LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 7–8, 2009, Page 9

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

80. Eligibility to Receive a Call While on Non-Candidate Status (09-2546)
In a letter received January 26, 2009, a district president asked follow-up questions to the commission’s
Opinion 08-2537 which clarified that candidate status cannot be extended beyond four years (Bylaw
2.11.2.2 [a]).
Question 1:

Is it the opinion of the CCM that placement on non-candidate status in all cases means that
the worker is not eligible to receive a call?

Opinion: No. A church worker on non-candidate status is eligible to receive a call. A church worker on
non-candidate status is “eligible to perform the duties of any of the offices of ministry specified in Bylaw
section 2.11” (Bylaw 2.11.2.3). In every case, the rostered church worker on non-candidate status remains
a member of the Synod and, like all rostered church workers, is eligible to receive a call or appointment to
any of the offices of ministry identified in Bylaw 2.11.1. The guidelines established by the Council of
Presidents of the Synod for non-candidate members of the Synod (Bylaw 2.11.2.3 [c]) should reflect this
eligibility.
Question 2:

What specific remedy does the commission find in the Bylaws for a situation in which a
worker has exhausted four years of candidate status, does not wish to voluntarily choose
non-candidate status or to resign from the roster, and wishes to be eligible to receive a
regular call to active service and has not received such a call?

Opinion: If a rostered church worker has exhausted four years of candidate status, does not wish to resign
from the roster of the Synod, and is not eligible for emeritus status (Bylaw 2.11.2.1), he or she must
request to be placed on non-candidate status in order to remain eligible to receive a regular call to active
service (Bylaw 2.11.2 [b]). The Bylaws of the Synod do not limit eligibility to receive a call to a
particular roster status. Congregations (as well as other calling and appointing entities) may call and be
served by any minister of religion, ordained and commissioned, who has been admitted to his or her
respective ministry in accord with the rules and regulations set forth in the Synod’s Bylaws and remains a
rostered member of the Synod (Bylaws 2.5.2 and 2.5.3).
81. Doctrinal Review of Commission on Worship Materials (09-2547)
In an e-mailed letter dated January 31, 2009, a pastor of the Synod requested an opinion regarding the
doctrinal review of a list of contemporary Christian songs produced and made public by the Commission
on Worship. After brief discussion of the request in light of Bylaws 1.9.1.1 and 3.9.3.2.2, the commission
agreed to respond to the pastor that it would give his request attention after allowing the Commission on
Worship to submit in writing information regarding the matter at issue (Bylaw 3.9.2.2 [b]).
82. Letter to Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance
Upon suggestion of the Commission on Structure, the Commission on Constitutional Matters discussed
the prospect of the two commissions’ involvement in the convention business that will be proposed by the
Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance. The commission agreed that a joint letter
should be sent to the chairman of the task force offering the two commissions’ assistance. The following
letter, if it met with the concurrence of the chairman of the Commission on Structure, would be directed
to the chairman of the task force:
We, the chairmen of the Commission on Constitutional Matters and the Commission on
Structure, continue to observe the progress your task force is making as it works toward its

54