LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 37

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 37

Youth Delegation

A special presentation by youth delegates attending
the convention stressed activities which have been
carried on and are being planned in the Districts and on
a national basis. Particular reference was made to the
formation of the Lutheran Youth Fellowship and to the
youth convention which will be held in Colorado. The
presentation was brought to a close as the youth
delegation led the convention in the singing of a song,
“We Are the Church.”

Missions

Prior to considering Res. 1-16(7B 53) the convention
was addressed by Mrs. Florence Montz, chairman of the
Council for Christian Medical Work. She brought greet-
ings to the delegates from the Council of Christian
Medical Work and described the work which is being
carried on in foreign countries, for which she was
thankful. She pointed out that God opens doors, but He
also opens the windows of our heart and life and lets His
Sonshine in. In her remarks she stressed the fact that full
health and healing come from the great Healer, Jesus
Christ, through His life, death, and resurrection. Follow-
ing this presentation the delegates adopted Res. 1-16
(TB 53), which called for support of the Council for
Christian Medical Work. President Shiba of the J apan
Lutheran Church next addressed the delegates. He
described the coming of Christianity to Japan through
the Roman Catholic Church several hundred years ago.
He pointed out that that door was closed later in history
and was reopened after World War IT. He expressed his
thanks for what The Lutheran Church—Missouri Syn-
od had done for Christians in J apan. After deleting the
number “10” in the subject heading and replacing the
number “10” with the word “all” in line 56, the Floor
Committee on Missions presented Res. 1-08 (TB 48),
which asked the Board for Missions to work closely with
the Internal Auditing Department of the Synod and the
Treasurer’s Department to assist in developing sound
accounting practices in partner churches/mission
fields. Resolution 1-08 (TB 48) was adopted as presented.
Since Res. 1-13(TB 51) called for encouragement of the
growth of special ministries, this resolution was readin
its entirety, so that it could be signed for the deaf as it
was read. Resolution 1-13 (TB 51) was also adopted as
presented.

Recognition

In recognition of the fact that the First Vice-Pres-
ident of the Synod, Dr. Edwin Weber, was at the podium
and presiding over the convention once again after a
period of illness, the delegates joined in Singing the
Common Doxology in thanks to God.

Missions

Prior to considering Res. 1-14A (TB 184), which
called for the establishment of an American Indian
Advisory Council, Dr. Edward Westcott introduced
native American Pastor Donald J ohnson. Pastor John-
son spoke of his conversion and how he was called to

serve his own people in Indian ministry. He pointed out
that 350 years of Indian ministry by Christians have
gone by and that during that time many mistakes have
been made. The church has a basic lack of experience in
Indian mission work and has failed to take into account
the vast cultural differences. He pointed out that God
has opened a crack in the door and we must enter by
listening to Indian people and being aware of Indian
culture. After declining an amendment which would
add as a final resolved, “Resolved, That the LCMS
relationship with the National Indian Lutheran Board
(NILB) and the LCUSA Indian desk to be continued
through, to, and beyond March 1, 1980, if necessary,
awaiting recommendations of the American Indian
Advisory Council regarding this relationship,” the con-
vention adopted Res. 1-14A (TB 184) as presented by the
floor committee. They also agreed to adopt the docu-
ment “Statement of Jewish-Lutheran Concerns” as
proposed in Res. 1-30 (TB 60). During the discussion the
delegates declined to include the first and second re-
solveds of Overture 1-28 (CW 52). Discussion of Res.
1-12A (7B 183), which called for an increase in churches
and membership, was begun. During the discussion the
delegates declined to add as a first resolved the words,
“That Synod’s Evangelism Department work with Dis-
tricts to develop new and further current programs
which would better equip the members of our congrega-
tion to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Since the
words “including Black, average of ten per year; His-
panic, average of five per year;” after the words “180
average per year;” in line 70 (7B 183) were omitted in
printing of the resolution, the convention agreed by
common consent to the addition of these words. Time for
discussion of the resolution elapsed before action could
be completed.

Minutes

Although properly reported, the delegates agreed to
amend the minutes for Session 3 by changing the
sequence of wording of Res. 3-02A, lines 44—45 (TB 280)
to read, “To teach, within our schools and churches, the
biological, social, and parental functions of childbear-
ing.” The minutes for Sessions 3 and 4 were then
approved as amended.

Elections

Chairman Henry Simon of the Floor Committee on
Elections directed the distribution of ballots for posi-
tions still remaining to be filled. After voting procedures
had been described and voting had taken place, the
elections were declared closed.

Administration

Chairman Alvin Kollmann of the Floor Committee
on Administration presented Res. 4-05A (TB 250), which
called on the Board for Higher Education to review the
Bylaws pertaining to the retirement of personnel in our
colleges and seminaries. This resolution was adopted.
After the reading of this resolution by title, the delegates
declined to reverse a previous decision which had been
made to pass resolutions by title, and determined to