LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 27-28, 1967, Page 2

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511. Regulations Regarding Districts: After an opening prayer on Tuesday morning by Vice-President
Streufert most of the day was devoted to an intensive reworking of the Handbook paragraphs prepared by
Kuenne for a new section on synodical Districts. The final draft together with the adopted preamble for
the overture are attached to the minutes.
512. Ohio District Bylaws: Kuenne read his letter to Secretary Pasche in which he indicated that the
articles of incorporation and the bylaws of the Ohio District are acceptable.
513. Fiscal Review Commission: President Niedner had asked whether the limitation on the number of
elective offices held made it impossible for an elected Treasurer to serve as the elected lay delegate to the
Fiscal Review Commission. By common consent the Commission agreed that the election to the Fiscal
Review Commission should be regarded as an ad hoc commitment and that therefore the regulation
regarding number of offices held should not apply.
514. LCMS - ALC Congregation in Texas: President Heckmann of Texas informed the Commission that
a Missouri Synod and an ALC congregation were merging, that the ALC group had had full woman
suffrage, that the merged group intended to limit this privilege to matters not involving the Office of the
Keys, and that the District President would appreciate reactions from our Commission. It was resolved
that the Secretary should reply along the following lines: !f this were an ordinary Missouri mission, we
would be rather unhappy with this arrangement. But since this presumably represents many years of
prayer and fruitful negotiation a spirit of gratitude should prevail for the progress that has been achieved.
At the same time the Commission advises caution until the CTCR report is released, which hopefully will
be before the application for membership on the part of this congregation is acted on by the Texas District
convention in 1968.
515. Salary Cut Question: Pastor Reuter of Alabama had written to Kuenne asking whether a call is
legally binding and whether a congregation must pay the salary originally offered. Kuenne read his reply
in which he answered in the affirmative. The Commission gave its tacit consent.
516. Limitation of Pastoral Call: Mr. Philip Griffin of Hilliard, Ohio, had asked whether it would not be
possible to place a time limit on the pastor's call. Luessenhop was asked to give an answer more or less in
line with the views which he had already expressed in his letter of February 16 to the Commission, with
special reference to Article VI, 3 of the Synod's Constitution.
517. Budget: Kuenne reported that the Commission had overspent its budget this past year by almost
$100, and that the Work Program Conference had included increases for 1967, 1968, and 1969.
518. SELC Representation on Mission Board: The Board for Missions had inquired whether an SELC
member could be a member of the board. The Commission held on the basis of Article X, B, 3 of the
Constitution that he could not be a member, voting or advisory, but would need to be referred to as a
consultant or honored guest or similar designation.
519. Property of Disbanding Congregation: Although this question had already been turned over to the
Board for Missions for study, Kuenne pointed out that the model constitution suggested for congregations
contains a statement to the effect that if the congregation should disband its property should be transferred
to the respective District of the Missouri Synod.
520. Synod - District Relationship: Mueller called attention to the fact that through the adoption of the
detailed new Handbook provisions governing Districts the Commission had in effect carried out the
directive of the Board of Directors of March 10-11, 1966, that our Commission was to give major