LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 31 - June 3, 1975, Page 1

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428. Hecht Questions (Ag. 761-J): President Harold Hecht of the English District had requested copies of
the CCM opinions on "Dual Membership and Sharing Pastors" and "Roster Status of Seminex Personnel."
The secretary had replied giving the essential information. The Commission ratified his reply.
429. Harnapg, Aurich Problem (AQ. 747-E): Since Vernold Aurich still insists upon his right to discuss
Harlan Harnapp's paper charging John Tietjen with false doctrine, the secretary had suggested to him that
he might ask the Board of Appeals whether it had any internal rules covering this particular question. The
Commission ratified the letter which the secretary had written to Chairman Haessler of the Board of
Appeals, alerting him to this situation.
430. Tietien Jurisdiction (Ag. 761-R): The Commission took note of President Herman Scherer's letter
indicating that he would take no action at the moment on the John Tietjen referral in view of the fact that
President Harold Hecht had protested the ruling. It was assumed, therefore, that President Scherer should
receive a carbon copy of the Commission's reply to President Hecht's protest.
431. Floor Committee Assignments: The Commission made the following assignments for the floor
committee meetings at the end of May and also in Anaheim: 3 - Prevallet and Eberhard; 4 - Prevallet; 5 Freise, Mueller; 6 - Klotz; 7 - Eberhard; 9 - Eberhard; 12 - Mueller; 14 - Klotz
432. The rest of the meeting was spent in looking at some of the overtures with constitutional questions
or issues involved.
Herbert Mueller, Secretary

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
May 31 - June 3, 1975 - St. Louis, Missouri
433. The commission met at various times during the floor committee meetings at Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis. During most of this time all members of the commission were in attendance.
434. Academic Freedom: Floor Committee #6 asked for a reaction concerning the BHE document on the
limitation of academic freedom. After studying this document the commission concluded that it seems to
be in harmony with the commission's earlier opinion on the doctrinal resolutions adopted at the New
Orleans convention, an opinion, however, which is being challenged at this convention.
435. Eligibility of ELIM Delegates (Ag. 824, A,B,C,D,E): The question of eligibility had been raised
especially by St. James Lutheran Church of University City, Rev. Tom Baker, in connection with the
pastoral and lay delegate representing their circuit. The commission ruled: "The question of membership
in ELIM has not been decided by the Synod and therefore at the present time delegates who hold
membership in ELIM are eligible to be seated at this convention." Klotz refrained from participating in
this discussion.
436. Vacancy on District Commission of Adjudication (Ag. 829): The chairman of the Colorado District
Commission of Adjudication, Attorney Edward Kurz, had inquired about the interpretation of the last
sentence of Bylaw 5.55 as to the identity of the commission referred to there. The commission resolved to
interpret that sentence to refer not to another commission of the Colorado District but to a Commission of
Adjudication of another District of the Synod.
437. Overtures re Otten (Ag. 831): Chairman Frederick Niedner of Floor Committee #9 had inquired
about the validity of overtures requesting that Herman Otten be admitted to the ministry. The secretary