LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 12-13, 1975, Page 3

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511. Limitation of Tenure (Ag. 876 and 876A): President A. T. Kuehnert of the Central Illinois District
had asked whether the synodical bylaws regarding limitation of tenure applied also to the elected officers
of Districts. President Harold Brockhoff (876A) had raised essentially the same question as to whether the
regulations regarding four year terms and reappointments applied also to the District officers in various
departments. The Secretary had replied quoting earlier rulings of 1968 and 1970 to the effect that even
though Districts may very well emulate the policies and procedures of the Synod they are not obligated to
do so since the pertinent bylaws do not state that District officers also come under these provisions. The
Commission ratified these replies.
512. Removal of Board Member (Ag. 878): The Texas District Board of Directors had asked whether it
could remove from office a board member for not attending a certain number of meetings during a certain
time period or missing several in succession. The Commission resolved to inform the Texas District that
such a provision would require the adoption of a bylaw to that effect by the District convention.
513. Restrictions on Women in Congregational Constitutions (Ag 887): Wilbur H. Becker, chairman of
the Cal-Nev Committee on Constitutional Matters, had asked whether restrictions on the offices which
women could hold had to be placed into the Constitution of a congregation. The Commission replied that
whether or not such a restriction is set forth in the Constitution or Bylaws is immaterial as long as the
guidelines (Milwaukee convention Workbook, p. 244) are observed.
514. Congregational Bylaws (Ag. 888): The same person had asked whether the District Committee on
Constitutional Matters was obligated to review also the bylaws of congregations or merely the
constitution? The Commission held that also the bylaws should be examined since as an extension of the
constitution they are a part of the constitution in this regard.
515. Voting Rights in Dual Pastorate (Ag. 889): President Preus had sent a memo to the Secretary since
he had been asked to give information regarding the pastoral voting rights in a congregation served by
two pastors. The Secretary had pointed out that the Constitution makes assistant pastors ineligible to vote
but that in a congregation with a genuine dual pastorate it is the congregation which determines which
pastor is to cast its pastoral vote. The Commission ratified this reply.
516. Calling Deaconesses (AQ. 892): The Secretary had referred President Harold Brockhoff of the
Oklahoma District to the CTCR with his question regarding the calling of deaconesses. The Commission
approved this reply.
517. Martin Buerger Letter re Tietjen-Gerken Ruling (Ag. 890): It also approved the reply which the
Secretary had sent to this extremely critical letter.
518. Neunaber Paper (AQ. 896): President Herman Neunaber of the Southern Illinois District had
submitted a three part paper "Reasons for my Stand" with the request that the CCM review Part III of that
paper from a constitutional standpoint. The Secretary had replied stating that the request would certainly
be presented but that in the past the Commission had usually refrained from any such review process but
had preferred to answer specific questions. He had then gone on to give some personal comments in an
effort to be helpful. The Commission resolved, as set forth in the first paragraph of the Secretary's letter,
to inform President Neunaber officially that it was its usual policy to refrain from any such review
process as he had requested.
519. Emeritus as Voting Delegate (Ag. 897): President Emil Jaech had asked whether an emeritus serving
a congregation without a permanent call could represent that congregation as a voting pastoral delegate.