# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_November 6 7 1987_S1 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 6) The Commission has had difficulty reconciling the statements contained in these documents with those received from the campus ministry itself. This is particularly true of #7 which states what the ministry at Sacramento essentially is. 7) The problem is compounded by the lack of utilization of the LCMS clergy in view of documents of the Synod which require this. 8) The Commission on Constitutional Matters does not have the facilities to ascertain what the ministry really is in view of the apparently contradictory statements. 9) The District Board of Directors is asked to please review and reconcile the statements and to contact the Commission on Constitutional Matters once again. After thorough investigation on the part of the District Board of Directors, the Commission requests that it be supplied with facts sufficient for the making of a determination. Prior to sending the letter, the Secretary is to consult with Dr. Hopmann and possibly other members of the Commission. 66. Adjournment : Having completed its business, the meeting of the Commission on Constitutional Matters was adjourned. Walter L. Rosin, Secretary Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - November 6-7, 1987 67. Opening Devotion : The opening prayer was offered by Dr. Schlecht, expressing gratitude for God's protection in travel and asking for guidance and blessing on decisions which would be made during the meeting. 68. Minutes : The minutes of the meeting of July 17-18, 1987 were approved as distributed. 69. Appeal of Dr. Alvin Schmidt (Ag. 1778,D) : Dr. Alvin Schmidt had been notified by the President of Concordia Theological Seminary that his tenure on the faculty was being terminated and that his remuneration would cease as of a certain date. Dr. Schmidt had appealed the matter of his termination to the Commission on Appeals. Following receipt of the notification of cessation of remuneration, Dr. Schmidt had requested an opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters regarding the interpretation of Bylaw 6.47 m which states, "During the period allowed for appeal and during the appeals procedure if an appeal is made, the Board of Regents shall suspend from teaching activity but shall continue to meet its contractual obligations." The chairman of the Commission on Constitutional Matters had been informed by the chairman of the Commission on Appeals that the matter of the appeal of Dr. Schmidt was under consideration and that the Board of Regents of the seminary had been reminded of its responsibilities under the bylaw cited. The salary of Dr. Schmidt is continuing during the appeal process. The chairman of the Commission on Appeals had expressed a concern that the opinion of the CCM had been requested without channeling that opinion through the Commission on Appeals. In the discussion which occurred, it was pointed out that it is the view of the Commission on Constitutional Matters that the Commission on Appeals cannot refuse a