# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_June 28 29 1974_S1
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
June 28-29, 1974 - St. Louis, Missouri
149. The meeting opened with prayer by Klotz. All members were present except Mueller who was
excused for the earlier part of the meeting in order to teach a class at the seminary. During his absence
Prevallet served as temporary Secretary. The minutes of May 16-17, 1974 were approved as printed.
150. Letter of Support (Ag. 572-J): This letter from St. Peter, Hemlock, Michigan, was duly noted. It was
decided to send a letter of appreciation if appropriate and if not already done.
151. Binding Force of Resolutions (Ag. 607): This 1965 document by R. Wiederaenders was received,
noted, discussed, and retained for future reference.
152. Denver Area Protest (Ag. 608): It was decided to ratify the action of the Secretary in sending copies
of our opinions to President Waldemar E. Meyer to be shared with the pastoral conference in question.
153. Commendation (Ag. 610): The Commission accepted with gratitude the letter of commendation from
Rev. Paul G. Barth. The Secretary had sent a letter of acknowledgment.
154. Iowa Park, Texas Seminex Placement (Ag. 567 Y): The Commission had received the carbon copy
of a letter addressed by the Iowa Park, Texas congregation to Dr. Heckmann asking him to place and
ordain Seminex graduates. It was decided to have the Secretary send an appropriate reply only if
necessary since the matter had not been addressed to the CCM.
155. Rohlfing Protest (Ag. 619): The Commission had also received a carbon copy of a sharp letter of
protest regarding the Seminex matter addressed by Pastor Martin Rohlfing of Portland, Oregon to Dr.
Preus. The Commission merely took note of the matter.
156. Fritze Protest (Ag. 634): The Commission approved the reply which the Secretary had sent to
Herbert F. Fritze of Oklahoma City stating that someone must make the decision after Herbert Fritze had
complained that "simply because the decision is final does not mean it is right."
157. Texas District Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation (AR. 6 & 6-A): Chairman Luessenhop presented
a review of the Texas District instruments. Notations were made on suggested corrections with discussion
lasting 1 hr. and 40 min. The details are listed further in these minutes.
158. Nominating Ballot (Ag. 609): Rev. Herman J. Glienke, judge of elections at the upcoming
Florida-Georgia District convention, had asked: "If on the nominating ballot, a person who has enough
votes to place him on the ballot declines to serve, will the nominating ballot be repeated?" The Secretary
had replied that unless he was misunderstanding the question it would seem that a nominating ballot need
not be repeated although he stated that one would need to know definitely what the situation was before
giving a final answer. The Commission decided to ratify this answer of the Secretary and to remove the
item from the agenda on the assumption of no subsequent correspondence being received. (By this time
the convention had already been held).
159. Salem, Oregon Protest (Ag. 611): Dr. Gordon Schumacher, chairman of St. John's Lutheran Church,
Salem, Oregon, had sent a letter to the Commission on Constitutional Matters calling for the placement of
Seminex graduates. The Secretary had replied that apparently the congregation had misunderstood the
resolution of the Council of Presidents and had also called attention to the Denver resolution adopting
Bylaw 4.01 as well as the several opinions and rulings of the CCM published recently in the Lutheran
Witness. The Commission ratified this answer.