LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 31 - June 3, 1975, Page 2

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had replied on several possibilities that a floor committee could investigate. The commission ratified this
reply.
438. Black Jack, Missouri (Ag. 833): President Herman Scherer of the Missouri District had asked
whether Salem congregation of Black Jack, Missouri, had violated its own constitution in abolishing the
office of head pastor for the reason given. Quotations from the minutes were supplied by Dr. Scherer. The
commission adopted the following reply:
Previously the Commission on Constitutional Matters had ruled that the question is a theological
issue and should- be presented to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations. The
commission stated that if the CTCR should decide that the action of the congregation violated the'
doctrine of the call, the question would need to be looked at once again in the light of Article II of
the Synod's Constitution.
It has been reported to the CCM that the CTCR apparently did not find that the action of the
congregation violated the doctrine of the call. The CCM therefore holds that it is now the
responsibility of the proper District officials to determine whether or not the congregation's action
was in violation of the congregation's own constitution and to take appropriate action under
Article III, 8 of the Synod's Constitution.
439. Removal of District President (Ag. 827): In answer to an inquiry from Rev. Harold Reiss of Boulder,
Colorado, the secretary had called his attention to the provisions for appeals which the commission had
incorporated in its opinion regarding the removal of District Presidents from office. The commission
ratified this reply.
440. President _as Member of Hearings Committee (Ag. 832): The faculty of Concordia, Seward had
asked whether it was permissible for a college president to serve as a member of the Faculty Hearings
Committee.. Bylaw 6.91, d states that he shall be an ex-officio member of the standing committees of the
faculty. The commission ruled that in spite of the statement of this bylaw, membership on the part of the
president on the Faculty Hearings Committee would be a conflict of interest in view of the president's
relationship to the Board of Control and in view of the fact that the president would often serve as the
accuser. The commission is of the opinion that the bylaw should be amended to specifically exclude the
president from the Faculty Hearings Committee.
441. Election of Teacher Delegates (Ag. 821): Secretary Robert A. Schmidt of the South Wisconsin
District had asked whether it was permissible for the District teachers conference to nominate persons for
the election of teacher delegates. The commission ratified the secretary's reply stating once again that the
District teachers conference may indeed nominate but the slate of nominees can be amended by the
teachers present at the convention and the election itself must be held at the District convention (Bylaw
1.57).
442. President Jacobs - San Francisco Night Ministry (Ag. 671-J): In a letter to the commission President
Jacobs had stressed that it was the CCM's responsibility to secure a theological opinion from the CTCR.
The secretary had replied that as far as the CCM was concerned the matter was no longer on the agenda
and that any request for a theological ruling on the part of the CTCR should come from President Jacobs
since he is the person interested in pursuing the matter rather than the CCM. The commission ratified this
reply.
443. "Play by the Rules" (Ag. 825): The commission noted with interest the article on this subject
supplied by Freise.