LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 43

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MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION 43

Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He stated that the
two groups shared a common faith though not an
identical history and that he was thankful for the signs
of unity and maturity among The American Lutheran
Church and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
While it is true that we can get along without each other,
in a deeper sense we need each other since God has made
us for each other and desires not sibling rivalry but
family unity. God asks us to express our faith in oneness
and in mission. In these days of uncertainty we need to
stand up and say we believe in Christ in the midst of life
and in the presence of death. God’s kingdom does not
depend on anything but God, and society has reached
the point where we need new beginnings or perhaps a
recapture of old beginnings. People need to be called toa
rejection of the “me” generation and become aware that
mindless self-justification has no virtue. Dr. Preus
concluded his remarks by expressing appreciation for
the opportunity of being present at the convention.

Announcements

The chairman announced that there would be no
evening session and that there was a good possibility
that the business of the convention could be completed
by the end of Thursday’s afternoon session.

Program Implementation

Chairman Griesse of the Floor Committee on Pro-
gram Implementation introduced Res. 12-01A (TB 259),
which called for a major fund-raising effort of $40
million, culminating in 1981, and for an ongoing stew-
ardship effort. After declining an amendment to strike
lines 47—48 (TB 259) and agreeing to cease debate, the
resolution was adopted as presented. In adopting Res.
12-02 (TB 159) the Canadian Districts were asked to
develop a mission and ministry statement, in coopera-
tion with the steering committee and fund-raising con-
sultants, which would address the challenges in Cana-
da, as well as mission opportunities which are shared
throughout the world. In order to avoid any confusion
all Districts, institutions, and boards were asked to
clear all calendars of special fund-raising efforts during
the period of January through June 1981. This request
was made in Res. 12-03 (TB 160), which was adopted by
the convention. In response to a question from the floor
the committee stated that clearing calendars is not a
mandate. The request of the seminaries for special
exemption for solicitation privileges throughout the
Synod was denied, but delegates asked that the Synod
do all in its power to increase growth in the grace of
giving so that greater financial support might be grant-
ed to the institutions of higher education, with special
consideration for the seminaries’ financial needs. This
action was taken through the adoption of Res. 12-08(7B
166). In adopting Res. 12-09 (TB 166) an annual goal of
$2 million for World Relief/World Hunger projects was
established, and constituent congregations of The Luther-
an Church—Missouri Synod were encouraged to contri-
bute a minimum of one dollar per year per communicant
member toward these projects. After agreeing to cease
debate, the convention adopted Res. 12-10 (TB 167),

authorizing the Board of Stewardship to intensify the
Keys for Christ fund-raising effort to attain an addi-
tional $250,000 for the revolving fund for housing for
low-income families and the elderly. After adopting an
amendment which would place the words “and for
promised faculty salary increases” after the word ‘“‘au-
thorized” and before the word “shall” in line 17 of Res.
12-11 (TB 260), it clarified the policy of synodical
spending by stating that resolutions which involved
expenditure of funds in 1979—81, with the exclusion of
capital expenditures for which borrowing may have
been specifically authorized, and of promised faculty
salary increases, were to be interpreted and carried out
as being mandatory only to the extent that there are
current revenues excluding borrowed funds available in
those years for these purposes. Since the goal of
$1,500,000 to support the work of Black ministry had not
been reached, the convention agreed by adoption of Res.
12-12 (TB 292) that the Black Centennial Committee
should continue its work for another biennium, and
urged the congregations of the Synod to support this
work with their prayers and offerings. With the adop-
tion of this resolution the work of Committee 12 was
declared to be completed.

Point of Privilege

Responding to a request by Dr. August Mennicke, in
gratitude for the resolutions which had just been passed,
the delegates were led in prayer by Dr. Preus and joined
in the singing of the Common Doxology.

Administration

Chairman Alvin Kollmann of the Floor Committee
on Administration introduced Res. 4-14(7B112), which
directed the Board of Directors in concert with the
Board for Higher Education to make funds available to
fulfill a second salary adjustment for faculties. This
resolution was adopted after amending it with a second
resolved which stated, “Resolved, That the Board of
Directors be directed to implement this resolution retro-
active to Feb. 1, 1979.” [However, see minutes of Session
11]. After substituting the words “synodical institutions
are” for “college is” in line 19 (7B 254), the delegates
adopted Res. 4-28 (TB 254), which directed the Board for
Higher Education to elevate salaries to a level commen-
surate with the suggested salary scale and benefits as
recommended for parish pastors in the respective Dis-
tricts in which these institutions are located. After
placing the word “the” between the words “and” and
“secondary” in line 26 (7B 252) and capitalizing the
word “congregation” in lines 38, 45, and 48 (TB 252),
Res. 4-15A (TB 252) was adopted, commending Our
Redeemer Lutheran Church in Honolulu for its vision
and encouraging it to appeal directly to the California-
Nevada-Hawaii District Church Extension Fund for
funds, and encouraged other Church Extension Funds
throughout the Synod to assist the District and Redeem-
er Congregation by making special designated invest-
ments in the Lutheran Church Extension Fund—
Missouri Synod for this purpose. By adoption of Res.
4-16A (TB 252—253) the Treasurer of the Synod was