest in expanding their mass-communication broadcasting:
and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Laymen's League has subsidized
the Lutheran Television Ministry, ‘‘This Is the Life,” since 1967
and is currently providing $625,000, nearly 70% of the expendi-
tures for this ministry: and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Laymen’s League, on request, has
determined that the League can effectively administer the
Television Ministry on behalf of The Lutheran Church ~ Mis-
souri Synod: therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod trans-
fer the administration of Lutheran Television to the Lutheran
Laymen’s League, effective Feb. 1, 1976; and be it further

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod sub-
sidize the Lutheran Laymen’s League for Television Ministry
in the years 1976, 1977, and 1978 in a decreasing amount starting
with $300,000 in 1976. Starting in the fiscal year 1979 the Televi-
sion Ministry of ‘This Is the Life,’ and all special mass com-
munications productions, shall be the financial and administra-
tive responsibility of the Lutheran Laymen’s League: and be
it further

Resolved. That the Lutheran Laymen’s League provide
coordination, production, distribution, and follow-up capa-
bilities of various Television Ministry programs of synodical
departments, such as Evangelism and Education: and be
it further

Resolved. That the mission outreach and public service
potential of television be fully developed by the various synodical
departments in coordination with the Lutheran Laymen's
League: and be it further

Resolved, That effective Feb. 1, 1976, two members of the
Lutheran Laymen’s League Television Committee be appointed
by the synodical Board of Directors, provided however that cur-
rent synodical members of the Board for Lutheran Television
continue to serve until expiration of their present terms. During
the interim period the Lutheran Laymen’s League Television
Committee membership would consist of more than seven mem-
bers. Additionally the Board of Directors shall appoint a liaison