# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_August 23 24 1971_S7
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

However, the commission would call the attention of the Board for Missions to the fact that rules
can be suspended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the voting members present and voting.
Furthermore, if the Board for Missions should in this way decide to suspend the rule regarding
absentee ballots, then the commission holds that the absentee ballot may be cast and counted, also
in determining what constitutes a majority vote, as long as the absent member's candidate remains
a candidate (See Roberts, 1970, Pages 355-357).
39. District Bylaws:Texas (Ag. 6), Missouri (Ag. 9), California-Nevada (Ag. 11), Iowa-East (Ag. 12),
Texas Handbook (Ag. 234), Ohio (Ag. 236): It was reported by the men to whom these studies have been
assigned that they have had no opportunity since the last meeting to pursue their assignment.
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40. Board of Appeals Regulations (Ag. 10): It was decided to remove this item from the agenda since the
Board of Appeals will now need to adopt new regulations in view of the new bylaws adopted by the
convention.
41. "Pastor" Terminology (Ag. 15): No further report has been received.
42. Designation of Official Conferences (Ag. 16): The Council of Presidents had submitted to the CCM
its proposed bylaw to meet this request of the CCM. The commission resolved to accept this draft and to
submit it to the New Orleans convention as an overture, taking note of the fact in the overture that the
Council of Presidents had given its endorsement to it (copy of report attached to minutes).
43. Congregations Demitting (Ag. 19): Luessenhop reported Wolbrecht had not supplied any additional
information as yet.
44. Reinstatement (Ag. 23): President H. Neunaber had reported to the commission that the Council of
Presidents had not yet completed its work on this question.
45. LCUSA, "Nominated" or "Named"? (Ag. 27): Since the article of LCUSA's constitution in which this
troublesome terminology occurs was submitted to the convention for amendment in another particular,
since, however, the convention failed to take any action on the proposed amendment, but since the
convention had also adopted a resolution calling for a detailed study of LCUSA on the part of the three
church bodies, including its "procedures," it was decided to ask President Preus to include this problem
of "nominating or naming" as an example under the "procedures" section of the proposed study of
LCUSA.
46. Seconding (Ag. 108): Since the convention itself had taken action on this problem, it was decided so
to inform Reverend David Dissen and to remove the item from the agenda.
47. San Francisco Night Ministry: Since the convention had spoken to this question it was decided to
remove also this item (Ag. 109) from the agenda.
48. Binding Nature of Doctrinal Resolutions: The same action was taken with reference to this item
involving Reverend William Grunow of San Leandro, California.
49. Guidelines (Ag. 259 and 259A): It was decided to have the secretary make an announcement in the
Reporter requesting sample constitutions of congregations, especially those which provide a new
approach, e.g. a Board of Directors concept, a structure based upon the Mission Affirmations, those with
a limited number of voters meetings, etc., with a request that six copies be supplied. The reason for this