LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — January 22-23, 1970, Page 2

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61. Current Roster Problem: It was resolved to keep on the docket this matter which had been referred
back to the Council of Presidents for trial and
to await a report from the Council (1967-69 Min. 124, 247; Ag. 13).
62. Pastor Terminology: It was decided to remind the Council of Administrators that this question is still
on the docket and that the Commission is awaiting a report from the Council (1967-69 Min. 124; Ag. 15).
63. Designation of Official Conferences: It was resolved to present this question to the Council of
Presidents for consideration with the explanation that the new provisions regarding the right to submit
overtures make it necessary to provide for some kind of designation and to limit the number of official
conferences (1967-69 Min. 144, 217; Bylaws 4.101, 4.103, 4.107; Ag. 16).
64. CPH Personnel Department - To What Extent Do Synodical Regulations Apply? Since no official
request had ever been received for a ruling on this question, it was resolved to remove the item from the
agenda (1967-69 Min. 172; Ag. 17).
65. Trinity, New Haven: President Scherer of the Missouri District had inquired whether Resolution 5-30,
calling for an ad hoc committee to study the conflict regarding the "final and binding nature" of an
Appeals Board decision, has any bearing on the implementation of Resolution 5-23, which requires the
pastor of a member congregation to be himself a member of the Synod. It was resolved to inform
President Scherer that it was not necessary to await any decision resulting from the implementation of
Resolution 5-30, but that he was free to act on the basis of Resolution 5-23 and on the basis of the
realities existing before the Denver convention, as pointed out in the preamble to Resolution 5-23 itself. It
was also agreed as part of the motion that the secretary by means of a telephone call should suggest to
President Scherer that even though he is free to act it might be wise to tread cautiously and in consultation
with the synodical President. Polzin requested that his abstention be recorded. (1967-69 Min. 185, 188,
215, 237; 1969-71 Min. 28; Ag. 18).
66. Congregations Demitting: Does the Synod need a bylaw defining precisely the procedures that should
be required when congregations demit? It was resolved to have Luessenhop draft a bylaw for presentation
to the next meeting (1967-69 Min. 225; Ag. 19).
67. Minor Changes in the Constitution: It was decided that the secretary draft a proposed overture to the
next convention asking for authority to make specified grammatical improvements in the Constitutions,
such as the insertion of "the" before the word "Synod", changing the singular verb to the plural in Article
VIII, A, 2, and possibly changing "organs" to "official publications" (1967-69 Min. 226; Ag. 20, 67, 68).
68. South Wisconsin District Bylaws and Constitution (Articles of Incorporation?): Polzin reported that
the District would undoubtedly make additional changes at the District convention. In view of that fact it
was resolved: (1) To inform the District that Article IX is in conflict with Bylaw 3.31 of the Handbook,
(2) To remind the District that the "constitution" is seemingly the articles of incorporation, since the
Constitution of the Synod is the constitution also of each District, (3) To have the members of the
Commission report to the chairman within 2 weeks any further items that need to be called to the
District's attention (1967-69 Min. 238; 1969-71 Min. 32; Ag. 21 and 25).
69. "Final and Binding" Nature of Board of Appeals Decisions: Kuenne reported on the first meeting of
the ad hoc committee on the previous day. No progress seemed to be made toward a solution of the
problem but further meetings were scheduled (1967-69 Min. 248; 1969-71 Min.27; Ag. 22).