LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — OCTOBER 8 &9, 1964, Page 5

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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"elect" in Section 3, 6l-a of the Synodical HANDBOOK (with reference to
Circuit Counselors); that Section 3,6l-b should then be omitted entirely;
and that the present Section 3,61-c should become Section 3.61-b. It

was pointed out by Pastor Reinboth that this change, proposed by the
Brazil District and endorsed by Pastor Walter E, Dorre, Area Resident
Counselor, had been prompted because of the shortage of qualified pastors

in the Brazil District to serve as Circuit Counselors,

212, The Commission was Sympathetic to the situation as described by
Pastor Reinboth, but could not persuade itself that the proposed changes
in Section 3,61 of the Synodical HANDBOOK are satisfactory because other
Districts would then also be ina position to appoint counselors even though

there is no compelling reason in their case for this procedure,

213, It was agreed, however, that the Commission would Propose an
additional statement to Section 3,6l-a in approximately the following language:
‘When exceptional circumstances prevail in a given Synodical

District, the Synod by special resolution may permit the
Counselors to be appointed, "'

214, Under date of May 13, 1964, the Rev. Arlin A, Maas, Secretary

of the Atlantic District, had offered some information as to the reason which
had prompted the Atlantic District at its 1963 Convention to petition the Synod's
Commission on Constitutional Matters 'to examine Resolution 6-06 (Cleveland,
1962), and to report our findings to the Detroit Convention in 1965," It
appeared that this Memorial had originated because of misgivings by some
individuals that the right to suspend might be misused by a District President,
"The concern is to preserve the clergy from an arbitrary decision to suspend

on the part of a District President, "