# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_April 23 24 1970_S3
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

122. Opinion on Dissenting Activities: Mr. Richard Hannenberg of Chicago had addressed a letter
commenting on the Commission's opinion and Trinity Congregation of Crown Point, Indiana, had asked
the Commission to review and rescind this opinion. The Commission resolved to inform the petitioners
that it had decided to let its opinion stand (Ag. 97 and 135).
123. Lowering Voting Age: The Commission approved the letter sent by the Secretary to Epiphany, Eau
Clair, Wisconsin informing the congregation of the earlier opinion which holds that congregations may
lower the age to 18 if state laws permit (Ag. 101).
124. Northern Illinois: The Secretary reported that President Happel had requested a copy of the
Commission's "Procedures Governing Charges of False Teaching Against Faculty Members" (Ag. 106).
125. Majority Vote in Nominating Counselor, Texas District: The Commission approved the letter of the
Secretary explaining that this means that a nominee must receive support from a majority of the
congregations balloting (Ag. 111).
126. Counselor Nomination, North Wisconsin: It approved a similar letter addressed by the Secretary to
Secretary Mueller of the North Wisconsin District (Ag. 113).
127. Status of Retired Pastors: It was decided to inform Reverend Bauermeister of Lancaster, California
that the Commission was endorsing the letter sent to him by the Secretary, that it wished to indicate to
him that emeriti could readily be excused, and that the Commission felt no changes in the Handbook were
necessary (Ag. 117).
128. Woman Delegate, Texas: The Secretary reported that he had forwarded the ruling of the Commission
permitting women convention delegates to President Heckmann upon his request (Ag. 118,).
129. Woman Delegates and Board Members, Northern Illinois and Southern California: The Commission
approved Kuenne's letter relaying the previous affirmative ruling of the Commission to Secretary Fisher
of the NIO (Ag. 119) as well as Mueller's similar letter to Nominating Committee Chairman Fackler of
Southern California (Ag. 120) .
130. Magnolia, Arkansas: It approved another letter of the Secretary to Reverend Atsinger giving the
Commission's position on woman delegates and unalterable articles (Ag. 121).
131. Legal Opinion on Woman Suffrage: It approved a letter of the Secretary in which exception was
taken to the claim of the legal counsel of Grace Church, Kansas City, that the civil rights act had a
definitive bearing on the question of woman suffrage (Ag. 122).
132. Synodical Guidelines for Teacher Voting: The Commission approved the Secretary's letter to
Teacher Rullman of the Southeastern District stating that there are no such guidelines because teachers do
not have the right to vote in conventions (Ag. 123).
133. Extent of Woman Suffrage: Pastor L. W. Myers of Omaha had inquired whether the Denver
Resolution meant that women are permitted to vote on all issues. The Commission approved the
Secretary's letter in the affirmative (Ag. 124).
134. Constitutional Problem, Voting Membership: The Commission also approved Chairman Kuenne's
advice to St. Paul's, Aurora, Illinois, for incorporating woman suffrage into its constitution (Ag. 125).