LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — NOVEMBER 1, 1961, Page 5

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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of this communication.

21) Some time was now devoted to the discussion whether it would
be advisable to enlarge the Committee on Constitutional Matters to five
members (two laymen, two clergymen, the Secretary of the Synod). -

The motion was made, properly seconded and carried "'to memorialize the

Synod to enlarge the Committee on Constitutional Matters in this manner, "'

Notes The Roport of the Survoy Commission (page 63) suggests "thet the size
of the Committee on Constitutiorzl Matters be enlarged from four to five

members"' but does not spell out precisely how the personnel of this Committee
is to be constituted. Conseqently it would still be well for our Committee

to carry through this resolution and to memorialize the Synod.

22) The Committee now referred to the proposed revision of GUIDE-
LINES. Board Member Kuenne sketched the historical background: A
model Constitution of ancient vintage,made available by Concordia Publishing
House many years ago, had no longer seemed satisfactory; Pastor Elmer
Kettner and some of his colleagues had offered a substitute which could be
classified as "hodge-podge"; the Committee on Constitutional Matters
had attempted to reconstruct this document ina satisfactory manner and the
present GUIDELINES had resulted. Admittedly these GUIDELINES are not

perfect.

23) After some discussion, the consensus of opinion appeared to be that
a redrafting of GUIDELINES to fit present day conditions is more advisable
than to attempt to draw up a model Constitution, . It was noted that a somewhat
detailed preface to explain what GUIDELINES can accomplish and what GUIDE-
LINES are not supposed to accomplish would be valuable for all those who use

this document.