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Show ' - Pastor David Bahn Vernal Pastor attends ntl. convention Reverend David L. Bahn, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Vernal participated as one of 1100 voting delegates from throughout North America in the 55th general convention conven-tion of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. The convention was held in St. Louis, Missouri July 8-15. Directions were set for North America's second largest Lutheran Church body. Rev. Bahn attended as the voting delegate from the Utah Circuit. He was joined by Mr. Roy Losser of Hurricane, Utah, the lay delegate from the circuit. The convention delegates reelected Dr. Ralph A. Bohlmann of St. Louis as president for a second term, on the first ballot. Also elected were five vice presidents and members of church boards and commissions. The convention acted on 164 resolutions resolu-tions formed from overtures submitted submit-ted by many of the Synod's 6,100 member congregations, 38 districts and Synod agencies. These resolutions covered virtually all areas of the church's work. However, most resolutions resolu-tions were internal in nature, dealing mainly with Synod finances, structure and planning. Two resolutions are of local interest. In one action Faith Lutheran Church of Roosevelt, Utah was accepted as a member congregation of the 2.7 million member church body. Also the district of which Utah is a part was renamed the Rocky Mountain District. It had formerly been known as the Colorado Col-orado District. Another important resolution strengthened the Synod's already strong pro-life stance by calling on various Synod offices to make available printed resources to help church members reaffirm their strong advocacy in behalf of the unborn. The 2.7 milllion member Synod is regarded regard-ed as the first major protestant body to have taken a firm stand against abortion, as early as 1971. Another resolution encouraged peacemaking and the study of problems pro-blems concerning the church and nuclear arms. The resolution discourages the church from taking a "conscience-binding" stand on nuclear proliferation, but points to reconciliation reconcilia-tion in Christ as "the only means to achieving true and lasting peace." It stated that church leaders "generally "general-ly enjoy no special competence" in matters of "responsible judgements about the global complexities of foreign and defense policies." Congregations were encouraged to become increasingly aware of the value of older people in their membership, member-ship, especially those who are retired. The convention called on the Synod's board of Social Ministry Services to "plead the cause of the poor and needy" as one of its highest priorities. Rev. Bahn reported two personal highlights. "The special worship services ser-vices where over 4000 men and women united their voices in praise to God were especially impressive," he stated. "When that many people sing hymns together in the praise of God, it is truly a moving experience," he added. "Also impressive was the short talk by General John Vessey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His insights as a fellow Missouri Synod Lutheran were especially helpful in sorting out the issues of war and peace." Last year the Missouri Synod established over 80 new congregatioas in an extensive and ongoing mission effort. |
