# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_March 5 6 1976_S4
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

22. Limited Tenure for District Officers (Ag. 925 & 941): Secretary Bauerkemper of the Texas District
and Constitution Committee Chairman H. G. Allwardt of the Michigan District had inquired about limited
tenure. The Secretary had replied, quoting two earlier opinions, that Districts were not obligated to
impose limited tenure rules but were free to do so. The Commission ratified both replies.
23. Vacancy Pastor as Voting Pastor (Ag. 931; 932): The Secretary had informed both President
Ellermann of the Southern District and Pastor A. C. Stahnke of Willits, California that on the basis of
many previous rulings vacancy pastors were not permitted to serve as voting delegates to a convention.
The Commission endorsed both letters.
24. Bruns Questions (Ag. 942): President Bruns of the Kansas District had raised some questions with the
Secretary of the Synod regarding eligibility for re-election, status of someone filling an unexpired term,
and long-term vacancies. The Secretary had stated that the first two questions needed to be answered by
the District itself and that Rev. Bruns might want to consult with the other District presidents regarding
the third question. The Commission ratified this reply.
25. Ohio District Resolution 136 (Ag. 944): In answer to a request from Rev. Howard Davis of Mentor,
Ohio the Secretary had forwarded to him the previous opinion of the Commission on the District
resolution in question concerning financing of deposed District officers. The Commission ratified this
answer.
26. Woman Suffrage (Ag. 945; 949): It also endorsed a letter in which the Secretary had answered many
questions regarding woman suffrage raised by St. John's Lutheran Church of Milwaukee. The same is true
also of a letter to Rev. Carl A. Krueger of Fulton, New York on the same general subject.
27. Change Constitution (Ag. 948): The Commission endorsed the letter which the Secretary had sent to
Mr. Carl A. Simon who suggested that the CCM ought to change the Synod's Constitution by pointing out
that the Commission had no authority to do this.
28. Election of Delegates (Ag. 950): It also ratified the letter which the Secretary had sent to Counselor E.
L. Bauer of Yakima, Washington stating that a circuit could not introduce new methods for electing the
circuit delegates.
29. Congregation in Two Church Bodies (Ag. 952): In answer to a request from Rev. S. H. Redenbach of
New Westminster, B.C., the Secretary had stated that the CCM had ruled on several occasions that it is
improper for a Lutheran congregation to hold membership in two church bodies and to be under the
ecclesiastical supervision of two. He had referred the inquirer also to a ruling on campus congregations.
The Commission ratified this reply.
30. Casperson Request (Ag. 879-A); Communication to Board of Directors and Council for Christian
Medical Work re Executive Secretary (Ag 895-B and 920); Article on "Whose Bylaws?" (Ag. 922); A
Compliment From Vice-President Merkens (AR. 928); Pastor Iverson's Reaction to the CCM's Latest
Communication Regarding the San Francisco_ Night Ministry (Ag. 935); Information Regarding District
Presidents and District Boards of Directors (Ag. 936): The Commission took note of all of these items as
called to its attention.
31. Grace, Oklahoma City, Minority (Ag. 937, 937-A, 937-B): The minority in Grace Lutheran
Congregation which insists that it is the continuing congregation asked the Commission on Constitutional
Matters (as well as the CTCR) for a ruling regarding its status since it has a court appearance on the issue
on March 29. After considerable discussion the Commission, with Don Prevallet abstaining, adopted a
letter (attached to the Minutes) to be forwarded to the congregation.