Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 233
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 233

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 233

send two advisory delegates: each 2-year college of
the Synod shall send one advisory delegate. Such
delegates shall be elected from the student body of
the respective schools of the Synod.

Faculty

Concordia Teachers College
River Forest, Ill.

Merle L. Radke, Secretary

Identical or similar:

5-56B

First Trinity, Washington, D.C. David Preisinger

a-57A

To Revise Method of Selecting
Convention Committees

WHEREAS, The Synod is composed of congregations repre-
senting many and varied interests, geographical areas, social
and cultural strata: and

WHEREAS, The Synod has expressed the principle that con-
vention committees be composed of individuals representing
varied backgrounds, i.e., pastors, teachers, and laymen (Hand-
book 1.27 f); and

WHEREAS, It is desirable for all points of view to be heard
in committee, so that balanced recommendations can be pro-
duced for consideration by the convention: and

WHEREAS, It is imperative to the success of a convention that
sustained discussion of resolutions take place in committee and
not in plenary sessions: and

WHEREAS, The present method of selecting convention com-
mittees does not assure balanced and representative com-
mittees: therefore we the Eastern District request the 1975
convention to substitute for Bylaw 1.27 f the following reading:

f. All reports and overtures accepted by the Presi-
dent in accordance with the foregoing paragraphs shall
be referred by him to convention committees ap-
pointed by a special committee consisting of the
President, a vice-President designated by the Presi-
dent, and three District Presidents elected by all the
District Presidents. The special committee shall make
its selection from the voting delegates (1.51), advisory
delegates (1.57), and advisory representatives (1.61).
Pastors, teachers, and lay persons shall be represented
on all committees. Every effort shall be made to have
broad representatives of viewpoints on the Conven-
tion Committees. The President shall notify com-
mittee members of their appointment and of the time
and place of their first meeting no later than 8 weeks
before the start of the convention. The committee
rosters shall be published in the Lutheran Witness
Reporter at least 6 weeks before the convention.
After due consideration of the matters referred to
it, each committee is to report its findings and recom-
mendations to the convention. If the President deems
it advisable, he may convene any committees prior
to the opening of the convention.

Eastern District,
Richard L. J. Hoemann, Secretary

Identical or similar:

5-57B and 5-57C

Southeastern District
Faith, Kirksville, Mo.

Charles Mueller
M. Appold
5-58
To Change Method of Selecting
Convention Committees

WHEREAS, In a congregation it is desirable to get a cross
section of its membership to serve on the various boards and
committees to carry on an effective ministry: and

WHEREAS, It is desirable to hear all points of view that exist
in the life of a congregation before making recommendations:
and

WHEREAS, Such principles can also serve our Synod in carry-
ing out its ministry: therefore be it

Resolved. That the floor committees at the synodical con-
vention be appointed by a special committee consisting of the
synodical President: a synodical Vice-President appointed by
the President: three District Presidents elected by all the Dis-
trict presidents: five laymen elected on the following basis:
divide Districts into five regions, each District within each
region to have a rotating term to choose one layman: and two
teachers appointed by the Lutheran Education Association.
The special committee shall make its selection from the voting
delegates, the advisory delegates, and the advisory representa-
tives. Pastors, teachers, and lay persons shall be represented
on all committees. Every effort shall be made to have a broad
representation of viewpoints on the convention committees.

Concordia Lutheran Church
Kirkwood, Mo.

James McAllister, President
Virginia Ziemann, Secretary

To Assure that Floor Committee
Appointments Are Geographically
Distributed but Are Charged to Honor
Bible, Confessions, ‘‘Handbook,”
and Doctrinal Resolutions of Synod

WHEREAS, The Synod has painfully but purposefully con-
fronted its doctrinal problems and laid the groundwork for
correction and cleansing: and

WHEREAS. Those “liberal” minorities who would permit or
profess the false doctrine and aberrations to continue as ac-
ceptable teachings and practices are working hard to upset the
progress made with such resolutions as Milwaukee 2-21 and
5-24 and New Orleans 2-12, 3-01, 3-09, and 3-12A: and

WHEREAS, These liberal minorities, with such names as
ELIM and their publications such as Missouri in Perspective.
have persuaded various well-meaning synodical leaders to
promote the concept that floor committees must have “‘an evenly
distributed viewpoint’ on them and committee member appoint-
ments should include those who represent ‘every area of
thinking’”’: and

WHEREAS, Such a concept should have no place in a con-
fessional denomination and, considering the problems “every
area of thinking” brought to the St. Louis seminary, this notion
would normally be considered absurd: and

WHEREAS, This “normally absurd concept’ has actually
been endorsed by a group of leaders headed by a District Presi-
dent (one of 16 District Presidents whom ELIM claimed at their
national meeting in Chicago in August 1974 as ““ELIM support-
ers’’): therefore be it

Resolved. That appointments to floor committees continue
to have geographical distribution both as to lay and clerical
members: and be it further

Resolved. That all appointees be required to affirm the
authority of Scriptures as the only rule and norm of faith: be
required to subscribe to the Confessions: and be required to
vow to honor and uphold the Handbook and all of the doctrinal
resolutions ‘of the Synod, keeping in mind that no resolution,
Bylaw, or article of the Synod's Constitution is unchangeable
through “due process” other than Article II and VI, which are
unalterable: and be it finally

Resolved. That procedures be used so as to assure that
“every area of thinking” will never be allowed to be represented
on floor committees on any “evenly distributed” concept but
that instead every effort will be made to restrict the appoint-
ments to only those who confess, profess, and teach the doctrine
of the Synod.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Wenatchee, Wash.
Joseph Leas, Pastor