LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 5-6, 1966, Page 1

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time but to await further interpretation and guidance. It was the feeling of the Commission that Dr. Harms
should be asked to refer this question specifically to the CTCR. Sommermeyer will draw up a statement
and circulate it among the Commission members who are to react and to circulate their reactions.
The meeting adjourned with a prayer spoken by Vice-President Paul Streufert.
Herbert Mueller, Secretary.

MINUTES OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
St. Louis, Missouri, May 5-6, 1966
342. Chairman Kuenne called upon Sommermeyer to offer the opening prayer. The minutes of the
previous meeting were approved as submitted.
343. Handbook: The Secretary reported that the new Handbook had now been printed and distributed.
344. Southern Nebraska District Articles of Incorporation: The Commission approved the supplementary
opinion of March 25 prepared by Chairman Kuenne. It also decided to concur in the opinion of Legal
Counsel Kuhlmann (April 25) that Article IV of the proposed Articles would be acceptable if the doctrinal
reference is deleted. Chairman Kuenne will verify this in a letter to the Southern Nebraska District,
quoting the exact words to be deleted.
345. Constitutional Amendments: It was reported that all four constitutional amendments passed by the
Detroit convention had been approved by vote of the congregations, with 27 congregations registering a
negative vote on proposition 1, 26 on proposition 2, one on proposition 3 and none on proposition 4.
346. Atlantic District Re. Circuit Counselors: President Graesser had asked for an opinion as to whether a
District is free to devise other means of nominating and electing Circuit Counselors. The Commission
decided to inform him that any procedure which evades or negates the requirements of Handbook
paragraph 3.61 is unconstitutional, but that it is the opinion of the Commission that additional measures
may be introduced to supplement the requirements of 3.61 in order to meet certain emergencies. The
Secretary is to write.
347. Petition by a Layman to Rescind: President Oliver Harms informed the Commission that a certain
lay member of a member congregation of the Synod contends that he has the right to petition the
convention to rescind a bylaw adopted at Detroit. The President requested an opinion. The Commission
resolved that in its opinion the President cannot entertain such a petition since paragraph 1.27a clearly
includes a reference to "other matters" and makes no exception to this rule; that the Commission therefore
advises the President to return the petition to the layman involved with the suggestion that he work
through his congregation in attempting to present this request to the Synod.
348. Campus Congregations: President V. L. Behnken of the Southern California District had written to
the Secretary concerning the status of a campus congregation. Since the Commission felt that this would
be an ongoing area of concern, it requested Elmer Luessenhop to try to formulate a position statement for
the next meeting.
349. Social Action Statement: The Commission discussed the statement prepared by the Social Action
Commission upon instruction of the recent convention, declining membership to applicant congregations
which practice a selectivity based on racial or ethnic origin. The Commission felt that the statement could
be improved by incorporating first a general policy statement, then an expression of attitude toward