LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — July 3-11, 1975, Page 4

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467. Pastor c.r.m. Joining ALC Congregation (Ag. 840): President Simon of the North Wisconsin District
asks whether a man who resigns from his congregation but joins an ALC congregation may still retain
c.r.m. status on the roster. The secretary had inquired what the circumstances of the resignation had been,
etc. The committee ratified his reply in the expectation that President Simon would supply additional
information.
Monday, July 7
468. Constitutionality of Res. 3-03A (Ag. 850): Resolution 3-03A was intended to provide a means for
responding to concerns of the former faculty majority of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. When the
question was about to be called in Session 5, a delegate asked for an opinion regarding the
constitutionality of this resolution. The commission considered this matter and arrived at the following
conclusion which was reported to the convention on the following morning, July 8, Session 6: The
commission holds that consideration of the resolution is not unconstitutional since rights are still
guaranteed, although the commission reserves the right to alter its opinion after further consideration. The
secretary was asked to give a background to this opinion: The CCM ruling regarding New Orleans
Resolution 3-09, the departure of the faculty majority before the ruling could be implemented, the request
of the students and especially the request of Bethel congregation which includes 27 members of the
former faculty in its membership lists to have the names of these professors cleared. Bethel congregation
had requested that its members be "exonerated from the cloud of condemnation." The secretary would
make reference to the fact that the CCM, while holding that the consideration of 3-03A was
constitutional, had recommended a different procedure for dealing with the issue to Committee #3, but
that the committee had chosen to recommend the procedure outlined in Res. 3-03A.
Herbert Mueller, Secretary
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
September 19-20, 1975
469. The meeting was opened with prayer by Carl Eberhard. Present at the beginning were Don Prevallet,
Carl Eberhard, and the secretary. Within a few moments Herbert Freise also put in his appearance and
after approximately one hour, John Klotz. The minutes of the May 31-June 3 meeting as well as the
minutes of the meetings held during the Anaheim convention were approved as submitted. The secretary
distributed the bound copies of the Proceedings, calling attention to the fact that the members of the CCM
had already received unbound copies through the mail in order to prepare for the Handbook revision
assignment of the Commission. The secretary also distributed extra copies of the section in the convention
Workbook containing some of the more important opinions and rulings of the Commission during the
past biennium.
470. Handbook Revisions (Ag. 864, 864A): Much of the first afternoon was devoted to going through the
Handbook page by page and taking note of the changes that now needed to be made in the wake of
convention actions. These changes which were approved by the Commission may be classified under the
following subdivisions:
Bylaws Adopted or Amended by Anaheim Convention Resolutions
1.27 b,e,f,g - Overtures (Res. 14-01)
3.19 - Attendance of Delegates (Res. 9-06)
3.41 - Drop last sentence referring to Council of Presidents (Res. 5-03)
3.53 - New Bylaw on "Council of Presidents" (Res. 5-03)