LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 6-7, 1974, Page 5

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319. Associate and Assistant Pastors (Ag. 700): The Commission also ratified the Secretary's reply to
Rev. Warren W. Schmidt which pointed out that assistant pastors are limited in the Constitution to being
only advisory members of the Synod while associate pastors and others would be eligible to be chosen by
their congregations to serve as voting delegates.
320. Opinion on "Investitures, Commissionings, etc." (Ag. 739, 739A, 758, 759, 767): The following
persons had addressed the Commission, taking exception to its recent ruling on the investiture and
commissioning process in lieu of ordination or in one way or another suggesting that the Commission
reconsider or repeal that opinion: Dr. Carl A. Heckmann (Ag. 739), Pres. Henry E. Simon (Ag. 758). Rev.
David V. Dissen of Clearwater, Florida (Ag. 759) had asked whether such a ruling had indeed been
issued. The Commission was also in possession (Ag. 767) of a form which was used for commissioning
David Krause as pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, Tifton, Georgia. The Commission resolved to decline
to reconsider its earlier opinion.
321. President Ellermann Protest (Ag. 663A, 728A, B, C): That resolution referred also to the request
made by Pres. John Ellermann of the Southern District. Furthermore, in response to his request the
Secretary under dates of October 24 and 29 had given detailed clarification. The Commission ratified both
of these replies. Rev. M. H. Lehnhardt of New Orleans (Ag. 728B) had asked whether the Commission
agrees with the protest of District President Ellermann. He is to be informed of the action of the
Commission not to reconsider its previous ruling on investitutes.
322. Ordination of Gerald Miller, Columbus, Ohio (Ag. 744): Rev. Enno Gahl, the senior pastor in the
congregation, took exception to the ruling of the Commission and requested a further explanation. The
Commission decided to reply that it holds that it has discharged its responsibility to interpret the
Constitution and Bylaws by issuing its recent rulings and sees no need to elaborate further.
323. Voting Rights of ALC Pastor in Dual ALC and LCMS Parish (Ag. 740): Dr. Mark Appold of
Kirksville, Missouri had raised the question whether such a pastor could vote in a Missouri Synod
convention and had also inquired about the transfer procedures. The Secretary had given him the
necessary information on the second question and had referred the first to the Commission. The
Commission ratified the Secretary's reply and then resolved to inform Dr. Appold of the following:
1.

A dual membership in two different Synods is not possible since ecclesiastical supervision is
involved and can hardly be divided.

2.

It is self-evident that only members of an organization can vote in the organization. In the
event that Pastor Schauer becomes a member of the LCMS the question will have been
answered.

324. Harlan Harnapp ⎯ Vernold Aurich Debate (A g. 747, 747A & B): Rev. Aurich had stated that he
wished to debate with Harlan Harnapp privately his document bringing charges against Dr. John Tietjen
but that Rev. Harnapp had stated that under the appeals procedures he was not free to discuss this matter
even though Aurich in turn stated that he wished to make it a separate matter aside and apart from the
settlement of the Tietjen case. Letters were on hand both from Vernold Aurich and from Harlan Harnapp.
The Commission resolved upon the following reply:
Since the CCM does not have a copy of the document "Document of Charges and Evidence," it
cannot state for certain whether it is or is not a separate matter.
However, the words in the title certainly indicate that the article is not a matter separate from the
Tietjen case. If that is the situation, then the words of Bylaw 5.31 j apply.