LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 22-23, 1972, Page 2

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

confused it would be advisable for the committee to let the convention decide the matter in an early
session and to be prepared with alternate slates.
174_. Questions Re Congregational Constitutions (Ag. 353): The Commission ratified Mueller's reply to
Chairman Harold Huber of the Montana District Committee on Constitutions on the following questions:
Disposition of property in case of dissolution (questions 1 and 3), Guidelines recommends
property transfer to synodical District.
Synodical membership (2): variety of practice. (However, the Commission itself expressed a
preference for the inclusion of an article on synodical membership).
Unalterable articles (4): still advisable even though legally and technically no article cannot be
changed.
Calling procedure under Board of Directors type of polity (5): some provision should be made
whereby all communicant members are involved even though preliminary work can be done by
the Board of Directors.
Offices for which women are eligible (6,): referred to CCM guidelines on woman suffrage.
175 . Eligibility of Staff Member to Serve on Committee (Ag. 359): Dr. Preus had asked whether Mr.
Erwin J. Kolb, newly appointed Executive Secretary for Evangelism, could continue to serve on one of
the subcommittees of the Commission on Church Literature. The Commission ruled that since this
subcommittee is merely advisory there seems to be no provision in the bylaws which would make it
impossible for Mr. Kolb to continue to serve.
176. Executive Sessions of Board for Missions (Ag. 357, 357A, 362): Through Walter W. Kayser the
Board for Missions asked the Commission for an opinion on the following question: May the Board for
Missions conduct executive sessions to the exclusion of advisory members? The Commission resolved to
reply in the affirmative.
177. Women's Rights (Ap,. 363): Reverend Thomas Manteufel of Elma, Iowa had asked which offices
women could not hold and on which issues they would be permitted to vote. The Secretary had given the
standard reply. He had also indicted in answer to a question that there was no synodical rule regarding
women's rights to speak on issues in a voters meeting. The commission ratified these replies.
178. Right to Hold Office In a Congregation (Ag. 363): The same pastor had asked whether the Synod
permits only voting members to hold a congregational office. The Secretary answered that in his opinion
it had been quite generally the custom in our congregation to permit non-voters to serve on various boards
and commissions although generally speaking those offices which are specifically mentioned in the
constitution have usually been reserved for those who hold voting membership; he was not aware,
however, that the Synod had ever laid down any directive with respect to this question. The Commission
ratified the Secretary's reply.
179. Saskatoon Ministerial Program (Ag. 364): The Ontario District convention had requested the
Commission to rule on the constitutionality of Milwaukee Resolution 6.-20 which provided for the
establishment of a chair at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Commission
heard an explanation of the program from Dr. Wiederaenders, who had been instrumental in developing
it. The Commission subsequently ruledthat Resolution 6-20 is not unconstitutional. It should be noted,
however, that the resolution merely established a chair of theology and did not specifically give approval