LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 15-16, 1973, Page 3

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Missouri Synod. Additional information was given to the effect that this man had formally served on the
River Forest faculty but had accepted the presidency of an LCA college. Mueller was asked to draft a
reply overnight after the commission had come to some conclusions. On the following day this reply was
adopted as attached to the minutes.
240. Membership of Bethlehem, Wales, Wisconsin (Ag. 416A and 416B): After the pastor of this
congregation was elected a delegate to New Orleans it was discovered that the congregation had never
been formally received into the membership of the Synod as far as the District officials could determine,
even though the District had twice approved the constitution of the congregation and the District had
considered it a member, and the congregation had stated in its constitution that it was to be a member of
the Missouri Synod. The commission had before it a statement of the District Board of Directors to the
effect that it recognizes the congregation as being in membership even though through an oversight
possibly no formal action had been taken. On the basis of all of the evidence the commission agreed with
the determination of the District Board of Directors but suggested that the next District convention should
give formal recognition to the fact that the District has considered the congregation to be in membership.
It was suggested that the difficulty may even be traced to the fact that at one time the congregation
formed a dual parish with another congregation.
241. Question of Limited Tenure for District Executives (Ag. 398): In the August, 1971 meeting
President Preus had suggested that perhaps the commission would want to propose a bylaw introducing
the four year renewable term also for District executives. The commission, however, decided to let the
suggestion come from the field.
242. Limited Tenure for District Officers and Nature of Vice Presidential Office (Ag. 410). Secretary Paul
Mueller of the North Wisconsin District had asked how Synod had handled the limitation rule when it had
been introduced and also whether the offices of the vice presidents are considered as one office under a
limited tenure rule. The Secretary had replied giving the history of Synod's introduction of the limited
tenure rule and also had stated that in his personal opinion the offices of vice presidents should not be
considered as one office under a limited tenure rule. He had suggested, however, that the District might
wish to ask the commission for a formal ruling. No further correspondence had been received but the
commission did ratify the secretary's reply.
243. Announcing Tally (Ag. 359 and 24): The commission took up the tabled question of whether it
should submit an overture calling for the announcement of the tally in all elections at the convention.
After some discussion the commission concluded on Friday that the announcement of a tally would not be
unconstitutional, that bylaw 2.121 c already permits this as part of the reporting process. This ruling is to
be used if the question is raised at the convention. However, the commission decided not to make the
proposal for revealing the tally since overtures requesting that are already on hand and such a motion can
also come from the floor.
244. Bylaws for Board for Lay Ministers (Ag. 276): Still no report has been received from this new board
which is to develop bylaws for this for itself in consultation with the CCM.
245. Brazil Colleges (Ag. 354): Since no further word has been received on this question the commission
decided to remove the item from its agenda.
246. Stegemoeller letter (Ag. 394): The commission ratified the astute reply which Luessenhop had sent
to Stegemoeller who had wondered whether the commission considered itself all-wise.