LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 30

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30 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

resolution does not compromise the doctrinal position of
the Synod. During the discussion which followed, the
delegates declined to consider a substitute resolution
which called for the deletion of lines 57—64 (TB 96), of
lines 58—-62(7B 97), and the replacement of lines 40—42
(TB 97) with the words, “Resolved, That the LCMS
suspend fellowship with the ALC at the present time for
the above-mentioned doctrinal reasons; and be it fur-
ther.” Responding to a question from the floor, President
Preus stated that if the proposed resolution were passed,
we would bein a state as described in the resolution with
specific actions to be taken. Ifthe resolution is declined,
we would be in the same position as that established at
the Dallas convention. In response to a question as to
the meaning of “due time,” the committee stated that it
understood this to mean until there would be sufficient
time to complete discussion of issues with The Amer-
ican Lutheran Church. It was assumed that this would
be by 1981. Wishing to hear from President Preus, the
delegates, by a resolution, asked him to address the
convention expressing his views. By convention resolu-
tion Dr. Scharlemann, who had spoken earlier, was also
granted three additional minutes to address the dele-

gates. Time expired before action on the resolution could
be completed.

Closing Devotion

Following the singing of the hymn “From Green-
land’s Icy Mountains,” the chaplain for the convention,
Dr. Nitz, introduced President G. Thomas Edward,
president of the India Evangelical Lutheran Church,
who led the convention in a brief devotion and prayer.

Session 5

July 9, Afternoon

Opening Devotion

Dr. Karl Barth, President of the South Wisconsin
District, led the delegates in the opening devotion,
which consisted of the singing of the hymn “My Faith
Looks Up to Thee” and the reading of Acts 16:25-34 in
unison. The closing prayer included intercessions fora
bereaved family and for a delegate who had been
hospitalized with a heart attack.

Announcements

President Preus made several announcements to the
delegates, including the awarding of a doctor of letters
degree to the president of the Lutheran Church in
Korea, Dr. Won Sang Ji, by Concordia College, St. Paul,
Minn. The 125th anniversary of the Eastern District
was also recognized, as well as the birthdays of mission-
aries Kenneth Greinke and Henry Rowold.

Minutes

Since there were no substantive changes, the min-
utes for the first and second sessions of the convention
were approved.

Task Force
The delegates resumed the discussion of Res. 2-01

(TB 65), on which action had not been completed. This
resolution dealt with the provision of acommon founda-
tion for living and working together as an appendix to
the synodical Handbook. The discussion began with
consideration of a proposed amendment which the
delegates had asked to be printed in Today’s Business
(TB 207). Prior to discussion of the amendment the
committee deleted the word “partial” in line 11 (TB 207)
and replaced the period after the word “purity” in line 12
with a comma followed by the words “and the” in line 12
(TB 207). After declining to change the word “a’’ to
“the” in line 16 (TB 207), the delegates also declined the
entire proposed amendment. The convention agreed to
change the word “certified” to “endorsed” in lines 17
and 39 (TB 66), but declined to add the words “but not
limited to” after the word “include” in line 37 (TB 66).
After agreeing to call the question, the delegates voted
on the original resolution as amended. A division of the
house was called for after the chairman had declared
the resolution lost. The judgment of the chairman was
sustained when the vote reported 333 in favor of the
resolution and 541 opposing it. While introducing Res.
2-03 (TB 68), which called for a revision of Article III of
the Constitution defining the objectives of the Synod,
the committee pointed out that the revision included two
new paragraphs, Nos. 4 and 10 (7B 69). A motion to
reverse the order of points 1 and 2 as presented in the
resolution was declined. The delegates also declined to
add the words “proclaiming the Word of God and by”
after the word “in” and before “giving” in line 18 (TB
69). After agreeing to close debate on all amendments
and the resolution, the convention adopted Res. 2-03 by
a vote of 663 to 272. After changing the word “equitable”
to “appropriate” in line 36 (7B 189), the floor committee
introduced Res. 2-04A (7B 189), which asked that
provisions be made for continued study of the synodical
organization. After agreeing to cease debate on an
amendment which had been offered, the delegates
declined to add the words “that an equal number of
those who see serious problems in the Task Force
proposals be included in the composition and makeup of
the new continued Task Force on synodical reorganiza-
tion,” which were called for by the amendment. Time
expired before action on the resolution could be com-

pleted.

Announcement

Before proceeding with the orders of the day, Pres-
ident Preus reminded the delegates that time used by
the floor committees for responses and explanations
was not considered as discussion time in determining
the total time allowed for consideration of a resolution.

Auxiliary Organizations

Mrs. Helen Morris, president of the Lutheran Wo-
men’s Missionary League, was introduced to the conven-
tion by President Preus. She brought greetings from the
200,000 members of the LWML to the delegates and
referred them to the report of the organization found in
Today’s Business, page 19. In her remarks she expressed
thanks for the opportunity to work closely with synod-

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