LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 24-25, 1976, Page 7

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Answer: No.
166. Inspection of Records (Ag. 1073): On behalf of the Board of Directors Legal Counsel Philip E.
Draheim had placed before the Commission the question: "Does an individual, not a member of The
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, have the right to inspect financial and/or other records of the Synod in
inquiring into various transactions of the Synod and its several Funds?" The Commission decided to postpone action on this matter at this meeting because of a lack of time to give it adequate consideration.
167. Publish Irvine Opinion? (Ag. 1097): In view of the fact that Missouri in Perspective had in an
interview with the Secretary indicated a false understanding of the CCM's recent opinion on allocation of
Thankoffering funds for Irvine, and in view of the fact that many people were inquiring about the
specifics of that opinion, the Secretary asked whether the Commission now wished to publish it in its
entirety in The Lutheran Witness. The Commission resolved to do so.
168. Ziehr Letter (Ag. 1024C): Rev. Richard 0. Ziehr had published a letter in The Lutheran Witness
indicating that the CCM apparently was not permitting the Lord to build the house. The Secretary had
replied that the Commission was indeed very desirous of having the Lord build the house and therefore
was distressed when the objective of the Synod to properly train qualified pastors to feed the people of
God with the pure Word of God is set aside. The Commission ratified the Secretary's reply.
169. Associate Pastors as Delegates (Ag. 1071, 1079): Both Rev. Clarence Eisberg of Fresno, California,
and Pastor Donald H. Heitner of Cincinnati had asked whether associate pastors were eligible for the
delegate election process. The Secretary had replied in the affirmative. The Commission ratified both
letters.
170. Enlarging Saskatoon Seminary (Ag. 1072): The Alberta-British Columbia District convention had
resolved to ask the CCM to assist it in enlarging this seminary program in Canada. The Secretary had
replied that this was beyond the scope of the Commission and had directed the District instead to the
Board for Higher Education for assistance. The Commission ratified this reply.
171. Lay Teachers as Lay Delegates (Ag. 1077): Secretary Robert Schmidt had asked whether those who
are listed in the Annual as lay teachers in Lutheran schools could serve as lay delegates. The Secretary
had replied that they could indeed do so as long as they were not on either the clergy or teacher roster of
the Synod. The Commission approved this reply.
172. Assistance for Layman (Ag. 1081): Mr. Jack Pope of Tulsa, Oklahoma, had asked the Commission
on Constitutional Matters to assist him in dealing with uncertified pastors. The Secretary had informed
him that this was not the province of the Commission on Constitutional Matters. This reply also was
ratified.
173. Quickies (Ag. 927B, 997A, 1069, 1069A, 1075, 1076B, 1076F, 1088): The Commission took note of
the following items: A letter of thanks from the Board of Directors of the Southern California District for
the opinion on Irvine; a letter from President Harold Brockhoff regarding support for Seminex students
and the CCM's ruling on that matter; requests for copies of the ruling on AELC from Mr. Herbert A.
Finke of Sacramento, California, from Mrs. Vera Matthews of Red Bud, Illinois, and from Rev. R.R. Rolf
of Springville, New York; a copy of a clipping from a Memphis newspaper regarding the ELIM meeting
and its decisions; thanks from Martin R. Taddey for recent opinions.
174. Convention Notice (Ag. 1099): The Secretary also called attention to the convention notice which he
had mailed to all boards and commissions, including the CCM, with respect to convention reports and