# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_OCTOBER 3 1963_S12 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) -4- 18, Attention was given to Section 1, 29 of the Synodical Handbook referring to ''Parlimentary Rules. '"' It was noted that the Survey Commission had recom- mended to limit the length of the Synodical Convention to one week, 19, It was agreed that for the present Section 1,29 on Parlimentary Rules should be retained as printed in the 1963 Edition of the Synodical Handbook, and that the present paragraph 1,29 did advocate a one-week Synodical Convention. 20. Mr. Friedrich asked what procedure could be developed which would eliminate frivolous Memorials (Petitions) from the list of printed and unprinted Memorials. 21. A very long discussion developed during which several avenues of approach to this problem were pointed out. One suggested procedure emphasized that only those Memorials which have passed muster by the local congregation and which had then been cleared through the Circuit Conference, should be accepted for consideration by the Synodical Convention, The "right of petition" was brought into the picture. The Committee groped for a solution which would both safeguard the democratic character of the organization and yet Would avoid the publication of frivolous, capricious and unbrotherly Memorials. 22, Eventually it was agreed that the Committee on Constitutional Matters should take this matter under advisement, Noon Recess 23. The Secretary now read the recommendations of the Survey Commission regarding the duties of the Officers of the Synod. 24, Recommendation 1 spelled out in some detail the method of procedure to be followed when the President of the Synod is absent from his office for more than a week or suffers some prolonged illness or disability.