LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 32

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32 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

resolutions be read in their entirety, with the exception
of resolutions involving changes in the Bylaws.

Elections

Chairman Henry Simon of the Floor Committee on
Elections directed the distribution of ballots to all
voting delegates and explained the election procedure
which would be followed. Dr. Preus then declared the
session recessed for the day as far as any other business
was concerned, and delegated the Elections Committee
chairman to declare the election closed at the opportune
time. Election of boards and commissions followed with
the afternoon session being closed with a silent devo-
tion.

Session 6

July 10, Morning
Devotion

Opening devotion for the morning session was led by
President Arthur Kuehnert of the Central Illinois Dis-
trict and included the singing of the hymn “When All
Thy Mercies, O My God,” the reading of Psalm 32, and
prayer, including intercessory prayer for the wife of a
member of the Board of Directors and for a delegate
from the Northern Minnesota District, who were re-
ported as being ill.

Announcements

President Preus announced to the delegates that the
orders of the day would be interrupted by the Floor
Committee on Elections for announcements when elec-
tion results were available.

Point of Privilege

Dr. Norman Sell, Treasurer of the Synod, was grant-
ed a point of privilege to inform the delegates that the
Treasurer’s report on higher education (Report of Finan-
cial Operations, page 29), which they had received
earlier, was in error. He indicated that corrections
would be made and the delegates should ignore the
report as received.

Higher Education

Chairman John Zimmermann of the Floor Commit-
tee on Higher Education requested permission to with-
draw Res. 6-23 (7B 135), on which discussion had begun
in a previous session. This permission was granted by
common consent. Since Res. 6-01 had been referred back
to the floor committee in a previous session, the dele-
gates were directed to the consideration of Res. 6-01A
(TB 277) as a revision of the original resolution. It was
pointed out by the committee chairman that the where-
ases of the original resolution had been removed and
had been replaced by a preamble which summarizes the
report of the Board for Higher Education. After declin-
ing to delete the words “‘and with priority being given to
students preparing for the pastoral and teaching min-
istries” in lines 62—63 (7B 277) and agreeing to cease
debate, the delegates adopted Res. 6-01A (TB 277) as
presented. Discussion was next begun on Res. 6-04A(TB

191), which called for the continuation of arrangements
for the training of pastoral candidates at the Lutheran
Theological Seminary in Saskatoon on a temporary
basis. This arrangement is to continue through the
1980—81 academic year. In the meantime definite tran-
sitional plans for permanent arrangements for the
education of pastoral candidates in Canada are to be
formulated and presented to the next convention, with
the first class under the permanent arrangement to be
enrolled in 1981—82. After discussion, during which the
three Canadian District Presidents were granted a
special privilege to address the delegates, the conven-
tion adopted the resolution as presented.

Convention Rules

The delegates agreed to dispense with the reading of
resolutions in the future and to adopt them by title, with
the exception of those resolutions requiring Bylaw
changes, which must be read in their entirety.

Higher Education

By adopting Res. 6-06 (TB 126) the convention
reaffirmed its agreement with synodically approved
procedures for certification of Seminex graduates and
asked District Presidents to encourage uncertified Sem-
inex graduates within their jurisdiction to seek such
certification. This action was taken after the delegates
had declined to consider Overture 6-65 (CW 201) as a
substitute resolution for the one offered by the commit-
tee. In response to Overture 6-62A—B (CW 200) the
convention adopted Res. 6-07 (TB 126), advising the
Rev. Herman Otten to reapply to the faculty of Concor-
dia Seminary for certification, ifhe so desires, or to seek
certification by way of colloquy. They also reaffirmed
their willingness to welcome into the pastoral ministry
all who have met the requirements for certification.
Since Res. 6-08A (TB 192) called for a change in Bylaw
6.54 of the Handbook, this resolution was read in its
entirety. With the adoption of this resolution by the
delegates, regulations regarding the granting of perma-
nent tenure to faculty members were changed. The new
Bylaw establishes a normal minimum of 40% tenured
faculty members and a maximum of 60%, and allows for
the continuation of untenured status for faculty mem-
bers after completing six years of service at an institu-
tion. The Bylaw change was adopted after the delegates
had declined to reinsert point 2 found in line 47 of Res.
6-08 (TB 127) into Res. 6-08A (TB 192) between points 1
and 20n line 21 (TB 193). Continuing the consideration
of resolutions related to higher education, the delegates
adopted Res. 6-09 (7B 128), which directed the Board for
Higher Education to evaluate social-service programs
at synodical schools and certify those that are accept-
able. The convention agreed that Res. 6-10A (TB 194)
should be read in its entirety, although they had earlier
agreed that resolutions should be adopted by title only.
Prior to adoption of Res. 6-10A (TB 194) the delegates
accepted an amendment which would replace the first
resolved with the words, “Resolved, That the Synod
require the synodical President, with the chairman of

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