# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_August 21 22 1974_S4
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

220. Pres. Riedel on Seminex Ordinations, etc. (Ag. 652): This letter was duly noted; no action was
deemed necessary.
Donald E. Prevallet, Secretary pro tem

221. It was necessary for Prevallet to absent himself on the second day. Secretary Mueller joined the
group at 11:00 a.m.
222. Appeal of Dr. Jacobs re Sari Francisco Night Ministry (Ag: 671): In taking up Pres. Jacobs' request
that the CCM reconsider its recent ruling the CCM went thru its files quite thoroughly. This search
yielded the following results:
When the Commission reached its original decision in 1968 not all of the relevant facts were
available to it. The original decision was based on the understanding that the "Night Ministry" was
primarily an emergency ministry to those contemplating suicide. There was no reference in Pres.
Jacobs' letter of May 27, 1968 to the preaching of the Gospel.
On July 26, 1972 Dr. Mueller wrote Pastor Grunow,"The Commission resolved to inform you that
its ruling had been made several years ago on the basis of the information that this ministry would
be strictly a social ministry project and would not be a preaching or teaching ministry involving
the. proclamation of the Word of God."
In a letter dated November 30, 1972 Dr. Jacobs stated "The Committee on Mission and Ministry
met with the Rev. William Grunow on October 31, 1972. We agreed that the Night Ministry is the
endeavor on the part of several Christian church bodies to bring help and hope including the
message of the Gospel (underlining ours) to a people who otherwise might never come in contact
with the church." On the basis of this and similar information the Commission reached its decision
of June 28 and 29, 1974.
After reviewing the case, the Commission resolved.to ask Pastor Luessenhop to go to San Francisco to
meet with President Jacobs, Pastor Grunow, Dr. Arthur Nitz, and the Rev. Donald Stuart. He is to attempt
to meet with President Jacobs, Pastor Grunow, and Dr. Nitz in a joint meeting of the three. One topic to
be discussed is, what is a Gospel ministry? What is meant by the Gospel ministry being conducted by the
San Francisco Night Ministry? He is to ask President Jacobs to give a concrete example of what he
regards as a procedure contrary to Article VI, 2 of the synodical Constitution. Pastor Luessenhop is also
to discuss in a fraternal way with President Jacobs the news releases and the implied charges he has made
against the CCM. Mr. Freise is to participate in the meetings if he can attend them.
223. Request of Dr. Paul A. Zimmerman (Ag. 681): It was resolved to ratify the letter which Secretary
Mueller sent on August 8, 1974 to Dr. Paul A. Zimmerman.
224. Seminex Faculty Members as Advisory Members (AR. 657 & 687): It was resolved to point out that
members of the faculty of Seminex are advisory members of the Synod since they will qualify either
under point 3 or point 6 of Article V, b. They may therefore be elected as advisory delegates to the
Anaheim convention under section 1.57 of the bylaws. However, the Commission pointed out that they
are not eligible to attend the Anaheim convention as advisory representatives under Handbook section
1.61, b.
225. English District Resolutions (Ag. 677): Secretary Mueller called attention to the resolution of the
1974 English District convention, declaring a number of synodical resolutions "null and void." He pointed