# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_September 30 1977_S11
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

self-government for our South American colleges. The Commission resolved to alert the BHE that we do
indeed believe that constitutional considerations are involved.
352. Missionary Representation (Ag. 1213): The Commission took note of a carbon copy of a letter from
E. A. Weise, secretary of Floor Committee #2, to the Board for Missions, calling attention to some of the
complaints of foreign missionaries regarding their status and the procedure for their selection as
convention delegates.
353. Black Youth on Board of Youth Ministry (Ag. 1227): The Commission took note of Dallas Res.
10-21 which calls for Black youth to be represented on the synodical Board of Youth Ministry.
354. Colorado District Bylaw Amendments (Ag. 1185, A,B): Amendments had been submitted to the
CCM for review. The Commission resolved to approve the suggested amendments with the following two
exceptions noted:
1.

In Bylaw 1.11, D, the Commission holds that it is perhaps too restrictive to define "layperson"
as one who is a votin member in a member congregation. This would exclude women whose
congregations do not have woman suffrage. It would also exclude young people from serving
on a youth commission. Perhaps it would be better to define layperson as one who is a
communicant member and permit the nominating or appointing authorities to make judgments
regarding age, sex, experience, etc.

2.

C, 5 & 6, "Powers and responsibility" of the Board of Directors. The Commission understands
that both the legal counsel of the Synod and the synodical Church Extension Fund take
exception to these provisions which need to be modified. It is assumed that such approaches for
modification have already been made to the Colorado District by those mentioned.

355. Mrs. Eberhard (Ag. 1203, A): The members once again took note of the death of Mrs. Carl Eberhard,
expressing our continuing concern and love to brother Carl in his bereavement.
356. Lloyd Behnken Letter to Herbert Freise (Ag 1214): The Commission noted this letter of
commendation.
357. Bylaw Addition, Placement Procedure (AA. 1211): This item was taken care of in connection with
the Handbook review.
358.
St. Louis Conventions, Dallas Res. 4-10-1 (A g. 1226): Likewise, this item also was taken care of
in connection with the Handbook review.
359. Women as Chairmen and Elders (Ag. 1209): The Commission ratified the Secretary's customary
letter of information to Trinity Lutheran Church, Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada, in response to that
parish's questions.
360. South Dakota Vacancies (Ag. 1230): Treasurer Paul J. Mueller of the South Dakota District had
raised questions about filling the vacancies of second vice-president and secretary in the District. These
questions had been addressed to the Secretary who had replied to the best of his ability and had suggested
that perhaps the District might want to address the Commission on Constitutional Matters. The
Commission ratified the judgments which the Secretary had expressed in this letter.
361. Heckmann Questions (Ag. 1231): President Heckmann of the Texas District had asked the Secretary
various questions on Resolutions 3-07 and 5-12 of the Dallas convention concerning the necessity for a