LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 30-31, 1969, Page 3

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into the night back and forth .between the members of the commission, the secretary in the early hours of
Friday dispatched the following telegram which the commission in its meeting now formally ratified:
The by-laws. for the Commission on Constitutional Matters state: "The Commission shall immediately
after each convention of the Synod revise the synodical Handbook to bring it into harmony with the
resolutions or changes adopted by the convention." If a by-law change voted by the convention fails to be
incorporated in the Handbook through an oversight or for reasons of brevity or for any other reason, this
does not nullify the action of a convention. With respect to the by-law governing the term of office of the
Executive Secretary of the CTCR, it should be stated that the Commission on Constitutional Matters
drafted the by-law in the knowledge that the CTCR had already spelled out in its recommendation to the
convention the provision that the term should be for four years, and in the knowledge that the convention
resolution stated that the full-time position should be established according to the recommendation
presented by the CTCR, which recommendation included the provision for a four-year term. It should
also be stated that there is nothing in the recommendation or in the resolution based thereon which would
prevent an incumbent from being reappointed to successive terms. For the `Commission on Constitutional
Matters, Herbert Mueller, Secretary.
31. Michigan District Articles of Incorporation: The Commission formally ratified Kuenne's letter
expressing approval of the articles of incorporation of the Michigan District.
32. South Wisconsin District Articles of Incorporation: Kuenne will inquire about the dissolution clause
and then circulate a memo.
33. Lutheran Church - Canada, Autonomy: The Lutheran Church - Canada inquired whether it would be
constitutional to conduct a referendum of the congregations in the three Districts on the question of
autonomy for the Lutheran Church - Canada. The commission adopted the following ruling:
Since the requirement of the Missouri Synod Constitution has already been satisfied by a
majority vote at a convention authorizing the three Districts to go out of existence in order to
form a new church body, if they so desire, the commission:holds that any further action should
be in harmony with the requirements of the constitution of the Lutheran Church -Canada. If
that constitution has no prohibition against the referendum, the commission holds that a
referendum can be held at this stage.
34. Brazil Requests Regarding Suffrage: The Brazil District has made two requests to grant the vote at
conventions also to all teachers and professors and to grant votes to all congregations and not just to
parishes. The commission ruled that both procedures would be unconstitutional.
35. Congregational Constitutions -- Guam, Thailand (Bangkok): These two congregations have requested
approval of their constitutions and recognition as member congregations of the Synod. It was resolved to
ask Dr. William Kohn how the membership of all congregations in foreign mission fields is handled so
that a unified policy might be followed.
36. LCUSA: Dr.Thomas Spitz informed Kuenne by letter that the word "Named" in 16.O1b is in error and
should be changed to "Nominated." Considerable discussion followed on the question of whether, if there
were really a distinction between the two words, this did not deprive the Synod of its sovereignty in the
matter. Kuenne will write to Spitz for further information.
3'7. Wagner Circularization: Since Pastor Alvin Wagner had circularized the congregations of the Synod,
Dr. Streufert had asked for a ruling on whether this did not really constitute a referendum and would