# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1962_S124 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 123 tutionality of Resolution 9, but the question of consti- tutionality is confined to proper procedure, as fully set forth in the supplemental report of the standing Com- mittee on Constitutional Matters, in which the commit- tee rendered the opinion that Resolution 9 is uncon- stitutional (see Unprinted Memorial 601-A); and Wuereas, Your Floor Committee 6 of this convention is in agreement with the opinion of the standing Com- mittee on Constitutional Matters; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod declare Resolution 9 of Committee 3 of the 1959 synodical convention uncon- stitutional on the ground that said resolution has the effect of amending the confessional basis of the Consti- tution of the Synod without following the procedure required by Article XIV of the Constitution. Action: This resolution was adopted. “Manual of Synodical Operations” RESOLUTION 6-02 Unprinted Memorial 602-C, VII, p. 129, Today’s Business Wuereas, Many of the items now appearing in the Bylaws of the Synod are matters of procedure rather than of policy; and Wuereas, It is desirable to have a “Manual of Synod- ical Operations” outlining such procedural matters for all synodical boards, commissions, committees, councils, divisions, departments, and bureaus; therefore be it Resolved, That the Council of Administrators pre- pare such a “Manual of Synodical Operations”; and be it further Resolved, That all purely procedural matters now in the synodical Handbook be culled out and included in this manual; and be it finally Resolved, That this manual be submitted to the Synod’s Committee (Commission) on Constitutional Matters for approval and report to the next convention of the Synod. Action: This resolution was adopted. Commission on Theology and Church Relations RESOLUTION 6-03 Report 602, F, 4, pp. 251, 252, Reports and Memorials Wuereas, A number of different committees, such as the Committee on Doctrinal Unity, the Committee on Woman Suffrage, the Advisory Committee on Doctrine and Practice, the Committee on Finnish Relations, and the Committee on Bible Versions are now dealing with and speaking on matters of doctrine and practice; and Wuereas, It is desirable that the Synod speak with a unified, single voice in these matters when addressing itself to extra- and intra-synodical organizations; there- fore be it , Resolved, That a Commission on Theology and Church Relations be established; and be it further Resolved, That sections 2.115, 2.117, and 2.119 of the Bylaws be stricken; and be it finally Resolved, That a new section 2.115 be adopted to read as follows: 2.115 Commission on Theology and Church Relations a. Membership. Membership of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations shall consist of twenty- three voting and three advisory members, to be selected as follows: 1. The synodical convention shall elect six voting members in the same manner as other elected boards, commissions, and committees: three parish pastors, one teacher, and two laymen. 2. The College of Presidents shall elect by ballot five voting members: two pastors, two laymen, and one teacher. 3. The St.Louis and Springfield theological faculties shall each appoint or elect three members of its faculty as voting members. 4. The President of the Synod, in consultation with the Vice-Presidents, shall appoint six voting members: two pastors, two laymen, one professor from the theological seminaries, and one professor from an educational institu- tion of the Synod other than the theological seminaries. 5. The President and the First Vice-President of the Synod and the managing editor of the Concordia Theolog- ical Monthly shall be the advisory members. b. Term of Office. The term of office shall coincide with the synodical practice for commissions. c. Officers. The commission shall elect its own chair- man, vice-chairman, secretary, and the chairmen of the various subcommittees as required. Vacancies in the elective membership shall be filled by the commission with the approval of the President of the Synod. Vacan- cies in the appointive memberships shall be filled by the respective appointing or electing agency. d. Subcommittees. The commission shall divide itself into the following subcommittees: 1. A committee for internal theological matters; 2. A committee for theological relations with sister churches and their affiliates; 3. A committee for relations with other churches; Pastor Clarence T. Schuknecht (left) of Zion, Cleveland, tells David and Carol Saboldt how Dr. H. C. Schwan was one of the first in the U.S. to set up a Christmas tree in a church (Zion, 1851). Alex C. Schwan, a descendant of Dr. Schwan, looks on.