# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_October 1 1982_S9
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

When the Commission on Constitutional Matters was asked to deal with this problem, it concluded that it
had only two alternatives: either to rule that these three members would not be eligible for nomination at
the 1983 convention or to rule that they could indeed be nominated and elected but would be able to serve
only part of the six-year term with the resulting vacancy to be filled by election at the 1986 convention for
the remainder of the term.
The Commission chose the second alternative in order to be as fair as possible to incumbents.
The Commission recognizes that in 1986 a similar situation may confront four additional members of the
Board of Directors whose terms will expire at that time. Once again this may mean that they would either
be ineligible for renomination or could be eligible only for a partial term. The 1983 convention may want
to address itself to this question.
The Commission is well aware of the problem. However, it cannot set aside Resolution 2-03A of the 1981
convention which placed a limitation of 12 consecutive years on each member of the Board of Directors
(except officers).
The Commission, having reviewed its initial decision, has concluded that it is in no position to alter it,
that it still prefers the second alternative to the first listed above, and that it does not have the authority to
nullify the specific directive of Resolution 2-03A limiting service to twelve consecutive years.
The Board of Directors may wish to submit an overture asking the 1983 convention to address itself to
this question.
The Commission takes no position with respect to the issue itself, since the issue involves the debatable
subject of the merits or demerits of the principle of the limitation of tenure. That is an issue which the
convention itself must decide either on the basis of a general provision or on the basis of a board by board
evaluation.
THE COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Herbert Mueller, Secretary
October 1, 1982

Minutes of the Meeting of the Commission on Constitutional Matters- January 7-8, 1983
123. The opening prayer was given by Chairman Carl Eberhard. All other members were also present:
Gene Schnelz, Herbert Mueller, John Klotz, and Kermit Brashear II. The minutes of October 1, 1982
were approved as submitted.
124. Role and Function of CTCR (Ag. 1606, A,B,C,D) : Several months previously Pastor Louis
Launhardt of Cape Girardeau had requested the Commission to rule on the role and function of the
CTCR and had supplied much documentation and argumentation. The Commission discussed these
documents for some time in the morning. In the afternoon Pastor Louis Launhardt and Pastor Jerald
Joersz of the CTCR met with the Commission which heard further comments and also had an opportunity
to ask questions. In executive session the Commission then decided to postpone action in order to give
further consideration to the matter.