# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S225
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

224 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

5-20

To Permit CPH Board of Directors
Access to Manuscripts They Are Asked
to Approve

WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors of
Concordia Publishing House to approve the publication of all
manuscripts published by CPH: Par. 11.25 a of the Handbook:

a. Unless otherwise instructed by the Synod, the Board of Directors

shall determine what shall be published by the corporation... .
and

WueEREAS, Under the present mode of operation the CPH
Board of Directors is called upon to approve publication of
manuscripts which it in no way has been able to read, to the
effect that the board’s action amount to “rubber stamp”
approval of an unseen product; and

WHEREAS, Par. 11.03 of the Handbook states:

The Board of Directors shall be responsible and accountable to the

Synod in all things and shall have control of the business and affairs

of this corporation. ...
and

WHEREAS. A synodical board can hardly have control of the
affairs of its particular institution (in this case CPH) when the
board is asked to approve manuscripts it does not see; and

WHEREAS, The continued concern throughout the Synod for
not only profitable material (because much can be “profitable”
that is neither God-pleasing nor serving the corporate aims of
CPH) but also for books and material that reflect the purposes
of CPH and the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod, in convention assembled in St.
Louis in 1981, amend Par. 11.25 a of the Handbook by inserting
the following wording after the first sentence:

The Board of Directors shall have the right to request the

copy of any manuscript for reading prior to board approval of
said manuscript.

Mount Hope Lutheran Church
Casper, Wyo.

Tom Boyles, Secretary

J.B. Brown, Pastor

5-21

To Provide for the Election
of a District Committee on Nominations

WHEREAS, The constitution of the Ohio District and possibly
some other synodical] Districts directs the District President to
appoint a Committee on Nominations; and

WHEREAS, Robert’s Rules of Order in every instance whereit
deals with this subject makes special note that a nominating
committee should not be appointed by the president of an
organization but be elected by the membership; and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the LCMS provides for the
election of a Committee for Convention Nominations by the
delegates to its convention; and

WHEREAS, Provision for the election of a nominating com-
mittee by the membership of an organization is widely recog-
nized as a fair and equitable means of ensuring a slate of
candidates widely representative of the membership of the
organization; therefore be it

Resolved, That all District constitutions be required to
conform to the synodical Constitution with regard to the
election of the Committee on Nominations.

St. Thomas Lutheran Church
Rocky River, Ohio

Donald Reiss, President
James Kretzschmar, Secretary
Phillip B. Giessler, Pastor

5-22
To Implement Constitutional Opinions

WHEREAS, Those who walk together in the Synod must agree
on the meaning of the Constitution and Bylaws; and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters has
been created to interpret the Synod’s position on controverted
issues (2.107 e); and

WHEREAS, The CCM has no enforcement powers; and

WHEREAS, Some rulings continue to be ignored for many
years; therefore be it

Resolved, That each District President be required to state
in writing for publication in the convention workbooks of the
Synod and their Districts which rulings have not as yet been
put into effect in his District, why not, and what efforts are
being made to achieve compliance.

Hope Lutheran Church
San Leandro, Calif.
Ellen Pelham, Secretary

5-23

To Forbid the LCMS President
to be an ELIM or Seminex Supporter

WHEREAS, The President of the LCMS is to exercise doctrinal
supervision throughout the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The theology of Evangelical Lutherans in
Mission (ELIM) and Seminex is contrary to Holy Scripture and
LCMS doctrine; and

WHEREAS, It would be impossible for the President of the
LCMS to exercise doctrinal supervision if the President was a
supporter of ELIM or Seminex; therefore be it

Resolved, That retroactive to July 1, 1981, the President of
the LCMS must not be nor ever have been a supporter of ELIM
or Seminex; and be it further

Resolved, That if the President of the Synod is or becomes a
supporter of ELIM or Seminex that he be removed immediately
from office and the First Vice-President of the Synod take over
the duties of President; and be it finally

Resolved, That the President of the Synod publicly condemn
both Seminex and ELIM for their anti-Scriptural theology.

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Franklin, Nebr.

Maynard Schriner, Secretary

Jay Currie, Pastor

5-24

To Assure Resolution of Cases
of Suspension and Expulsion

WHEREAS, In cases involving possible suspension or expul-
sion from the Synod, it is to the benefit of all parties that due
process proceed without undue delay; and

WHEREAS, Often those responsible officers of the District
involved are unable to act in an expeditious manner; and

WHEREAS, It is therefore necessary to have someone in a
position of authority who shall see that the process is carried
out in a God-pleasing manner; therefore be it

Resolved, that the second paragraph of Bylaw 5.13 (Com-
mencing an Action of Expulsion) be amended as follows:

PRESENT WORDING

If the District officers fail to act, the President of
the Synod, by virtue of the power given him in the
Constitution (Article XI, B, 1-3, inclusive), may on his
own initiative institute proceedings, take adminis-
trative action, and, if necessary, present charges to
the appropriate District Commission of Adjudication,
provided, however, that such must be in the same
manner as hereinabove set forth for the District
officers.

PROPOSED WORDING

If the District officers fail to act within 30 days
after receipt of the accusation or fail, for a period of 30
days, to keep the process active at any stage of