LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — NOVEMBER 2, 1962, Page 4

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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that the main items confronting the Commission immediately concerned

the revision of the HANDBOOK and a reworking of GUIDELINES.

19, The undersigned now read a letter from the Rev. Paul A, Scheidt
from Sidney, Ohio, in which an official interpretation was requested on
the following situation: the congregation had incorporated in its Constitu-
tion a provision to permit woman suffrage; the District Committee on
Constitutional Matters and the District President had declared that the
congregation could not be received into the Synod unless this stipulation
in the Constitution is removed. Is this ruling on the part of the District
officials valid? "Should we view the principle of male voters only as

unalterable form or as recommended procedure? '"'

20. A very long discussion now developed during which many points
of view were expressed. Reference was made to Section 1.11 of the Bylaws

of the Constitution ''Constitutions of Congregations",

21, The meeting was recessed for noon luncheon,

Friday Afternoon

22. The discussion on the "Sidney Case" continued for some time.
Eventually the motion was made, properly seconded and carried
"to inquire of the brethren who formulated the
Report of the Committee on Woman Suffrage
and ask them to define more precisely the actual
meaning of their Report (pages 496-497 of the
1959 REPORTS AND MEMORIALS)."
23, It was agreed that the Secretary would inform the Sidney congre-

gation that the matter in which it is interested has been taken under

advisement,