# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_October 26 1981_S1
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

260. Draheim Suggestions Re LCEF (Ag. 1542): Draheim had given a memo to Prevallet indicating
several suggestions that he was prepared to make to the Board of Directors of LCEF in order to make
more clear the relationship between the Church Extension Fund and the Synod. The proposal seemed to
be excellent and the Secretary was asked to communicate this reaction to Phil Draheim and to inquire
whether any action had been taken by the LCEF on these proposals. This should now become an agenda
item of the CCM.
261. Meeting Place: Some discussion was held as to where the Commission would hold its final meeting
before the term of Prevallet expires. He indicated that some decision would be made well before
September 30.
262. The meeting adjourned with a prayer by Klotz
Herbert Mueller, Secretary

Meeting of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - October 26, 1981
263. This meeting had been called in advance especially to take care of some last minute decisions
regarding the Handbook manuscript. The only member not on the line at the beginning of the meeting for
a few minutes was Don Prevallet, whose lines were both busy at the time.
264. Bylaw Re Transfer of Records to Concordia Historical Institute (Ag. 1547,AB) : The Commission
had received a letter from Mr. Rex Becker, a voting delegate to the 1981 convention of the Synod. He
stated that he had offered a motion to substitute present Bylaw 15.51 for proposed Bylaw 2.607 on the
transfer of records to Concordia Historical Institute and that the minutes are in error in stating that only
Bylaw 15.51, b was adopted as a substitute for proposed Bylaw 2.607. The CCM, after reviewing a
transcript of the convention tape, came to the following conclusions:
The discussion immediately preceding the vote seems to indicate that only paragraph b was
adopted by the convention as a substitute for proposed Bylaw 2.607. However, that action would
require either that paragraph a of Bylaw 15.51 be retained or that proposed Bylaw 2.607 be
retained as paragraph a in the new Handbook since 15.51 b standing alone would not be coherent.
Furthermore, the transcript clearly indicates that the motion, when offered by Mr. Becker, called
for the substitution of entire Bylaw 15.51 for proposed Bylaw 2.607.
Therefore, the Commission on Constitutional Matters concludes that this was the clear intent of
the mover and rules that whatever confusion may have prevailed at the time the vote was taken,
Bylaw 15.51 in its entirety be substituted for proposed Bylaw 2.607 in the 1981 Handbook;
Even though the minutes need not be corrected, since they record a confusing action on which
conflicting opinions may be held, the Commission on Constitutional Matters recommends that a
copy of this ruling be filed with the official minutes of the convention for any clarification which
may be needed in the future.
265. Foreword Addition (Ag. 1532 C) : The Commission approved the addition of a paragraph calling
attention to the fact that contrary to usual procedure, the large number of bylaw changes had not been
reprinted in the Proceedings but that the convention resolution had simply referred back to the many
pages in the Convention Workbook. This will enable future historians to trace the history of certain
provisions