LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — June 2-3, 1970, Page 4

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199. Secretary's Report: The secretary reported on the presentation which he had made to the meeting of
the Council of Presidents on April 30th. The Council will appoint a committee to develop bylaws on
official conferences and on reinstatement procedures. The secretary had also reported to the Council on
women delegates and board members (84), on the right to memorialize the Synod to repeal fellowship
with the ALC (102), on procedures for electing delegates and nominating Counselors, on eligibility for
District Presidency, and on the relationship of Synod to Districts and to congregations with reference to
federal aid to schools. He had also distributed and commented on the Commission's ruling regarding the
South Wisconsin District procedures for nominating and electing a District president (Ag. 164).
200. Heckmann Request: After deciding to reconsider the motion of the previous day (see Minutes 192)
both the motion and the second were withdrawn. The Commission then proceeded to adopt the following
answers to the last three questions propounded by President Heckmann in his letter of March 12, 1970
(Ag. 116).
201. May a District Limit the Terms of Presidents and Vice Presidents? The Commission resolved that on
the basis of Bylaws 2.17a, 3.07b, 3.31 it is the opinion of the Commission that at the present time a
District may limit these terms but is not required to do so (Ag. 116) (See Minutes 192).
202. May the Texas District Board of Directors Fill a Vice Presidential Vacancy by Election? The
Commission ruled that if the Texas District bylaws permit such a procedure it would be permissible under
Bylaw 3.31; otherwise the District is to follow the regulation which the Synod has adopted for itself in
Bylaw 2.38 (Ag. 116).
203. Interpretation of 3.07b: The Commission resolved that its answers to the previous questions
constituted a sufficient answer to this particular question, although the Commission recognizes the need
for further clarification (Ag. 116).
204. Voting Age: Dr. Warren Meyer of Wichita Kansas, Pastor R. J. Krueger of Chicago, and President
Griesse of the Mid-South District had raised questions concerning the right of congregations to lower the
voting age to include newly confirmed youngsters. The Commission ruled that in its estimation neither
Scripture nor the Constitution forbids this and that it is entirely a matter of a congregation exercising its
good judgment, although state laws must always be taken into consideration (Ag. 133, 140, 166).
205. Women Holding Office: President Griesse had also inquired which offices may not be held by
women. The Commission resolved to refer President Griesse to the previously adopted guidelines on
woman suffrage as the Commission's answer to this question (Ag. 167).
206. Convention Status of Lay Minister: President Heckmann of Texas had asked whether a lay minister
could serve as a lay delegate to a convention. The Commission decided to inform him that already in
1967 (Northern Nebraska request) the Commission had ruled in the affirmative and that it had now
reviewed that opinion and still subscribed to it (Ag. 138b).
207. Automatic Membership: Pastor R. J. Krueger of Chicago had inquired whether it was permissible to
extend automatic voting membership to all communicant members. The Commission resolved to inform
him that it would be necessary for him to check the state laws to determine if this would be legal; that the
proposal in itself would not be unconstitutional but might not be wise; and that the question "whether
those who had previously signed the congregation's constitution would be required to do so again" would
depend upon the requirements of the congregation's constitution itself (Ag. 140).
208. Term of Office: It was decided to hold this on the agenda until the next time (Ag. 148).