LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 13-14, 1976, Page 2

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Resolutions 6-02 and 6-04, a graduate of Seminex cannot qualify for endorsement as a clergy
candidate except by completing the prescribed synodical colloquy program. A District student aid
board receiving a request for financial support from a prospective student or student at Seminex
should, in order to fulfill the intentions of the donors, require as a minimum a sincere commitment
to pursue the colloquy program prescribed in the synodical Handbook after the completion of his
program at such an established non-synodical Lutheran seminary, so that he can be properly
endorsed for service in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
100. Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (Ag 1014, 1015, 1023, 1025, A,B, 1026, 1029-1033,
1041-1054): The Commission had received many inquiries (see attached list) regarding the Association of
Evangelical Lutheran Churches, whether congregations and individuals could belong to both the Missouri
Synod and the Association, whether such persons would be eligible to serve as delegates to the Dallas
convention, etc. The Commission adopted a detailed opinion which is attached to the minutes and decided
to publish it in The Lutheran Witness.
101. United Board of Missions, Port Arthur, Texas (A 954-B): The Board took note of a letter of thanks
from Rev. Martin Ramming regarding its recent opinion.
102. Vice-Presidential Succession (Ag. 967-X): The Commission ratified the letter which the Secretary
had sent, upon request of Dr. J.A.0. Preus, to Rev. Walter Otten of Brookfield, Illinois who had inquired
about the succession to vacancies among vice-presidents which had led Dr. Preus to request a ruling in the
previous meeting of the Commission.
103. Reactions to CCM Opinion on Resolution 5-02A (Ag. 1024, A,B,C): The Commission took note of
reactions from Mr. William Foard of Bolingbrook, Illinois; Rev. M.G. Kirsch and Rev. Alton Wedel of
Minneapolis; and Rev. Richard Ziehr.
104. Robert Brueckner Letter (Ag. 1036); News Release re Tietien Case Being Turned Over to VicePresident Nickel (Ag. 1039); Excerpts from New English Synod Resource Book Blaming the CCM in
Part for the Creation of the New English Synod (Ag 1058): The Commission noted these items for the
record.
105. South Dakota Presidential Elections (As. 1038, A): The Commission ratified the correspondence of
the Secretary in which he called the attention of President Arthur J. Crosmer to the fact that the District
Bylaws could not restrict eligibility for District presidency to members of the District, but would need to
extend it to all clergy members of the Synod in harmony with Bylaw 3.21.
106. South Wisconsin District Bylaws (Ag. 1056): The Commission was happy to give full approval to
the South Wisconsin District Bylaws since that District had made the changes proposed by the
Commission on Constitutional Matters and had now requested such full approval in a letter from
Secretary Robert A. Schmidt.
107. Reception of New Members (Ag. 1059): In answer to a request from Secretary Robert Schmidt of
the South Wisconsin District, Secretary Mueller had stated his conviction that new members would need
to sign the Constitution of the Synod in open session rather than at the District office, but that such
congregations and individuals are usually reported as having been received into membership and are then
expected to sign at the first convention which they can attend. He had further stated that female teachers
who had made application and had been received into membership should indeed be incorporated in the
District president's report to the Department of Personnel and Statistics. The Commission formally
ratified this reply.