LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — June 28-29, 1974, Page 7

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Secretary might suggest to Dr. Bruns that his question is perhaps answered by the opinion adopted by the
CCM in agenda item 639 (Minutes 170) and that he might wish to take that into consideration and make
the necessary changes and then make a proposal to the St. Louis faculty. The Commission also advised
the Secretary to suggest to Dr. Bruns that after he has made revisions in his plan he submit it to the CCM
for review before promulgating it among the congregations of the District.
176. Seminex Student Teachers (Ag. 612 &1612-A): Rev. Tom Baker of St. James, University City,
Missouri had asked whether it was proper for Seminex students to be teaching as student teachers at the
joint Concord school. The Secretary stated that Rev. Donald Christiansen, pastor of another congregation
involved in the Concord School, had asked that if this matter is submitted to the CCM for a ruling he be
permitted to voice the opinion of his own congregation. The Commission therefore decided to honor this
request before taking action and to notify both Pastors Baker and Christiansen accordingly.
177. $50,000 Atlantic District Grant to Seminex (Ag. 540): Rev. Elwood Mather, Jr. of Brooklyn, New
York had asked whether this resolution of the special session of the Atlantic District early in the year was
constitutional. The Commission decided to hold this matter until legal counsel reacts to the request
decided upon earlier in the meeting.
178. Departments' Right to Submit Overtures (Ag. 613): Secretary Robert A. Schmidt of the South
Wisconsin District had stated that in that District boards and commissions are departments of the Board
of Directors. He inquired whether such departments would have the right to submit overtures to District
conventions as regular boards and commissions have under other District structures. The Commission
decided to reply that this depends on the District structure as set forth in the District Bylaws. Do they
state that the department has the status of a board and that a department has direct access to the
convention, or does it have a reporting relationship only to the Board of Directors?
179. Right of Floor Committees (Ag. 633): Rev. Martin Helmer of Wellington, Kansas had asked whether
a District floor committee has the right to introduce resolutions which go beyond the subject matter of
overtures assigned to that floor committee. The Commission decided upon the following reply: Floor
committees may produce the best possible answer to a concern presented to the convention but do not
have the right to present resolutions on subjects not properly submitted to the convention. One would
need to examine all overtures assigned to a floor committee to determine whether the subject matter had
really been introduced in the proper way through a report or overture or in an improper way by the floor
committee.
180. Teacher Status (Ag. 616): Rev. Theodore Eisold had asked: "If a called male teacher does not wish
to sign the Constitution of Synod and become a member of Synod, does he lose his call (Bylaw 4.01)?
Similarly, in the event a woman teacher who is a synodical graduate does not wish to become a member
of the Synod, does she still have equal rights with men, and is she or may she be called? What is the
obligation of a congregation to its called teachers when they do not wish to become members of the
Synod?" The Commission decided to reply: "On the basis of Bylaws 1.03, 4.01, 4.25 the Commission
rules that a person who refuses to sign the Constitution is not a teacher member of the Synod and is not
eligible for a call. Any call extended to him is nullified by virtue of his refusal to meet the requirements of
membership in the Synod." During the course of the discussion it was also pointed out that it is also
possible for congregations to contract for teachers instead of only calling.
181. Argentina Roster Question (Ag. 648): Through Rev. Fred Pankow a question from Argentina was
presented to the Commission. There are three small congregations in a certain area belonging to three
different church bodies, including our Missouri Synod. Each of them was formerly served by one of its
Synod's pastors in a neighboring area. They have now decided to call one pastor for the three
congregations and have decided to call a Missouri Synod pastor. President Horn informed him, however,