LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — June 13-14, 1968, Page 4

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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"You have addressed to the Commission on Constitutional Matters the question: Is it permissible
under the Constitution axed Bylaws of the Synod for a member congregation to have as its pastor
a man who is not a member of the Synod?
After thorough study of the Constitution and Bylaws the Commission on Constitutional Matters
has came to the conclusion that this is not permissible and that such a congregation cannot remain
a member of the Synod or exercise any rights and privileges of membership."
The meeting stood adjourned.
Herbert Mueller, Secretary.

LETTER REF'FERRED TO IN CCM MINUTES PARAGRAPH 132
March 19, 1968
The Reverend John E. Graudin, Secretary
Southeastern District
6617 Beddoo Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22306
Dear Brother Graudin:
You have asked about women serving as delegates to the District convention.
There is no clear statement on this question in the Synodical Handbook or in the Convention Proceedings.
I offer the following, however, as a possible source of guidance.
On May 23, 1966 President Carl Graesser of the Atlantic District raised the same question in a letter to
me. Under date of May 26, 1966 I addressed a reply to him. It was at that time an unofficial, personal
reply. Some pertinent paragraphs from that letter are the following:
"Voting representation at a convention up to this point has certainly always been understood to
mean male representation. It would seem to me that this interpretation ought to prevail (1) either
until a synodical convention takes decisive action to the contrary or (2) until the Commission on
Constitutional Matters should rule that female voting representation is now permitted under the
Detroit resolution with respect to woman suffrage.
We know (1) that a convention has not taken such decisive action, and (2) that according to the
statement recently released the Commission on Constitutional Matters will not rule at the present
time on the interpretation of the Detroit resolution and has in fact requested congregations and
Districts not to make major changes until the theological issues have been further clarified by the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations.
I would therefore be inclined to agree that, whatever decisions may be made in the future, a
woman should not be seated at this time as a voting delegate.
Naturally, . . . .I am sure that you would be able to appeal to the better
instincts of all parties involved. Perhaps some compensation could be
offered. I am confident, for instance, that there could be no objection