Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 425
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 425

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

428 CONVENTION FORMAT REVIEW

floor time. It is our further recommendation that there be a
Sunday morning worship event at the convention center, that
a significant evangelism effort be planned for the Saturday
afternoon we are in session, and that various evening events
be prepared and conducted during our convention. all intended
to bring greater blessing to the time we spend together. The
small groups mentioned earlier are to be led by well-trained
facilitators and will be under the spiritual direction of a desig-
nated chaplain.

These changes are offered under the fourth resolve of the
enabling resolution: “That the committee shall be charged with
structuring the 1975 convention, with the understanding that it
be given freedom in planning the structure and format of the
convention in order to achieve the purpose mentioned in the
second resolve.’ We believe our recommendations are re-
sponsive to the charge given us and that they will affect our
convention in a positive way. We do acknowledge that a few
will be initially unsettled in the kind of atmosphere we are
proposing. and others may wonder about its potential for abuse.
But the final response of the committee was that we are confi-
dent the official members of the convention will conduct them-
selves in such a way that our capacity to minister to each other.
to our church, to all Christendom, and to the world will be
markedly improved.

Standing Rules

We offer to the convention for adoption 12 standing rules
which, together with our Constitution and Bylaws (under
Scripture and the Confessions) will aid us in achieving the pur-
pose of this convention. The standing rules we propose are
as follows:

1. The President shall present in Today's Business the
agenda of business to come before the convention in the ses-
sions of that day, and the approximate time slots. The chair
shall see that this agenda is followed as closely as possible.

2. Resolutions of each floor committee shall be prioritized
by number and shall normally be presented in the numerical
sequence established by the chair.

3. Each member of the convention, when recognized by the
chair, shall state his name. He shall also state the name of his
District or of the administrative unit (board, faculty) he repre-
sents.

4, The 2-minute rule shall apply for all who speak from the
floor.

5. While any voting delegate may call the question at any
time, after every 30 minutes of debate on any one motion there
shall be an automatic call of the question by the chair.

6. Instead of a voice vote on motions before the convention,
the chair shall ordinarily call for the raising of the right hand.

7. If a substitute motion is offered, the convention shall first
decide by majority vote whether or not to consider the substi-
tute. If the decision is in the affirmative and the substitute mo-
tion is adopted, the original motion falls; if the substitute motion

does not receive favorable action either to consider or to adopt,
the original motion is again before the house. (This is the so-
called ‘Behnken rule” for dealing with substitute motions.)

8. Questions of privilege shall be addressed in writing to
the chair, or its appointee, instead of consuming convention
time.

9. In the sessions of the last 2 days the President shall have
the privilege of calling up for action resolutions which in his
judgment must be acted upon by the convention before ad-
journment.

10. Resolutions prepared by the floor committees which are
not acted upon by the convention before adjournment die. The
subject matter may be reintroduced at the next convention by
means of an overture.

11. Minutes shall be distributed every morning in Today's
Business. The first item of business in the afternoon session shall
be the formal approval of these minutes. However, at that time
only corrections involving convention action shall be offered
from the floor for consideration. Simple editorial corrections
involving, for example, misspelling of names and faulty titles
and references shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary
for incorporation in the minutes after verification. (This stand-
ing rule was introduced during the Milwaukee convention and
was adopted also for the New Orleans convention.)

12. Unless covered by these standing rules of the conven-
tion, parliamentary procedure shall be governed by Roberts
Rules of Order. newly revised (1970 edition).

Other Matters

During its time of deliberation the committee discussed and
favorably acted upon the following motion: “We convey to
the President of the Synod that as we perceive the new conven-
tion procedures with their opportunity for written responses. we
recommend that automatic open hearings at the convention site
are no longer necessary to the response process.”

In addition to the specifics cited in this report the committee
has passed on for consideration and possible implementation
many other recommendations in the area of “inspiration, in-
formation, and fellowship’ to the responsible convention
committees, the officers of the Synod, and other appropriate
individuals.

In Conelusion

The committee wishes to express its appreciation to the
various officers of the Synod and the various committees of the
convention who have cooperated with us at every turn. As
chairman of the committee, I wish to thank the members who
have served so faithfully and who so willingly participated in
the work. Their evangelical attitude made the matters herein
reported a labor of love based on a mutual respect which is
now turned to affection.

Charles S. Mueller, Chairman