# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_July 23 1997_S7
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

4. In past action, the Commission on Constitutional Matters declared that Dean Bell, who was elected to
the Board of Directors of the Synod in 1995 as a lay member, could no longer serve on the Board
after the constitutional provision classifying certified lay ministers as Commissioned Ministers of
Religion was adopted. In its decision the Commission stated the following:
In reviewing the matter which had been called to its attention and for which an opinion had been
requested, the Commission first noted that there is no "grand-fathering" provision contained in the
Bylaws. It further noted that when on a previous occasion a man had moved from the status of
commissioned minister to that of ordained minister, he had been declared ineligible for continued
service on the board to which he had been elected. As we noted in the questions addressed to the
Commission, the change in status on this occasion was initiated by the member.
In reviewing the bylaws relating to membership on the Board of Directors, it was noted that the
bylaw states that the board "shall" consist of 13 voting members and clearly identifies the ratio of
those members. In view of this, the Commission concluded that the ratio of ordained ministers,
commissioned ministers, and lay members is an important factor and that in order for that ratio to
be maintained, the status of those elected to membership must remain what it was when elected. If
the status changes, then one whose status has changed becomes ineligible. The manner in which the
status change is brought about is immaterial.
The Commission therefore concluded that if the status change approved by the convention
delegates is also approved by the congregations of the Synod, a member whose status changed as a
result of this action from lay member to that of commissioned minister would be ineligible to
continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors after the date established for a vote by the
congregations, in this case, March 15, 1996.
The Commission believes that, although it is sympathetic to the situation you have described, it must be
consistent. It is therefore of the opinion that if you are included on the roster of certified lay ministers
who are Commissioned Ministers of Religion, you are ineligible to serve as a lay member of the Board
for Mission Services. The Commission regrets that it has no other choice but to reach the conclusion
stated.
Walter L. Rosin, Secretary

Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - December 8, 1997 - Telephone Conference
131. Opening: The telephone conference was called to order by Chairman Tesch, who requested Dr.
Richard Schlecht to lead the members of the Commission in an opening prayer. In the prayer, the request
was made for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to deal with the issues which were before the Commission so
that decisions made would be for the welfare of the church.
132. Procedure of Praesidium Under Bylaw 2.27 (Ag. 2090): A pastor had written to the Commission on
Constitutional Matters, stating that the President of the district had issued a ruling concerning charges of
false doctrine which were filed against him, stating that the allegations made were not substantiated and did
not for m a basis for expelling the pastor from the membership of the Synod. The complainants had
appealed the decision to the Praesidium of the Synod, who carried out an investigation in connection with
the appeal of the charges. The questions on which the pastor sought a CCM ruling were the following: