LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — OCTOBER 8 &9, 1964, Page 7

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220. A communication from Rev. Clemens W, Pera, Chairman of
Constitutional Committee of the Northwest District was taken up for dis-
cussion, This communication had originally been addressed to President
Harms who had then referred it to Vice-President Wiederaenders, an
advisory member of the Commission, The matter at issue was a paragraph
in the Constitution of Messiah Lutheran Congregation of Seattle, Washington,

giving the women of the congregation the right to vote - but restricting this

right to vote to one specific situation - namely, in the calling of a pastor,

221, It was recognized at once by the Commission that this presented
the time-honored question of Woman Suffrage in the Church - but ina

definitely limited or restricted sense,

222, It was agreed that the communication should be answered in the
same vein as in the answer submitted under date of May 16, 1964, to Mr.
Robert Pietruski, Secretary of the Board of Stewardship in Our Redeemer

Lutheran Congregation of Fords, New Jersey.

223. Commission Member Luessenhop referred to the question addressed

to the Commission by the College of Presidents with reference to a ruling
on the Status of Emeriti Pastors. The Secretary stated that this letter had

been answered to the effect that Emeriti Pastors are to be included when
establishing the number of persons who will represent advisory pastors at a
Delegate Synod; this opinion had been given to Doctor G, W, Lobeck after

the members of the Commission had been canvassed,

224, Commission Member Luessenhop then presented a general question
which had been brought to his attention by the Rev. H, J. Niermann, President

of the Southern Nebraska District. Apparently this question was divided into