# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_January 7 8 1983_S3
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

134. Terms of members of the Board of Directors (Ag. 1633, A): The information was shared with the
Commission that the Board of Directors is submitting an overture to permit its members who under the
previous convention resolution are not eligible for another term to be considered eligible after all.
135. Associate Members and Status of Women (Ag. 1635) : The Secretary reported that additional
information had been transmitted to this Madison, Wisconsin campus congregation upon telephone
request. No further word has been received.
136. Staff Sabbaticals (Ag. 1636) : The advisory council of the Board for Professional Education
Services had asked the Commission to rule whether non-teaching executive staff members of a college
and seminary are covered by the sabbatical bylaws governing faculties. The Commission reviewed and
then ratified its earlier decision that such non-faculty executive staff persons come under the sabbatical
provisions of Bylaw 2.67,k governing synodical boards.
137. Opinion re Procedure for Appointment to Faculties (Ag. 1637) : The Board for Professional
Education Services had asked for an interpretation of the requirement of "prior approval" on the part of
that board for those being considered for appointment to a seminary faculty and also related questions.
(Bylaw 6.23b). After spending considerable time on this rather difficult question Klotz and Mueller were
asked to draft a statement (attached to the Minutes) reflecting the consensus of the Commission.
138. Proposed Structure and Functions of the Department of Stewardship and Financial Support (Ag.
1583): The convention resolution had given the CCM the responsibility to review the proposal, when
developed. Some initial review had already been given previously. The Commission at this time decided
to keep the matter under further advisement.
139. Eligibility for a Transfer (Ag. 1642, A, B): Pastor Donald G. Meyer of Cabot, Pa., who had been
removed from office by his congregation but had now been called to serve as the pastor of a group
breaking away from that congregation, had appealed his removal to the Eastern District Commission on
Adjudication. However, the congregation asked whether, pending the outcome of the appeal, he could be
denied a transfer from the Eastern to the English District, which the congregation has joined. After
considerable discussion of this involved situation the Commission came to the following conclusion:
On the basis of the information furnished, the Commission on Constitutional Matters concludes
that there is no constitutional reason for denying a transfer to Pastor Donald G. Meyer to the
English District, as the Commission had indicated in its letter of March 9, 1982 transmitting an
opinion dated March 5, 1982 and in another letter of June 10, 1982 which was subsequently
ratified by the Commission.
The Commission, at this time further reiterates its position expressed in the letter of March 9,
1982: "2. The Commission does not have sufficient information to make a judgment as to
whether it is. proper for a deposed pastor to serve a splinter group in the same locality. This
action on the part of the pastor could very well be construed as. divisive action contrary to Article
III of the Synod's constitution."
140. Convention Notices (Ag. 1634) : The Commission took note of the notices regarding registrations
for the convention and the submission of a report by February 18.
141. Model Constitution (Ag. 1446, A, B, 1638): Schnelz distributed several model constitutions and led
a discussion as to how best to proceed in this matter. The Commission members were finally encouraged
to read the materials distributed and to come to the next meeting with suggestions. One question to be