# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_January 30 31 1981_S5
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

167. Thanks (Ag. 1460B): The Commission took note of a letter of thanks addressed by Pastor Benken of
Connecticut regarding the necessity of holding delegate elections in his Circuit a second time.
168. Preus-Maier (Ag. 1473): The Commission took note of this matter.
169. Task Force II (Ag. 1266A,B): At various times during the two days the Secretary reported on the
more recent developments within the Task Force.
170. Abdon Proposals (Ag. 1490): The Secretary had answered President Harold Huber of the Montana
District as to the reservations and objections which the Commission had had over certain proposals of the
Abdon group. The Commission ratified the reply.
171. Southern Illinois District Bylaws (Ag. 625): It was agreed that this should be a priority item for the
April meeting.
172. Colorado District Nominating Process (Ag. 1480): It was resolved to write to President Phipps of the
Colorado District stating that our attention had been called to the fact that his recent convention had
resolved that the nominations committee should be appointed by the Board of Directors. The Commission
has repeatedly ruled that a nominating committee should be elected by the convention
Herbert Mueller, Secretary
Supplemental Opinion re Separate Incorporation
of District Church Extension Funds
(As Applied to the Ohio District)
A.
Subsequent to the issuance of its "Opinion re Separate Incorporation of District Church Extension Funds,"
dated July 26, 1980, the Commission on Constitutional Matters, following receipt of additional inquiries
and a request from the Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri Synod agreed at its meeting October
23-24, 1980 to give consideration to additional issues which had been raised.
The Commission then requested briefs or other material from President J.A.0. Preus or synodical counsel,
if the President deemed it appropriate, setting forth the synodical position and also from the Lutheran
Church Extension Fund-Missouri Synod, requesting that that body have its own counsel review the matter
and present briefing on its behalf. The Ohio District, which had raised the question originally, was given a
similar request. Additionally, the involved parties were again invited to make personal presentations
before the Commission.
Various position papers, letters, resolutions, and statements were subsequently received. Oral arguments
and presentations were made on January 30, 1981 in a meeting of the Commission on Constitutional
Matters.
B.
The following is a review of some of the contentions, arguments, questions, and documentation received
and reviewed.
As an attachment to a letter of January 14, 1981, the Commission has now received for consideration a
resolution adopted by the synodical Board for Church Extension in June of 1978 concluding with a single
resolve: