LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 24-25, 1976, Page 4

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152. AELC and Membership on a District Board of Directors (Ag. 1087): Secretary Williard E. Mueller
of the Southern Illinois District had asked whether lay people must be declared removed from the District
board of directors by virtue of joining the AELC and whether lay persons who are members of the board
of directors are to be dealt with in exactly the same way as pastors or teachers in these circumstances. The
Commission resolved that the notice adopted on this day applied to this situation as well.
153. AELC Pastor Eligible to Continue to Serve LCMS Congregation? (Ag. 1090): Rev. Raymond G.
Moelter of AuGres, Michigan, had raised that question, asking whether the congregation would be in
violation of Bylaw 4.01 under those circumstances. The Secretary had replied that a congregation would
indeed be in violation of 4.01 if it retains a pastor who is no longer a member of the Synod. The
Commission formally ratified this reply.
154. Taddey Thanks (Ag. 1091): Attention was called to the fact that this letter of thanks had been noted
already at the previous regular meeting.
155. Board for Missions Request for Delay Regarding Dual Membership (Ag. 1092): The Executive
Committee of the Board for Missions had called attention to the fact that a previous board had permitted
American missionaries to take out membership also in indigenous partner churches so that they are in
effect holding dual membership. The present Board for Missions recognizes that this is not proper.
However, it feels that it needs time under these delicate circumstances to implement the ruling regarding
dual membership. It points out that the Executive Committee finds no problem with the opinion of the
CCM itself. The Commission noted that the ruling regarding AELC does not really apply to missionaries
who are not joining the AELC, although the ruling on dual membership in two church bodies does;
however, since the implementation of the AELC opinion in its full force had been delayed until 1977 the
Commission held that such a delay could apply also to the problem with which the Board for Missions is
dealing. The Commission asked the Secretary to thank the Board for Missions for its positive attitude
toward the opinion on the AELC.
156. District Secretary's Distress (Ag. 1093_): Secretary Ralph E. Wiechmann had written to the
Secretary of the Synod indicating his distress over the certification form which requires also observance
of the rulings of the Commission on Constitutional Matters. The Secretary had sympathized with him and
had given several practical suggestions. This correspondence was merely noted for the record since it was
not really addressed to the CCM.
157. Northwest District Request for Delay of Implementation of AELC Opinion (Ag. 1095 : The CCM
resolved that the action on this day regarding the implementation of the AELC opinion satisfies also this
request.
158. Long Island High School Association Teachers (Ag. 1098): The Commission simply took note of
conversations which the Secretary had had with the superintendent of this Association regarding the
synodical membership and pension eligibility of teachers on his staff who unfortunately belong to
congregations which joined the AELC.
159. Request for Delay, Fairview Heights, Illinois (Ag. 1100): The Fairview Heights congregation had
asked that an exception be made in its own case for a delay in implementing the opinion on membership
in the AELC. The Commission resolved that its action of this day is a sufficient answer since it does
extend the time for the congregation to act.