# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_May 2 3 1980_S4
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

1. Can we listen to charges that are brought by a parishioner against his pastor and
congregation, but without the intent of seeking his/their expulsion from the Synod?
2. Can charges be brought that deal with "future acts" of the pastor and/or congregation?
3. Can expulsion be sought by a parishioner on the charge that an ecumenical wedding took
place in the congregation?
4. Can expulsion be sought because a baptism was performed in a formal worship service by a
Lutheran minister with whom the LCKS is not in fellowship?
5. If you rule that the Board [Commission] of Adjudication does not have jurisdiction in the
above examples, what recourse does the dissatisfied parishioner have, after he has received a
decision from his Counselor and District President? Does the matter end with that?
60. Correspondence with Chester Swanson (Ag. 1425): The Commission decided to take no action on the
correspondence which this individual had addressed to the Commission, suggesting revision of its
previous opinion regarding dissenting groups and activities.
61. Minnesota South Proposed Bylaw Revisions (Ag. 1427, A): At the conclusion of correspondence with
the Secretary, the information had been relayed that the District Board of Directors had decided to table
this matter until the work of Task Force II is completed. The Commission took note of this and decided to
retain the matter on its agenda.
62. Witness Notice Re Vacancy on District Commission of Adjudication (Ag. 1429) It was agreed that it
was not necessary to amplify the statement published recently in The Lutheran Witness on the assumption
that the announcement was clear enough. Reference in that announcement had been made to Bylaw 5.55,
last sentence, to fill the panel required for a Commission of Adjudication to hear a case.
63. Vera Matthews (Ag. 1430) : The Commission took note of correspondence which had been addressed
to the Secretary by Vera Matthews regarding the "legality" of the elections in Southern Illinois. It is
anticipated that the matter will be formally submitted to the Commission later.
64. Colorado Campuses (Ag. 1432): Rev. Harold Reiss of Boulder, Colorado had been complaining that
the campus work in Colorado still was not conforming to the decisions of the Synod and the rulings and
opinions of the CCM. The Secretary had written taking issue with some of the false statements in a
document being circulated to the effect that the CCM had taken no position in regard to the questionable
activities in the area of fellowship. He had called attention to several rulings which the Commission had
made and had also stated that the Commission was not charged with administering its opinions and
rulings, but that that responsibility belonged to others. The Commission ratified this reply.
65. Memphis Lutheran High School (Ag. 1434): on the day of the meeting Rev. Al Boysen relayed
concerns regarding the structure of the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Memphis. It was
decided to hold this item on the agenda to enable the members to study the extensive documentation. It
also authorized the Secretary to secure reactions from Al Senske and from any other persons who might
be helpful to the Commission.
66. Uitti (Ag. 1421): The Commission noted that no request had been received from Professor Uitti of
River Forest or anyone in his behalf so that the request of the Board of Control for equal opportunity did
not require action at this time.