# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S322
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

f

428 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Wuenreas, Despite this acknowledged shortage, it appears that
there has been a continuous practice of calling men so trained t)
occupy administrative and other positions in Synod and activities
related thereto, which positions do not require either minis
or teaching training and which could be as well filled by vlky
personnel; therefore be it

Resolved, That hereafter Synod and all Districts,
agencies, etc., related thereto, in filling positions not directly re_
quiring ministerial or teaching training, refrain from calling per-
sons with such training, unless, after diligent efforts, it be deter.
mined that no other qualified personnel is available; and be it
further

Resolved, That the foregoing resolution be brought to the at-
tention of all boards, agencies, institutions, etc., within the scope
of Synod, but not directly administered or controlled by it.

James A. BartTLett, Secretary
S. W. Bunrmann, Chairman
ALBERT A. BEHNKE, Pastor

[541]
Status of Day School Teachers
Resolved, That we memorialize Synod to recognize its called
parochial teachers as “ministers of religion,” as clearly stated in
The Status of the Christian Day School Teacher.
NorTHERN Onto LUTHERAN TEACHERS CONFERENCE
Artuur F. Kirsten, Secretary

[542]
On Communing Lodge Members

Wuereas, Synod in 1947 declined to define procrastinating in
dealing with lodge members, stating that “it would be legalistic to
set a time limit when final action must be taken”; and

Wuereas, It admonished brethren in the ministry to follow
Matthew 18 when they feel that.a brother is procrastinating; and*

Wuereas, In éases which the Cleveland Pastoral Conference
had in mind Scriptural admonition. had been applied ever since
1930; and

Wauereas, This did not result in removal of the lodge ‘evil, the
communing of lodge members being continued; and

Wuereas, This remained true even after cases were taken to
the highest officials of the District in which offending brethren are
members; and Lit

:
=|

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 429

WHEREAS, Officials of the District declined to take further action
in these cases; and

WHEREAS, Synod has said: “Where there is a plain refusal to
stamp out the lodge evil, the matter must be brought before Synod,
and church fellowship must be denied the persistent offender. We
can no longer fellowship with such an offending congregation”
(Report of Special Committee of Synod to define the position of the

Church toward the communing of members of secret societies,
Aug. 10, 1927); and

Wuereas, The undersigned are in doubt whether Synod still
subscribes to the above principle and wishes such cases to be
brought to its attention for correction; and

Wuereas, Synod’s refusal to define procrastinating in any way
though it had used this word itself in its 1929 resolutions, has
created doubt in our minds as to how to proceed after due ad-
monition of brethren who to us appear guilty of procrastinating;
now, therefore, be it ,

Resolved, That we, the undersigned, petition Synod in con-
vention assembled to declare:

1, It was never the intention of Synod to give its consent to
the communing of lodge members except, as it stated in 1929, “in
cases which present unusual features, rendering their classification

2. Even in such t¢ases ; Synod v warns the pastors earnestly to
beware of procrastinating, and it is evident that this has been the
case where lodge members have been communed from 1929 until
now, without decisive action.

3. Synod advises all members who know of cases where ad-
monition was carried on until it had reached the District of the
brethren without removal of the lodge evil, to bring them to its
attention without delay, presenting all the evidence pertaining

thereto.
Karu H. Esters WaAcrer J. LUECKE

G. R. Naumann Wru1am Sincie’
AR. REINKING _ M F. Kartzmann