LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 12-13, 1975, Page 6

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Christian Medical Work proposes new bylaws for its work to the 1977
convention.
529. Inquiry re Gerken-Tietjen Ruling (Ag. 886): The Secretary had pointed out in response to a request
from Rev. Gary H. Heide of Selah, Washington, that the Commission had not ruled that Vice-President
Oscar Gerken had failed to act properly. The Commission ratified his reply.
530. Arthur Preisinger Correspondence (Ag. 899, 899 A): The Commission had received very sharp
criticism from this pastor regarding the Gerken-Tietjen ruling. The Secretary had replied, calling his
attention to the fact that the Commission had not ruled that Gerken had acted improperly. Rev. Preisinger
had replied in a continuing critical vein. The Commission decided to ratify the response of the Secretary
and to drop the matter from the agenda without further correspondence.
531. Lay Delegate from Dual Parish (Ag. 893): Mr. Willard Barrentohl of Freeburg, Illinois had inquired
of the Secretary which bylaws governed the way in which lay delegates were to be selected from dual
parishes. The Secretary had indicated that there are no bylaws for this and had referred to several ways in
which this matter has traditionally been handled. The Commission ratified his reply.
532. Article in "Chronicle of Higher Education" (Ag. 903): This journal had stated in a news item "Under
Synod's law Mr. Gerken's decision should have been final." The Secretary had written to the journal,
calling attention to the fact that this is not true and that already six months previously the CCM had given
the definition of a certain phrase in one of its bylaws and that this had been done before the request for
intervention in the case had been directed to the President of the Synod. The Commission ratified his
communication to the Chronicle.
533. Rev. David R. Young Criticism (Ag. 908): In response to the assertion of Rev. David R. Young that
the Commission had now ruled that "failure to convict is failure to act," the Secretary had informed him
that the CCM had not said this. The Commission ratified his reply.
534. Dean Lueking Position Paper (Ag. 874): This paper which Pastor Lueking had shared with his
congregation was called to the attention of the Commission. While observing that the paper contained
several inaccuracies, the Commission merely took note of the document.
535. Articles and Editorials in Missouri in Perspective (Ag. 882, 900-Az 900-B): The Commission also
took note of "twisted" articles and editorials which had appeared in this journal on the Tietjen-Gerken
matter.
536. Buelow-Harnapp Appeal (Ag. 894): It also took note of a newspaper article which reported that
Buelow and Harnapp had asked the synodical President to intervene in the Gerken-Tietjen matter.
537. Election of District Presidents at Synodical Conventions (Ag. 898): The Secretary presented a
memorandum in which it was pointed out that in 1854 when the Synod divided into Districts the District
presidents were elected b the Synod in convention and that thereafter until 1874 it seemed that the District
presidents were elected _at the synodical conventions by caucuses of the delegates from the respective
Districts.
538. Consenting to Ordination (Ag. 906): Since the Commission had had before it until it was withdrawn
a request to define the status of "consenting to ordination" under Anaheim Resolution 5-02A, the
Secretary had drafted a preliminary document. This was read to the Commission in order to begin further
discussion of the matter in case the request should be renewed in the near future.