# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_May 15 1998_S4
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

joint service. He noted that an LCMS pastor and non LCMS pastors participated in it though there was no
joint participation at the same time, each conducting a separate portion. The Good Friday service was held
in a non-LCMS church. It was advertised in the local paper, with the identification that there would be a
variety of non-denominational clergy leading various parts of the service during the day. The pastor's
question was, "Is this situation of the LCMS pastor's participation contrary or not to the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Synod?" Once more, the Commission considered all of the issues involved in this matter and
the possible draft of a response to be ratified later.
162. Floor Committee Assignments: It is the responsibility of the Commission on Constitutional Matters
to be present at meetings of the floor committees in preparation of resolutions to be presented to the
synodical convention. Members of the Commission are to ascertain whether any proposed bylaw changes or
resolutions involving constitutional or bylaw issues were not in conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of
the Synod. The following floor committee assignments were made:
1 - Missions - Tesch
2 - Congregational Services - Bode
3 - Theology and Church Relations - Barber
4 - Finance - Tesch
5 - Higher Education - Schlecht
6 - Human Care - Tesch
7 - Planning and Administration - Piehler and Rosin
8 - Blue Ribbon Committee - Piehler
163. Having completed its business, the meeting was declared adjourned following prayer led by Dr.
Schlecht.
Walter L. Rosin, Secretary

Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - May 22, 1998
164. Opening: The meeting was opened with prayer led by Dr. Schlecht at the request of Chairman Tesch.
165 Authority of Board of Directors and Related Matters (Ag. 2094): In previous meetings the
Commission had considered questions which had been posed to it regarding the authority of the Board of
Directors with respect to actions which had been taken pertaining to the Board for Communication
Services, its Executive Director, and other issues. Chairman Tesch had prepared a proposed response to
these questions. This proposed response was now reviewed and approved. The response which was
provided is as follows:
2.

Question: Inasmuch as the responsibility for the operations of the video studio resides with the
Board for Communication Services, is it not in fact beyond the authority of the Board of Directors to
place the operations of the video studio into General Services, or any other department, without the
request and consent of the Board for Communication Services? If so, must not the reported action be
rescinded or declared null and void?
Response Bylaw 3.817 sets forth the functions of the Board for Communication Services (BCS).
Subsection "g" thereof states that the BCS shall "serve as a resource ... by providing ... production
facilities, and other assistance for ... electronic media." Therefore, if operation of the video studio is