LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — July 13-22, 1977, Page 3

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act of authorizing a hymnal to another group in view of the bylaw word "only," the fine
distinctions between such terms as "publication, printing, distribution, sale," and the question
whether a matter becomes official if the convention gives its approval to it, or are there different
levels of "official." The Commission felt that the substitute offered from the floor could be
accepted for consideration, without passing on the relative merits of the floor committee's
resolution or of the substitute offered by a delegate, if the delegate, who is unknown to the
Commission at the time, would be willing to accept several changes which would make it very
plain that all that the convention at this time would authorize would be the printing of sufficient
copies for the required exposure and testing called for by the new bylaw.
A handwritten copy of the substitute resolution and the wording to be inserted upon recommendation of
the committee is attached.
The Secretary made such a report to the floor at the next opportunity and the mover of the amendment
readily agreed to the improvement suggested by the CCM. It should be noted in the minutes that the
convention agreed to consider the substitute, as refined, under the Behnken rule and asked that the
substitute motion as revised should be printed for distribution so that good consideration could be given
to it. When the substitute again came before the floor at the following session the convention declined to
pass it and adopted instead the resolution prepared by the floor committee.
323. Interpretation of "Raise" in Irvine Resolution: The Board of Directors conveyed the request through
Robert Hirsch and Dr. Preus as to the meaning of the word "raise" in the resolution which expects the
Lutherans of Southern California to "raise" an additional $500,000 for the Irvine building program. Does
this word include the right to borrow or is it limited to free-will gifts? It was noted that amendments in
both directions had been voted down. It was therefore suggested that since the convention was still in
session the convention itself should be given the opportunity to interpret its own resolution instead of
asking the CCM afterwards to do so. This matter was subsequently brought to the floor of the convention
for interpretation. After prolonged discussion the convention voted down a motion which would have
prohibited including the idea of borrowing and thereby ruled in the estimation of the chair that the
concept of borrowing could be included in the interpretation of the word "raise."
Herbert Mueller, Secretary

Opinion Re Nominating Procedures
Several months ago the Commission on Constitutional Matters was asked to react to a suggestion
of the Committee for Convention Nominations that nominees for various positions be asked to answer
two questions regarding their qualifications and their views on issues confronting the Synod.
At that time the Commission decided to suspend judgment until it would become known precisely
what questions the Committee for Convention Nominations would formulate. In any event, after meeting
with representatives of the 8ommittee and explaining its concern, the Commission advised the committee
that at the very least the convention should be permitted to express itself on the issue.
In its meeting of July 14, 1977 the Commission on Constitutional Matters, after prolonged
reflection on the precise nature of the questions placed beforethe nominees by the Committee for
Convention Nominations, came to the following conclusions:
1.

A close reading of Bylaw 2.143 a ('"This report shall contain pertinent information
concerning each candidate, such as age, occupation, or profession, District affiliation,