LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 8−9, 1974, Page 1

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MINUTES OF MEETING OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
February 8−9, 1974 - St. Louis, Missouri
1. After an opening prayer by Chairman Luessenhop the minutes of November 1-2, 1973 stood approved
as presented. Dr. John Klotz was welcomed as the new member of the Commission replacing Rev.
George Sommermeyer who was unable to be reappointed under the limited tenure rule. Notice was also
taken of the passing of Dr. W. Harry Krieger since the last meeting of the Commission. Dr. J.A.O. Preus
has not yet appointed a vice-president to succeed him as an advisory member of the Commission.
Considerable attention was given once again to the policy of confidentiality since this is the beginning of
a new biennium. It was pointed out that the Board of Appeals and the Committee for Convention
Nominations together with the Commission on Constitutional Matters must be free of administration
control and dominance.
2. Organization: The Commission by formal motions chose Elmer Luessenhop as chairman and Herbert
Freise as vice-chairman. The Secretary of the Synod, Herbert Mueller, serves as secretary of the
Commission by bylaw stipulation.
3. Meeting Dates: Since the Commission is having an increasing number of requests and since it is
becoming increasingly difficult to agree on meeting dates on short notice, the Commission decided to
adopt the following schedule of meetings for 1974:
March 22−23
May 16−17
June 28−29
August 22−23
October 10−11
December 13−14
4. Church Relations Study (Ag. 397, etc.): It was reported that the CTCR has not yet finished its study on
"church relations" and definitions of theological terms in the Constitution, although the undersigned had
been asked to appear before a committee of the CTCR which is formulating a response.
5. Congregational Articles of Incorporation (Ag. 493): President M. Lieske of the Minnesota South
District had inquired whether Articles of Incorporation as attached could replace a congregation's
Constitution and Bylaws? The Commission decided to advise that Articles of Incorporation ordinarily say
very little about the internal operation of the congregation and therefore that Bylaws would be advisable
in addition to Articles of Incorporation. Furthermore, it was pointed out that congregations would find it
easier to amend Bylaws than to amend Articles of Incorporation.
6. Reactions to George Sommermever's Letter (Ag. 494, 494A & B): In November George Sommermeyer
had sent a letter in many different directions calling for an Advisory Council on Conciliation. Several
reactions had been received by the Commission, including specifically a request from Robert Preus for a
ruling as to whether it was proper for a member of the Commission on Constitutional Matters to send
such a letter. It was moved and seconded to reply along the following lines: Ordinarily we would agree
that it is improper for a member of the Commission to send such an open letter. However, even though
the letter may have appeared to be reflecting the viewpoint of the Commission, Sommermeyer was
reflecting his own personal opinions. Furthermore, in all probability, as he himself suggested, he
considered himself no longer a member of the Commission since no further meetings were scheduled
although his term did run to the end of the year. After considerable discussion as to whether or not it was
still necessary to respond, the Commission decided to table the motion.