LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 12-13, 1975, Page 1

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Herbert Mueller, Secretary
Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters
December 12-13, 1975
498. Carl Eberhard spoke the opening prayer. All members were present. The minutes of the previous
meeting were approved as submitted.
499. Officers: The Commission elected the following as officers for a two year term beginning January 1,
1976: Herbert Freise, chairman; Carl Eberhard, vicechairman. By Bylaw provision the synodical
Secretary serves as secretary of the Commission.
500. Springfield--Ft. Wayne Move and Bylaw 1.27 h (Ag 877, A,B C,_D): The Board of Directors of the
Central Illinois District had inquired whether Resolution 6-08A, the transfer of Springfield to Fort
Wayne, was constitutional in the light of Bylaw 1.27 h which requires that cost projections must
accompany recommendations of the floor committees. The Commission had received input from the floor
committee, the Task Force on Higher Education, the Board for Higher Education, the Springfield
president. It also examined the original report of the Task Force to the convention on this matter. After
spending a greater part of the afternoon in discussing this question the Commission adopted a detailed
opinion (attached to the Minutes) in which it held in summary that since no net cost to the Synod was
anticipated, Bylaw 1.27 h does not apply.
501. Eligibility of Uncertified Seminex Pastors as Delegate (A 907): Rev. M.H. Lehnhardt of New
Orleans, Louisiana had asked for a ruling regarding the eligibility of uncertified Seminex pastors to serve
as delegates to conventions. The Commission adopted a ruling (attached to the Minutes) to the effect that
such individuals were ineligible to serve as voting or advisory pastoral delegates to synodical or District
conventions.
502. Preus Questions -- Seminex Eligibility and Anaheim Res. 5-02A (Ag 906): Dr. J.A.O. Preus had
addressed four sets of questions to the Commission:
1. Involving the eligibility of uncertified Seminex graduates to serve as delegates.
2. An interpretation of "consenting to ordination."
3. Whether the "successor" referred to in Resolution 5-02A could be the president whose office
had just been vacated.
4. Questions about the sixty day notification period.
Prior to the meeting Dr. Preus withdrew the second question and on the following morning withdrew also
the fourth question. The Commission resolved in answer to the first question to send him a copy of the
ruling adopted with respect to Pastor Lehnhardt's question. The Commission also adopted an opinion
(attached to the Minutes) that the "successor" could be any clergy member of the Synod who declares his
willingness to comply with Anaheim Resolution 5-02A.
503. Questions re Seminex Ordinations (Ag. 879): St. Paul's congregation of Shelton - Lowell parish,
Nebraska, had raised with the Commission many questions regarding the ordination of uncertified
Seminex graduates. The Commission decided to send the following reply: