LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — JULY 26, 1961, Page 9

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The Rev. August R. Suelflow, Research Secretary
September 2, 1961
Page 2

of the Synod, and that, once again, Article XI, Section B-1l-b
comes into play. District officials are immediately responsible
for giving guidance to District staff personnel (Article XII-6),
and ultimately the President of the Synod is responsible.

3. T COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS AND THE

HE fe

SYNODICAL CONVENTION. -

A. The customary procedure prior to the convening of the Delegate
Synod for determining the constitutionality of the many proposals
presented in the Book of Reports and Memorials calls for a review
by our Committee of these memorials as they appear in printed
form. If any proposals violate, or seem to violate, any existing
regulations, we call this to the attention of the individual or the
department that has submitted the proposal. This procedure was
followed also in 1956 prior to the Delegate Convention in San
Francisco.

B. At least one member of our committee - Mr. Herbert Kuenne,
a trained lawyer - attends all meetings of Committee 6.

C. We believe that the actual wording of changes made necessary
in the Constitution and/or in the By-laws is more properly the
responsibility of the Committee on Constitutional Matters than of
Committee 6. Section 2. 113d directs the committee to 'amend the
Synodical Handbook in harmony with the resolutions".

D. We believe that Section 16.01 of the Synodical Handbook might
well remain as it has been formulated. Changes referred to in
Paragraph 16.01 are limited to the By-laws. Changes in the
Constitution itself require adoption by a two-thirds majority of
those voting and publication of the proposed changes in the official
church periodicals before these changes can become effective (See
Article XIV of the Constitution).

4, INTERCOMMUNICATION OF THE COMMITTEE. -

A. We submit a rather detailed report to the members of the Synod
triennially in the Book of Reports and Memorials.

B. Since last year we have initiated the procedure of placing a copy
of our official opinions in the 'Synodical Reference File". This

file is located in the Synodical Office Building and its contents are
available to the officials of the Synod, including the Executive
Secretaries.

C. We believe that Section 2. 113 of the Synodical Handbook is quite
clear and adequate. However, the present Committee members
think it would be helpful to increase our Committee to five by
adding another layman.