# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_February 8 9 1980_S5
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

the letter should go both to Teacher Bultemeyer and to the chairman of the Board of Control with the
original addressed to the Executive Officer of the Board, President Robert Preus.
22. Charleston, Illinois, Town-Gown Congregation (Ag. 1389): The Commission took note of the letter
from President George Bornemann of the English District, acknowledging receipt of the Commission's
recent ruling regarding the status of the Charleston, Illinois congregation. By common consent this item
was then removed from the docket.
23. Right of Appeal (Ag. 1397): Pastor G. Reule of Hillsboro, Oregon, had asked who has the right of
appeal in the Synod. The Secretary had answered that for general purposes the right of appeal is open to
all members of the Synod: congregations, pastors, and teachers. He had added however that if a
congregation has been expelled, then it would be assumed that it is the congregation that must make the
appeal rather than an individual pastor or teacher who is not involved in that particular congregation. The
Commission ratified this reply.
24. LCMS Pastor Ordaining an Individual Into Another Lutheran Church Body (Ag. 1399): Pastor
Clifford W. Gade of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, had asked whether such action was permissible since
Missouri Synod pastor Rev. Gene Merrell had ordained a son of the congregation, Robert J. Giese, a
graduate of Seminex, into the ministry of the AELC. The Commission resolved to reply along the
following lines:
Since the individual was not being ordained into The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod ministry,
Bylaw 4.15 does not apply. However, the Commission holds that the action taken is in violation
of Article VI and Article 111, 1 of the Synod's Constitution.
This reply is to be addressed to Pastor Gade with carbon copies to President Henry Simon of the North
Wisconsin District and to Pastor Gene Merrell.
25. Teachers who are Colloquy Students Serving on District Board of Directors as Teachers (Ag. 1409):
President George Bruening of the Kansas District had raised the question whether this could be done.
Since both teachers are no longer in Kansas but in St. Louis preparing themselves for the pastoral ministry
via the colloquy route, the Commission resolved upon the following reply:
The clear intent of the provision of the Kansas District Bylaws is to involve the input and the
interests of the teachers of the Kansas District. If individuals are no longer teachers and are no
longer residing and working in Kansas, the purpose seems to be negated. Therefore it would seem
that the individuals involved should be replaced by teachers active in the Kansas District.
The Commission points out however that its information is limited and that this is to be regarded
as a tentative ruling. If when this tentative ruling is shared with the individuals involved and they
are not satisfied with the tentative opinion, the Commission on Constitutional Matters would be
willing to receive further information and reasoning from all concerned. The Commission
assumes that the President of the Kansas District will share this tentative ruling with both
individuals so that they can determine what course of action to pursue (resignation from the
Board, an appeal to the CCM for further consideration, etc.).
26. Southern District Bylaws (Ag. 938, A,B,C,D); Colorado District Bylaws (Ag. 1185, B,C,D); North
Dakota District Bylaws (Ag. 1262A): Although no further information had been received, it was decided
to hold these items on the agenda.
27. Task Force (Ag. 1266A) : The Secretary of the Commission, who serves as chairman of the Task
Force, gave an update report. The Task Force at the present seems to lean toward a three-year cycle of