LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 4-5, 1972, Page 1

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answer to the effect that we were hampered by time limitations and the lack of a full committee to give
answer to all problems raised in their correspondence. It is obvious that neither the LCA nor LCUSA has
veto power over an LCMS congregation. However, a District mission board and/or Board of Directors is
free to make its own judgments about the sale of property to which it holds title.*
88. Election of Convention Delegates by Dual Parishes (Ag 291A)• The commission ratified Mueller's
answer to Secretary Bauerkemper regarding dual parish election of convention delegates.
89. Woman Chairman (Ag. 301): It was agreed that in the light of the present resolutions of the Synod a
woman cannot hold the office of chairman of a congregation.
90. Members present expressed deep regret over the absence of counsel and help from committee
members who were snowbound, duty bound, and sick bound. May we all be free and present May 4 and
5!
George Sommermeyer, Secretary pro tem
*Mueller will also suggest that this does not seem to be a constitutional question but one which ought to
be resolved through Christian negotiation around the table.

MINUTES OF MEETING OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
May 4-5, 1972, St. Louis, Missouri
91. All regular members were present in the morning. In the afternoon Dr. Harry Krieger was welcomed
as the new advisory member. Sommermeyer opened the meeting with prayer. The minutes of the previous
meeting stood approved as submitted.
92. Proxy Vote: The Commission decided that its approval at the last meeting of the Secretary's letter to
Rev. Bauerkemper in connection with agenda item 291 A should also be extended to agenda item 304,
involving his correspondence on the same subject with President C. Heckman (voting in dual parishes for
convention delegates).
93. Teacher Serving as Lay Delegate (Ag. 311): The Commission ratified the Secretary's letter to Rev.
Loren Boettcher giving the customary answer that teachers on the teacher roster could not serve as lay
delegates.
94. New Orleans (Ag. 309): Since no additional correspondence had been received from Reverend M.
Leonhardt it was agreed by common consent to drop this item from any further consideration.
95. Nominating Committee Tenure (Ag. 314): The same action was taken for the same reason in regard to
this item. The Secretary had informed Rev. Theo. Krueger of the North Wisconsin nominating committee
that Districts were not bound by the Synod's own limited tenure regulations altho the Commission had
encouraged Districts to follow this example.
96. Woman Chairman (Ag. 301A): The Commission took note of the answer from Rev. Joiner stating that
the congregation had made the required change.
97. Women Voting Rights (Ag. 316): The Commission ratified the answer drafted by the secretary (to
Rev. L. Werth of Council Bluffs, Iowa) in which the Secretary had called attention to an earlier ruling of
the Commission to the effect that the synodical resolution permitted women to vote on all issues.