LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 16–18, 2005, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Orlando, Florida
October 16–18, 2005
70. Call to Order
Chairman Albert Marcis called the meeting to order with all members of the Commission present and
opened with an invocation and prayer. Synod President Gerald Kieschnick was also present for the
Sunday evening session of the meeting held at the hotel.
The Monday and Tuesday sessions of the meeting were held at the office building of the Florida-Georgia
District, where the Commission joined the district office staff for its morning devotions.
71. Executive Session
The Commission moved into executive session for the Sunday evening session to receive input from the
President of the Synod regarding the requests for opinions that he had submitted and regarding questions
before the Commission that had been forwarded to the Board of Directors for its input. The Commission
moved out of executive session at the end of the discussion.
72. Resolution 8-01A, Standard Operating Procedures Manuals (04-2404)
Secretary Raymond Hartwig called attention to the most recent drafts of the operating procedures manuals
for Bylaw sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, and 2.17. After minor corrections and additions, the Commission
approved this latest version of the manuals, copies of which will be provided to the Council of Presidents
for its final review and approval.
73. Review of “GUIDELINES for the Constitution and Bylaws of a Lutheran Congregation" (042412)
Gordon Tresch, chairman of the subcommittee working on this project, reviewed the materials provided
to the Commission by district constitutional committee chairmen and outlined plans for completing a final
draft of the revised guidelines in time for discussion with the district chairmen at the announced February
1–2, 2006 meeting in St. Louis. Secretary Hartwig will begin to incorporate the materials provided by the
subcommittee into a draft document that will be considered by the Commission at its next meeting.
74. Reconsideration of CCM Opinion 04-2409 (05-2423)
In a March 22, 2005 e-mailed letter, a pastor of the Synod submitted questions pertaining to the
Commission’s earlier Opinion 04-2409, “Effect of Congregational Vote on Implementation of 2004
Resolution 7-21.” After consideration of the questions in light of other similar requests for opinions
received by the Commission, the Secretary was asked to respond to the pastor by letter and to include
copies of Opinions 04-2409 and 05-2434, suggesting that the pastor review the 2004 minutes of the
Commission, Opinions 03-2357, 03-2358, and 03-2359, and other earlier opinions identified in his letter
and ask whether his concerns had been resolved in light of Opinion 05-2434.