# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_September 6 7 1979_S4
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Therefore some of the provisions of the new Constitution need to be revised, such as the preamble
and Article III.
232. Roster Status of Rockford High School Teachers (Ag. 1351 A,B,C): President Happel had inquired
about the roster status of teachers in that association. After much additional consideration the
Commission resolved to inform President Happel:
1.

If the Rockford Lutheran High School Association implements the ruling of the Commission on
Constitutional Matters, the problem regarding the roster status of teachers no longer exists.

2.

If the congregations comprising that association refuse to restructure that association as required
by the pertinent ruling, then the Commission holds:
a.

The calls to the teachers must be extended by the congregations and not by the
association (otherwise the teachers can only qualify for a c.r.m. status); and

b.

That definite parish responsibilities as part of his or her service load must be included
in the call in addition to the high school assignments.

The Commission admits that it is unhappy with the second alternative and plans to study that
particular question further.
It also wishes to state at this time that the guidelines issued by the Board of Parish Education under
date of June 22, 1978 were directed towards specific cases during a time of unusual pressure and
stress and dealt with existing situations rather than with planned future undertakings.
It was agreed that a carbon copy of this letter should be forwarded to Dr. Victor Constien and Dr. A1
Senske. It was also resolved to have the Secretary send a letter to Dr. Senske calling attention to the
increasing number of difficult problems that are beginning to surface with respect to pan-Lutheran
undertakings, that very complex arrangements seem to be developing, that the Commission wishes to alert
him to this fact and to indicate that it is not altogether comfortable with the guidelines previously
promulgated and suggests that they be used very judiciously, and that special attention be directed to this
particular subject.
233. Next Meeting Date, Et c.: It was decided to meet next in San Francisco December 7-10 with a
second choice, if absolutely necessary, of December 14-17. The Secretary will ascertain whether hotels
have special rates available and will ask Freise to supply a meeting room. Copies of the new expense
voucher were distributed and some discussion was held regarding replacements or reappointments to the
Commission.
234. Five Questions, Northwest District Constitution Committee (Ag. 1357): The Commission ratified
the replies which had been given by the Secretary to Rev. Louis F. Rush of that committee on four of the
questions. The fifth question had been referred by the Secretary to a meeting of the CCM and dealt with
whether a unanimous vote can be required for receiving individuals either into communicant membership
or into voting membership, whether that must be rejected, or whether that can be permitted if the
congregation so desires. The Commission decided to inform Pastor Rush that it was unable to find any
precedent, that the procedure outlined is indeed somewhat precarious, that there must certainly be a very
good reason for denying an application for membership, but that if he wished to pursue the matter
further, he should direct his inquiry to the CTCR since in the opinion of the CCM this is primarily a
theological question.