# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_May 2 3 1980_S5
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

67. The meeting adjourned with the Apostolic blessing.
Herbert Mueller, Secretary

68. Funding of Work Among American Indians (Ag. 1417): Dr. Herbert Mueller left the meeting at 1:40
p.m. on May 2 and Dr. John W. Klotz was asked to serve as secretary pro-tem. Discussion was begun on
Agenda Item 1417, the question of the continuing funding of the Indian Desk of LCUSA and the National
Indian Lutheran Board which was raised by the Board of Directors. Note was taken of a letter from Dr.
E.H Happel of the Northern Illinois District and chairman of the 1979 Floor Committee on Missions.
Information was also received on the recommendation of the Board for Missions regarding withdrawal
from the National Indian Lutheran Board and of the Board for Missions' action regarding the American
Indian Advisory Council. The 14 point proposal of the American Indian Advisory Council was also
studied carefully as well as the relationship statement of the National Indian Lutheran Board. A series of
questions for Mr. Eugene Crawford and Mr. Paul Schultz of the National Indian Lutheran Board and their
answers was also noted. The Commission also had before it a letter addressed to President J.A.0. Preus
from the American Indian Advisory Council regarding the recent action of the Board of Directors. A
letter from the Rev. Walter Snyder, a member of the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief and also
a member of Floor Committee #1 at the 1979 convention was studied. The Commission also had before it
a letter from the Rev. Don Johnson of the American Indian Advisory Council regarding his understanding
of Resolution 1-14A of the 1979 convention. The Commission also studied a consensus statement of the
staff of the Board for Missions together with a statement of progress relating to the implementation of the
1979 Resolution 1-14A by the American Indian Advisory Council.
The Commission carefully reviewed Resolution 1-14A of the St. Louis convention. Particular attention
was paid to the amendment which was declined and to the various interpretations which have been placed
on this action of the convention.
The Commission recessed at 5:45 p.m. without having completed the formulation of its opinion.
The Commission opened its meeting on Saturday, May 3, at 8:30 a.m. with an opening prayer by Dr. John
W. Klotz. The secretary pro-tem presented a proposed opinion on the basis of the discussion of the
previous day. Several modifications were made in the wording and the following opinion was adopted by
the Commission:
The Commission on Constitutional Matters has been asked to determine whether the action of the
Board of Directors in adopting Item F-11 in regard to work among American Indians in its
meeting of February 28-29, 1980 is in accord with the action of the 1979 St. Louis convention on
Resolution 1-14A.
All members of the Commission participated in the discussion and decision except Dr. Herbert
Mueller, who voluntarily absented himself.
The Commission holds that on the basis of the last two "Resolveds" of Resolution 1-14A the
Board of Directors has the right to continue the funding of the Indian Desk of LCUSA and the
National Indian Lutheran Board.
The Commission holds that the Board of Directors may not set a terminal date for the completion
of the report of the American Indian Advisory Council since Resolution 1-14A places no terminal
date on the completion of the study.