# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_October 10 11 1974_S1
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

234. Membership of the Stickney, South Dakota Congregation (Ag 695): It would appear that there is no
record that this congregation is a member of the Synod. The Commission expressed the opinion that the
congregation must be accepted either by the Anaheim convention or by the next District convention
before exercising the rights of membership in the Synod. Until it is accepted as a member of Synod it
cannot vote for delegates to the synodical convention nor can any of its members serve as such delegates.
235. Eligibility of a CRM Teacher and a LLTI Graduate (A 696): The Commission ruled that a c.r.m.
teacher may not serve as a lay delegate to the Anaheim convention. The Commission further ruled that a
LLTI graduate is a layman and is eligible to serve as a lay delegate to the Anaheim convention.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:50.
John W. Klotz, Secretary pro tern
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
October 10-11, 1974 - St. Louis, Missouri
236. Mueller opened the meeting with prayer. All members were present except Luessenhop who
appeared shortly before noon. The minutes of the August 21-22 meeting stood approved as submitted. It
should be noted that Dr. John Klotz again carefully refrained from participating in decisions concerning
Seminex and related items.
237. District President in Tietjen Case (Ag. 732): The Commission was alerted to the fact that the
question might be raised as to which District President, Missouri District or English District, would be
involved if Dr. Tietjen should be found guilty of charges which could result in his expulsion from the
Synod. It was suggested that the Commission members begin to study this question in case a fact situation
should be presented to it.
238. Member of Mission as Delegate (Ag. 727): Secretary Theodore Eisold of the Florida-Georgia
District had asked whether a lay member of a mission not yet received into synodical membership could
serve as a lay delegate to the Anaheim convention. The Commission ruled to the contrary, defining a
circuit as one consisting of member congregations of the Synod. Even if the congregation were to join the
Synod at Anaheim his nomination was improper. Later in the meeting it was pointed out that if both the
delegate and the alternate would be unable to serve and the congregation were indeed received into
membership at the Anaheim convention, then conceivably the District President could appoint this
layman in consultation with the circuit counselor to fill the vacancy of lay delegate from that circuit.
239. Chairman as Circuit Representative (Ag. 718): President Niedner of the Nebraska District had asked
whether it was permissible for a congregational chairman to appoint himself as the congregation's lay
representative to the circuit meeting. The Commission ratified the reply of the Secretary to the effect that
if the congregation ratifies the action of its chairman the matter would be settled, since the bylaws do not
prescribe the manner in which congregations are to elect or select their representatives; however, if the
congregation refuses to ratify that action, then it may become a matter for the CCM to look at more
closely.
240. Method of Electing Alternate Delegate (Ag. 717): The Secretary had replied to Rev. Norman
Sincebaugh of Fargo, North Dakota that in the election of alternate delegates it was not necessary to begin
once again with a nominating ballot involving two write-in candidates but that the bylaws called for
balloting to continue on the names remaining from the initial election. The Commission ratified this reply.