# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_December 10 11 1970_S3
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

conventions of a District. The Secretary had answered in the affirmative. The Commission endorsed his
reply.
258. Restricting Women's Voting Rights: Mr. Walter Hannewald had inquired in behalf of his
congregation, Concordia, Geneseo, Illinois, whether the voting rights of women, if introduced, needed to
be restricted in any way. The Secretary had replied that although restrictions had been placed by the
convention on the offices that could be held by women, no restrictions had been placed on the voting
activity. The Commission approved this reply (Ag. 184).
259. Constitutionality of 3-15 (Ag. 196-). Grace Congregation of Vero Beach, Florida wrote to Dr. Preus
charging that the Synod had violated its Constitution by adopting Resolution 3-15 at the Denver
convention. The letter was referred to Secretary Mueller, who drafted a reply giving the history of the
resolution and the subsequent finding of the CCM that the resolution had not been in violation of the
Constitution. The Commission formally approved the reply.
260. Lay Right of Appeal: President Fred Niedner of the Nebraska District had raised questions
concerning a layman's right of appeal. The Commission decided that the opinion adopted earlier in the
meeting with reference to a similar question should constitute the Commission's reply also in this instance
(Ag. 213). (See Minutes 248)
261. Reverend Paul Hoenk: Reverend Paul Hoenk of Iowa City had written protesting our decision not to
release our opinion unless he released the Commission from the request of confidentiality and demanded
an explanation. The Commission approved the reply which Secretary Mueller had sent under date of
October 30, 1970 (Ag. 194B).
262. 2-Year Term: It also approved the letter which the Secretary had sent to Mr. Gilbert Heine, chairman
of the Committee for Convention Nominations who asked for a ruling on the question of whether a 2-year
term was to be counted under the limited tenure regulations. The Commission had ruled previously in the
negative in response to an identical request from another source (Ag. 214).
263. Teacher Delegate: The Commission approved the Secretary's letter to Secretary John E. Graudin of
the Southeastern District indicating that under the present bylaws teachers were not eligible to serve as lay
delegates or alternates (Ag. 220).
264. Counselor Election: It approved the Secretary's letter to President Karl Barth of the South Wisconsin
District indicating that, as in the election of delegates to the convention, majority support was sufficient in
the nominating procedures for circuit counselors; in other words, as soon as an individual had gained the
support of the majority of congregations in the circuit it was not necessary to ballot further (Ag. 224).
265. Voting Rights for Campus Congregation: President Henry Niermann of the Wyoming District had
inquired about the possibility of granting voting rights to campus congregations. The Commission asked
the Secretary to check the records in the conviction that the Commission had already ruled on this
question and authorized him to transmit that previous ruling. If the files show that the Commission had
not ruled on this specific question, it is to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting (Ag. 202).
266. Reinstatement of a Pastor: President Preus had received a request from a pastor in Denver to
intervene and bring about the reinstatement of a pastor who had been deposed. The Commission ruled
that the synodical President can become involved ultimately but that the immediate responsibilities of the
two District presidents involved should be invoked (Ag. 204).