# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_September 22 23 1972_S8
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Nevertheless, since the questions posed above are being raised by others also, we make answer as
follows:
1. That it is the opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters that the Constitution and the
Bylaws of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod give to the President of the Synod
exceptionally broad responsibilities and correspondingly broad authority.
2. That while the ordinary day to day responsibility not only for administration but also for
doctrine rests also with other officials, boards, and commissions created in the course of time by
the Synod, the Synod has never repealed the broad responsibility and authority vested in the
presidential office, but instead the Synod appears to have increased those powers from time to
time. It is therefore conceivable that the President, acting in accordance with the appropriate
Articles of the Constitution and By-Laws of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, may
exercise his pastoral judgment to intervene in situations which, in his estimation, are so important
that the exercise of his ultimate constitutional responsibility is required.
3. That when a synodical President feels impelled to exercise that responsibility it is clearly
understood that his action is always subject not only to the regular appeals procedures involving
the commissions of adjudication and the Board of Appeals, but also to approval or disapproval, to
ratification or recission, by the convention of the Synod.
4. That if the Synod does not wish to have such authority reside in its President then it is the
opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters that the Constitution will need to be
amended to limit the authority of the President. Procedures for amending the Constitution are
detailed in Article XIV.
THE COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Herbert Freise
Donald Prevallet
George Sommermeyar
Elmer Luessenhop, Chairman
Herbert Mueller, Secretary
W. Harry Krieger, Advisory
September 23, 1972

MINUTES OF MEETING OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
December 14-15, 1972 - Chicago, Illinois
198. Sommermeyer, who presided, opened the meeting with prayer. Other members present: Freise, H.
Mueller, and advisory member W. Harry Krieger. Absent: Luessenhop, who was ill, and Prevallet, who
was recovering from a serious accident. The minutes of the September 22-23, 1972 meeting were adopted
as submitted.
199. District Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation (Ag. 6, 9, 11, 12, 236, 344, 344A, 365, 383): No
reports from those who were to check the bylaws.
200. Congregations Demitting (Ag. 19): No report as yet from Luessenhop.