LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 34

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34 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Bible Study

Continuing a Bible study which had been begun the
previous day, Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, Bible study leader,
led the delegates in a further study of sections of the
book of the Acts of the Apostles.

Honorary Degrees

In a brief ceremony Dr. Ralph Bohlmann, president
of Concordia Seminary, assisted by members of the
seminary faculty, conferred the honorary doctor of
divinity degree upon President Michael of the Evangell-
cal Lutheran Free Church of Denmark. An academic
hood was also given to Bishop Jobst Schoene for
presentation to Bishop Rost of the Independent Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church of Germany, upon whom the
degree of doctor of laws had previously been conferred.
The degrees were granted for faithful service and faith-
ful adherence to the Scriptures and Confessions in spite
of difficulties which have been experienced by churches
in their geographical areas.

Recognition

Following conferral of the degrees, two pastoral
delegates at the convention, a father and son who are
relatives of President Michael, were recognized. Pres-
ident Preus also recognized Rev. Otto Hoemann, a 1909
graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Constitutional Matters

Delegates resumed the consideration of Res. 5-14(TB
121), on which action had not been completed in a
previous session. Discussion began with the considera-
tion of Overture 5-25 (CW 161) as a substitute motion.
During the discussion of the substitute motion an
amendment to it was proposed which would change the
second whereas to read, ““‘W HEREAS, Lay ministers now
serve congregations as their designated pastors, per-
forming all pastoral functions; and” and would change
the resolved to read, “Resolved, That the Synod change
the appropriate Handbook regulations to allow male
ministers known as lay ministers, serving in congrega-
tions and performing all the functions of the pastoral
office, the privilege of voting at District and synodical
conventions as the pastoral delegate of their congrega-
tion(s).” After agreeing to cease debate on all matters
before the convention, the delegates then declined the
amendment to the substitute resolution, as well as the
substitute resolution itself, and adopted the resolution
as presented by the floor committee (Res. 5-14, TB
121). Discussion was then begun on Res. 5-15 (TB 121),
which called for retaining the practice of giving only
one lay vote to a dual parish. The delegates agreed to
consider Overture 5-22A (CW 160) as asubstitute motion,
with the wording of the last sentence of the overture
changed to read, “The lay delegate of a voting congrega-
tion shall stand accredited and entitled to vote upon
presenting to the Secretary at the opening of the
convention the proper credentials signed by his pastor
or vacancy pastor and two of the congregation’s officers.
A voting congregation shall not be deprived of its lay

delegate even though it might share its pastor with
another congregation, have a temporary pastor, or no
pastor at all.” During discussion of the substitute
motion the delegates declined to recommit the substi-
tute motion and the origina! resolution to the committee
for reconsideration. After agreeing to cease debate on
the substitute motion, the delegates declined to accept it
and approved Res. 5-15 (TB 121) as presented. By
adopting Res. 5-16 (TB 122) they agreed with the
committee to decline overtures calling for a change in
the method of selecting convention delegates. They also
declined to limit the tenure of elected officers of the
Synod by the adoption of Res. 5-17 (7B 122). This action
was taken after the convention declined to consider
Overture 5-27A (CW 161) without its last resolved as a
substitute motion. In order to deal with the problems
experienced by teachers and other workers who had
remained with congregations when these congrega-
tions joined other Lutheran synods, they resolved that
the Districts prepare to expedite all existing processes
by which congregations might call these workers who
are receptive to a call from a Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod parish. This was done through the
adoption of Res. 5-18 (TB 122). Through the approval of
Res. 5-19 (7B 122) the delegates also agreed to decline
Overtures 5-26A—C (CW 161), calling for specific doc-
trinal pledges to be signed by elected officers of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, since all members
of the Synod have pledged themselves to adhere to
Articles II and VI of the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod.

Point of Privilege

Chairman Karl Barth of the Commission on Theol-
ogy and Church Relations was granted a point of
privilege to explain to the delegates that the document
which is to be prepared by the commission will not
speak directly to the question of suffrage. It will rather
delineate the relationship between the pastoral office
and other offices in the church and will help to establish
a theological base which may help in reaching decisions
on the issue of suffrage. It was felt that this explanation
was necessary since some delegates had received the
impression that the report of the Commission on Theol-
ogy and Church Relations would deal with the suffrage
issue.

Constitutional Matters

Chairman of the Floor Committee on Constitutional
Matters, Arnold Kuntz, reported that this concluded the
work of Committee 5.

Greetings

Dr. Preus presented to the delegates greetings which
had been received from President S. T. Jacobson of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada.

Program Implementation

Chairman Wilbert Griesse of the Floor Committee on
Program Implementation introduced Res. 12-04 (TB