# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_January 29 1994_S1
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

The Dispute Resolution Panel to which the request had been originally forwarded asked that the
Commission on Constitutional Matters respond to the following questions:
1.

If a district president suspends a commissioned minister of religion as the result of an investigation
based on Complaints received, is the "accuser" now the district president or the person or persons
who brought the complaint to the district president?

1.

Is the personal meeting or meetings between the district president and the suspended member and a
statement regarding these meetings to be considered a fulfillment of the requirements of Bylaw 2.27 a
2 and 2.27 c 2 d, including a subsequent meeting with two or three witnesses?

After some discussion, responding to the request from the Dispute Resolution Panel, the Commission
responded as follows:
The Commission on Constitutional Matters concludes that the accuser is the district president who has
made his judgment after investigation of a complaint brought to him by one or more persons. In view of
this, a personal meeting or meetings between the district president and the accused, as well as a
subsequent meeting or meetings between the district president together with one or two witnesses and the
accused, would meet the requirements of Bylaw 2.27 a 2 and 2.27 c 2 d.
Whether these conditions have been met is a matter for determination by the Dispute Resolution Panel.
Walter L. Rosin, Secretary

Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters
January 29, 1994 Telephone Conference
66. Opening: : After Chairman Groh had called the conference to order, he called upon Roland Hopmann
to lead the members in a prayer for God's guidance. Present for the telephone conference were Chairman
Groh, Roland Hopmann, Walter Tesch, and Secretary Walter Rosin. Member, Dr. Richard Schlecht, was
unable to be present.
67. Participation at Ordination, Installation Services (Ag. 1974) : A pastor had asked the Commission
on Constitutional Matters to provide an official opinion on the following three questions:
1.

Is it contrary to the Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, the Constitution and Bylaws of the LCMS,
and the LCMS convention resolutions for LCMS pastors to participate in ELCA ordination worship
services as participating clergy and participating in the laying on of hands?

1.

Is it contrary to the Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, the Constitution and Bylaws of LCMS,
and the LCMS convention resolutions for ELCA pastors to participate in LCMS ordination worship
services as participating clergy and to participate in the laying on of hands?

1.

Is it contrary to the Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, the Constitution and Bylaws of LCMS,
and LCMS convention resolutions for laymen or women to participate in LCMS ordinations by
participating in the laying on of hand or is the laying on of hands to be reserved for members of the
ordained clergy.?