LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 25-26, 1977, Page 4

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now asked for advice as to when would be the best time for him to release the actual tally of votes cast for
all persons suggested for these two positions:
1.

When the announcement of the five "winning" candidates is made; or

2.

When the report is published in the Workbook; or

3.

When the proposed resolutions of the floor committees are reported in the first issue of
Today's Business; or

4.

When the Secretary reports in person at the convention.

After some discussion, with several different preferences being mentioned, there seemed to be agreement
that perhaps the best procedure would be to announce the tally count in the Workbook since this is the
official manual containing the official reports to the convention. The Commission, however, felt that the
Secretary should be permitted to exercise discretion.
257. Procedure for Receiving Congregations Into Membership (AR. 1173): Much confusion exists today
in the executive offices, in the Department of Personnel and Statistics, in the Worker Benefit Plans, and
even in the departments handling the official mailing lists because some Districts in the past have been
quite haphazard in the manner in which they have been receiving congregations into membership, with
the result that there has been some question as to whether certain congregations are really members at all.
In answer to an urgent appeal from the Department of Personnel and Statistics the Secretary had drafted a
letter to District Presidents, outlining precisely the steps that ought to be followed, in the light of the Constitution and Bylaws, for receiving a congregation into membership. This letter was shared with the
Commission, which decided to ratify it and also resolved that it should be included among the opinions
printed in the convention Workbook.
258. Women as Elders (Ag. 1174): Signal Hill congregation of Belleville, Illinois had raised some
questions regarding the limitations placed upon the positions which women could hold. The Secretary had
forwarded the guidelines from the Milwaukee convention Workbook and had called attention to the
additional ruling that Denver had limited the offices which women could hold but had not limited the
issues on which they could vote. The Commission ratified this reply. The Secretary reported that the
congregation in question and also other sources were submitting overtures to the convention calling for a
liberalization of the Synod's position on the offices which women could hold.
259. San Francisco Night Ministry (Ag. 1177): District Secretary Theodore Iverson had informed the
Commission that a Congregationalist minister was no longer conducting this ministry but that it was
under the supervision of an LCA clergyman and that three or four of the LCMS pastors were also serving
on a relief basis. They now wish to know whether this makes it permissible for them to participate or
whether their financial support should be limited to that of the LCMS pastors when they act as relief
ministers. The Commission was happy to note the changing attitude in regard to this matter and decided
to advise that the safest procedure would be to restrict the financial support to the LCMS portion of the
program to avoid any difficulty.
260. Delegate Vacancies (Ag. 1068); English District Bylaws (Ag. 653); Ruling on Overture to Cal-Nev
District Re Evading CCM (Ag. 933A); Gerald Miller Eligibility (AQ. 1022A, 1019); Ohio District
President--Elected or Called (Ag. 1028): It was decided to hold all of these items on the agenda.
261. New Jersey District Bylaw Re Indemnification of Agents (Ag. _995): It was reported that a reply
still had not been received from legal counsel Phil Draheim to the inquiry of the CCM.