LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 44

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44 MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Deaf himself, Archie D. Marshal! receives John of Beverly Award for
service to the deaf. A man who stands tall!

directed to develop a procedure whereby institutions are
credited with interest earnings based on the monthly
average balance of funds on deposit, and that where
advances have been made for operating needs a similar
procedure for charging interest to such institutions
would be developed. These procedures are to be submit-
ted to the Board for Higher Education for approval and
adoption retroactive to July 1, 1979, and are subject to
the final approval of the Board of Directors. After
placing a comma after the “i.e.” in line 35 and changing
the word “further” to “finally” in lines 35—36 (TB 253),
the committee introduced Res. 4-18A (7B 253), which
called for a study of the special needs of rural and small-
town churches and the designation of a Rural Concerns
Sunday throughout the Synod. This resolution was
adopted as presented by the committee. Resolution 4-17
(TB 113) was adopted, giving high priority to youth
ministry.

Recognition

Rev. Howard Schoenfeldt of the Lutheran Friends of
the Deaf presented the John of Beverly Award to Mr.
Archie D. Marshall for his service to the Lutheran
Church in the area of deaf missions, including five
years of service as editor of the Deaf Lutheran. In a
signed response, which was interpreted to the delegates,
Mr. Marshall, an artist by profession specializing in
design, expressed his deep gratitude for this award and
reviewed the ways in which the Lord has led him into
service to the church.

Announcement

Dr. Norman Sell, Treasurer of the Synod, was grant-
ed time to explain checkout procedures from hotels to
the delegates. In response to a question which had
previously been asked from the floor, he also announced
that through February 1979 the total offering for the
Black Centennial amounted to $325,000.

Minutes
Before presenting the minutes of Sessions5 and6 for

approval, a number of corrections were made. In line 22
(TB 302) the words “Res. 3-10” were changed to “Res.
10-3.” The name of Gustav W. Wesch was deleted in line
56 (7B 302) since he had not been elected to the office. In
line51 the name “Propst” was changed to “Rost” and the
word “Letters” was changed to “Laws” in line 52 (TB
304). Since there were no other substantive changes, the
minutes of Sessions 5 and 6 were adopted as corrected.

Missions

Discussion of Res. 1-12A (TB 183—184), which had
been begun in a previous session, was resumed. This
resolution called for an increase in churches and member-
ship. An amendment calling for the addition of a second
resolved between the first and second resolveds pre-
sented by the committee stating, “That our congrega-
tions be encouraged to open doors through their worship
services, Christian day schools, Sunday schools, and
other parish activities to welcome and minister to all
people in their area; and be it further” was introduced.
The delegates approved this change and then adopted
Res. 1-12 A (TB 183) as amended. By approval of Res.
1-07 (TB 48) they also agreed to the establishment of
functioning Church Extension Fund programs in 10
partner churches/ mission fields. At this point Mr. Fred
Lietz, president of the Lutheran Church Extension
Fund—Missouri Synod, presented a replica of the first
note issued by the fund to President Preus. Following
this the delegates viewed a film presentation related to
the fund entitled “CEF ... It Touches You.” After
viewing this film the convention adopted Res. 1-15(TB
53), which encouraged participation by the Districts in
the Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri Synod.

Presentation

Dr. Preus presented Rev. Paul Fynn, president of the
Lutheran Church of Ghana, to the delegates. In his
remarks Pastor Fynn described his experiences at
previous conventions of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod, after which he went home, prayed, and told
his people that the Synod needed their prayers. In
attendance at the present convention he has seen an
answer to the prayers in the unity and peace which he
observed. He described the problems which are faced in
his country and pointed out that a door is opening for
missionary work in Togo.

Missions

After hearing from Pastor Fynn, the delegates
adopted Res. 1-18A (7B 185) and adopted the mission
challenge for the 1980s to open 10 new mission fields
overseas.

Presentation

President Preus next introduced President Chyu of
the China Evangelical Lutheran Church, which has its
headquarters in Taiwan. Missionary Henry Rowold,
who interpreted for President Chyu, was also intro-
duced. In his remarks President Chyu reviewed his
background and training and indicated the broad scope
of the work of the church in Taiwan. He pointed out that