LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 6-7, 1974, Page 8

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itself which is usually delegated to the staff but which may be delegated by the Board to members
of the Board or other individuals.
The Commission suggests that the petitioners might wish to discuss some of their practical
questions with the chairman of the Board for Missions or with the Acting Executive Secretary.
334. Lodge Paragraph (Ag. 737): Rev. Carl R. Lampitt of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming had asked whether a
congregation must have an anti-lodge clause in its constitution in order to have its constitution accepted
and become a member of the Synod. The Commission resolved upon the following reply:
1.

There is nothing in the Bylaws of the Synod that requires the incorporation of such a statement
in a congregation's constitution.

2.

However, whether such a statement is included or not, a congregation desiring to obtain or
retain membership in the Synod is pledged to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod,
including Chapter XIV of the Bylaws on Fraternal Organizations.

335. Woman as Chairman of Circuit Cabinet (Ag. 748): Rev. Charles W. Keturakat had asked whether a
woman could serve as chairman of a circuit cabinet which consists of a pastor and a layman from each
parish in the circuit. It was decided to send the following reply:
Since the Commission does not have all the facts and does not have a full description of the duties
of the chairman of the circuit cabinet, the Commission can only reply as follows:
If the chairman merely serves as moderator. it might be permissible for a woman to hold this
position. But if the position involves "exerting dominion over men" it would seem to be
improper.
336. Communication from CTCR (Ag. 488A): Having noted this communication from Dr. Ralph
Bohlmann, the Commission decided to remove the item from its agenda.
337. Medical Mission Conflict (Ag. 576): The attention of the Commission had already been called to the
conflict regarding the Executive Secretary of Medical Missions involved in Bylaw 2.83 and Bylaw 8.75.
The Commission had been unable to trace how, in spite of the manuscript prepared by the Secretary, the
line had crept into Bylaw 2.83. The Commission resolved that unless evidence turns up to the contrary,
the line referring to the Executive Secretary of Medical Missions would be deleted in the next edition of
the Handbook from Bylaw 2.83, since Bylaw 8.75 is the earlier reference.
338. Joint Campus Worship Communities (Ag. 755): President Arthur T. Kuehnert of the Central Illinois
District had asked the Commission to define more closely what is understood by joint campus worship
communities, especially with reference to the question whether this applies only to those activities in
which the Lord's Supper is celebrated. The Commission decided upon the following reply:
The Commission on Constitutional Matters understands a "joint campus worship community" to be
a more or less formal group which gathers for worship in which the Word of God is used. It is not
necessary for the Sacrament to be in use every time the group gathers. "Word and Sacrament"
generally has not been taken to mean only a Communion service.
339. Resigned Pastor as Communicant Member (Ag. 763): Rev. Wilfred L. Ziekert of Lyons, Kansas had
asked: Is a pastor who has resigned his office at the request of the congregation because of unchristian