# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_March 22 2004_S4
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Only the faculty of the respective synodical institution has the authority to declare a graduate qualified for
the first call. Bylaw 2.09 a states, “A graduate of an authorized synodical institution must be declared
qualified for a first call and recommended by the faculty of the respective synodical institution before the
effective date of the first call to service in the church, as assigned by the Board of Assignments as
provided in Bylaw 2.11.”
And only the appropriate colloquy committee has the authority to declare a colloquy candidate qualified
for a first call. Bylaw 2.09 b states, “Candidates who have satisfactorily completed an approved synodical
colloquy program… must be declared qualified for a first call and recommended by the appropriate
colloquy committee (see Bylaws 6.99, 6.117, and 6.137) before the effective date of the first call to
service in the church as assigned by the Board of Assignments as provided in Bylaw 2.11.”
The Synod through Bylaw 2.09 c establishes the eligibility for individual membership as follows:
“Candidates who may be declared qualified for first calls are those who before the effective date of the
first calls will have satisfactorily completed the prescribed courses of studies and will have received
diplomas from their respective institutions or have fulfilled the requisites of a colloquy. In addition, they
must have indicated complete dedication to the ministry and evidenced a readiness for service in the
church. Finally, to be declared qualified and recommended by the faculties or colloquy committees for
their specific types of service in the church, the appropriate faculty or colloquy committee must be
satisfied that the individual will meet all personal, professional, and the theological requirements of those
who hold the office of ministry to which the individual aspires. In addition, an academic year of
supervised internship (vicarage) is required of all seminary students before graduation, ordinarily in the
second year before graduation.”
Acting as the Board of Assignments, the Council of Presidents assigns (places) qualified graduates of
synodical educational institutions and workers available from colloquy programs as “first calls” (Bylaws
2.11 and 3.930 e).
Thus, since the Council of Presidents does not have the constitutional authority to establish eligibility for
membership or to qualify, declare qualified, certify, and recommend candidates, it does not have the
authority to require that the wives of candidates for the offices of ordained and commissioned ministers
must be members of LCMS congregations prior to placement. Such a requirement can only be established
by the Synod in convention.
257. Function and Expectations of the CCM (04-2385)
In a letter dated February 18, 2004, an ordained member of the Synod submitted a series of questions
regarding the CCM and its interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod. After brief
discussion of an early draft response, the Commission agreed to resume discussion at its next
meeting.
258. Review of 2004 Convention Workbook
With the approach of the 2004 convention, the Commission discussed several plans of action for
meeting the requirements of Bylaw 3.905 a, which requires that the Commission “shall examine all
reports and overtures to the Synod asking for amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod or which in any manner affect the Constitution and Bylaws, to determine their agreement in
content and language with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.” The Secretary reported that the
Convention Workbook will be available by the end of April and copies will be provided to the
members of the Commission as soon as they are available.

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