LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 21-22, 1975, Page 10

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President Ressmeyer of the Atlantic District. In this connection the secretary also shared the letter which
Vice-President Hinsch of the Atlantic District had written to Emmaus of Brooklyn stating that he had
concluded that the charges against President Ressmeyer were not worthy of being acted on by means of
suspension and referral to the District Commission of Adjudication.
399. Lutheran Church in Mission (Ag. 796): The Commission noted copies of several news articles
reporting the incorporation of this new church body which is to become operative after Anaheim if
advisable in the opinion of the incorporators. The secretary alerted the Commission to the fact that many
overtures are asking that supporters of ELIM not be seated as delegates to the convention and that
undoubtedly there will be an even stronger demand that those who are incorporators of the new church
body not be seated. While the credentials committee will need to wrestle with this problem the
Commission may very well be asked for an opinion.
400. California Circuit Cabinet Chairmanship (Ag. 748A): Circuit Counselor Edwin Sohn had written a
rather heated letter to the Commission with respect to the request for an opinion as to whether a woman
could serve as chairman of the circuit counsel. The secretary had sent him the exact wording of the action
taken by the Commission. This reply was ratified.
401. Woman Suffrage, Texas District (Ag. 801): The chairman of the Texas District Committee on
Constitutions had asked the Commission for a reaction to a pastor's objection to a provision in his
congregation's constitution which would permit women to vote with respect to the dismissal.of a pastor. It
was decided to convey the earlier opinion that the Denver convention resolution had indeed limited the
offices which women could occupy but not the matters on which they could vote. The Commission,
however, suggested that the secretary indicate to Rev. Louis Konz, chairman, that they might wish to
question the provision that communicant members have certain voting rights in distinction from voting
members, which in effect gives the congregation two different voting bodies.
402. Calling of Non-synodical Teacher (Ag. 802): Rev. Hu of Yuma, Arizona had asked whether the
congregation could engage a teacher not on the roster of the Synod. The Commission ratified the
chairman's letter indicating that this was possible as long as the individual was not called.
403. District Bylaws (Ag. 9, 11, 12, 236): In an effort to clear up the backlog of District bylaws ViceChairman Herbert Freise suggested that the Commission get rid of four sets of bylaws in the next
meeting, that Sommermeyer be asked whether he has the copies and also a critique available of the
Missouri and California-Nevada Districts and that Prevallet (Iowa East) and Luessenhop (Ohio) be asked
to submit their critiques of the District bylaws assigned previously to them.
The meeting adjourned with the Lord's Prayer in unison.
Herbert Mueller, Secretary
Opinion re Removal of District Presidents from Office

The synodical Commission of Adjudication has requested the Commission on Constitutional
Matters to rule on the removal of District Presidents from office. This request stems from the fact that the
Commission of Adjudication has received several requests to hear charges or to take action against certain
District Presidents who, it is alleged, have failed to fulfill their presidential responsibilities by failing to
uphold the Constitution and the Bylaws of the Synod.
Similar requests for constitutional rulings have also been received from other sources.