LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 22-23, 1974, Page 5

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carbon copy of the letter also to the CCM. The Commission resolved to take note of the letter and to
remove the item from its agenda.
78. English District Resolution Renouncing Bylaw 1.09d (Ag 491_: The Board of Directors of the
English District had informed the Commission under date of October 31, 1973 that it was directing its
president to continue supervision of English District professors, claiming that the new Bylaw 1.09d
adopted by the New Orleans convention was unconstitutional. Secretary Mueller had replied that the
English District Board of Directors is not qualified to take such an action, that a District Board of
Directors has neither the right to set aside a resolution of the Synod (Bylaw 3.07a) nor the right to
interpret the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod (Bylaw 2.107e). He therefore stated his
anticipation that the English District Board of Directors would want to rescind its action as quickly as
possible. The CCM ratified the Secretary's reply.
79. Suspension of Dr. Tietjen (Ag. 489): Rev. A. Cloeter of Ottertail, Minnesota had written to the
Commission in care of the chairman on October 18 protesting the procedures with respect to the
suspension of Dr. Tietjen. He specifically objected to the fact that the CCM had ruled that the earlier
suspension had been "precipitous." The Commission decided to inform him that it had reviewed its
actions and felt that it could support them and that now the question in any event had of course become
moot.
80. Sommermeyer Letter to Council of Presidents (Ag. 494): The Commission decided to take note of this
letter and to remove the item from its agenda.
81. Signing of Constitution (Ag. 498): A headquarter's task force committee had asked the Commission
on Constitutional Matters to consider the possibility of perhaps having applicants for membership in the
Synod sign a certificate indicating their acceptance of the Constitution instead of requiring them to be
present in a District convention and to sign a Constitution book at that time. This recommendation had
grown out of the fact that many teachers were unable to be in attendance at the District convention. The
Commission instructed the Secretary to draft an amendment to Bylaw 1.03, making this possible.
82. Certification of Ministerial Candidates (Ag. 512): Dr. A. von Rohr Sauer had raised two questions
regarding this matter. The Commission decided to hold the item on the agenda.
83. Skipping or Streamlining District Conventions (Ag. 514): The Secretary had suggested to President
Charles Mueller in answer to a letter from him that he might wish to encourage some congregation to
present an overture to a synodical convention providing either for the omission or for the skeletonizing of
a District convention in time of emergency. The Commission decided to remove the item from its agenda
in the light of this report.
84. Calls (Ag. 521): Rev. Martin A. Ramming of Port Arthur, Texas, a member of the Texas District
Mission Board, had asked whether it would be permissible for the District to require that mission
congregations call their pastors for a limited four year term. The Commission decided to reply along the
following lines:
Without going into the merits of the suggestion, a District is free to set the terms of those whom it
regards as in the employ of the District. However, congregations have the right to determine the
length of their pastor's call.
Herbert Mueller, Secretary