# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_October 10 11 1974_S3
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

was then decided to postpone final action on this motion until Freise has had an opportunity to check the
opinions of legal experts in academic circles.
247. District Election Procedures - Nebraska (Ag. 637): Rev. H. L. Harnapp had raised several questions
regarding election procedures at the 1974 Nebraska District convention. Specifically he had asked
whether elections could be held on a Sunday morning during a Bible class hour when some of the
delegates had returned to their home congregations and whether it was necessary for prior announcement
to be made of elections. The Commission decided to reply:
1. The answer depends in part on whether or not the Sunday morning so-called "Bible hour" was
listed as an official session of the convention. If so, delegates were expected to be present.
2.

The District bylaws would also need to be consulted to determine whether they require prior
announcement for the holding of any election.

248. Reception Into Membership - Nebraska (Ag. 638): The same pastor had raised several questions
regarding reception into membership at his District convention. The Commission had difficulty
understanding the questions that he raised but they did seem to revolve around prior application for
membership and the method of receiving lady teachers into membership. It was decided to inform him
that application forms for lady teachers had been provided by the Department of Statistics, that the
Commission is confident that lady teachers have not been added to the clergy roster of the Synod, that
applications for membership are usually submitted in writing but sometimes proposed from the floor
when an oversight is detected, and that he might consider the possibility of encouraging his congregation
to submit an overture for a more detailed bylaw if he sees the need for such.
249. Brueckner Letters (Ag. 654 A & B): The Commission took note of these communications.
250. Hoyer Communication (Ag. 655): The Commission took note of a carbon copy of this pastor's letter
to Dr. Preus.
251. Northwest District Resolutions (Ag. 659 A & B): The Commission decided to ratify the answer sent
by the Secretary with respect to resolutions adopted by the Northwest District convention concerning
hierarchism and the Commission's ruling re the placement of Seminex graduates.
252. Reinhardt (Ag. 674): It also ratified the Secretary's reply to Pastor Reinhardt who had raised
questions re the Commission's rulings on New Orleans resolutions.
253. Florida-Georgia Appeal From Recent Opinion (Ag. 644, 644 A to G): As prearranged, President
Lloyd Behnken and Secretary Theodore Eisold of the Florida-Georgia District appeared before the
Commission from 1:40 to 3:00 on Thursday afternoon reviewing the brief that they had submitted taking
exception to the ruling of the Commission which had declared that District's convention resolution
regarding the ordination of Seminex graduates unconstitutional. There was a frank and open exchange of
thinking in a friendly atmosphere. After the representatives had left the Commission resolved to abide by
its previous rulings on this subject (see Minutes 169, 173 etc.).
254. Seminex Vicar Supervision (Ag. 631): It was agreed to hold this item on the agenda to see if there
would be any further development.
255. Financial Support of Seminex (Ag. 540, 624, 645): It was decided to postpone action on this until
Freise has a chance to present a draft opinion.