LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 1-2, 1973, Page 3

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minutes reflect his feeling that the opinion was not entirely responsive to the request but that in a spirit of
conciliation he would support it.
369. Meeting Date: The Commission resolved to meet again February 28, 1:00 p.m. to March 1, 4:00 p.m.
370. Acceptance of Overtures, Bylaw 1.27c (Ag. 455, 487): This item had been on the agenda of the
Commission for several months. Furthermore, Rev. Sam Roth, as part of his large submission to the
Commission, had raised the question whether the inclusion in the Workbook of the overtures regarding
Dr. John Tietjen had been in harmony with Bylaw 1.27c. The Commission adopted a detailed opinion
(attached to the minutes) regarding that bylaw and came to the conclusion to propose a revision to the
convention (Sommermeyer abstaining). It was decided to send a copy of this opinion to Sam Roth
together with the answer that in the opinion of the Commission and on the basis of the enclosed document
the inclusion of the overtures in the Workbook had been constitutional.
371. Limitation of Terms, District Counselors (Ag. 48_2): The Commission ratified the reply of the
Secretary to Secretary Paul Mueller of the North Wisconsin District stating that the question of limiting
the terms of District Counselors was one which Districts could decide for themselves.
372. Joint Rallies With Other Lutherans (Ag. 479): Rev. Curtis Peterson of Rock Falls, Illinois had asked
whether it was in harmony with the Constitution to participate in joint rallies with other Lutheran bodies.
The Commission resolved to inform him that it was taking no action on requests of this nature until the
CTCR had completed its larger study on this and related questions.
The meeting adjourned with prayer.
Herbert Mueller, Secretary

Opinion on Dissenting Groups
The Commission on Constitutional Matters has received several questions dealing with the
organization of dissenting groups within the Synod.
After detailed study of this matter the Commission concludes that the questions raised at this time
have already been essentially answered in the "Opinion on Dissenting Groups and Activities Within the
Synod" issued by the Commission on Constitutional Matters in the fall of 1969 and upheld by the 1971
synodical convention (see attached Res. 5-13). The Commission therefore decided at its November 1-2,
1973 meeting to reaffirm its earlier opinion and to publish it once again.
However, in the light of present circumstances the Commission on Constitutional Matters has
decided to continue to study the implications of the events occurring within The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and reserves the right to issue a supplementary opinion upon the completion of the study,
if it feels that it is necessary to do so. We appeal once again to all members of the Synod to use the
channels which the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod provide for resolving our
differences without resorting to the organization and continuation of separate groups.
The Commission on Constitutional Matters also calls attention to the fact that the Synod since 1969
has indeed given attention to refining the process of proper dissent especially through the adoption of
Resolution 5-24 in Milwaukee and of Bylaw 1.09e in New Orleans.