LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 3-4, 1978, Page 5

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

31. New Jersey Bylaw Revision Re Indemnity (Ag. 995): It was reported that legal counsel Draheim had
not yet responded to a request regarding this item.
32. Brazil District Bylaws (Ag. 1202, A,B,C): On the basis of analyses made by John Klotz, Arthur
Ahlschwede, and H. Mueller, the Commission made extensive recommendations regarding these
proposed Bylaws (see attachment). Additional difficulties were ascribed to problems in translation (see
Minutes 59).
33. Sauer Eligibility (Ag. 1252, A,B, 1246): The Texas District Board of Directors had asked the
Commission to investigate the constitutional eligibility of Robert Sauer to serve both as Administrative
Assistant to the President and as a Vice-President of the Synod. When the Secretary had asked the District
to present its rationale in behalf of the view that this was in conflict with the Constitution or Bylaws, the
request from the District was withdrawn.
34. Reuben Schmidt-Preus Correspondence (Ag 1255): The Commission took note of the carbon copy of
the letter addressed by Rev. Reuben Schmidt.
35. Rutz Re Sell and Fincke (Ag. 1256): It also took note of correspondence between Fred Rutz and the
Secretary of the Synod regarding the claim that Fincke should be declared elected over Sell.
36. Dual LCMS and LCA Membership (Ag. 1257): President Bornemann had asked the synodical
Secretary whether a congregation could belong both to the Synod and to the LCA. The Secretary had
referred President Bornemann to several opinions of the Commission ruling out this possibility. This
reply was ratified.
37. Inquiry Re Abdon (Ag. 1237): Pastor Earl Philipp of E1 Reno, Oklahoma, had asked what official
connection there was between the organization headed by Donald A. Abdon of Indianapolis and the
Synod, the CCM, or any other official group. The Commission ratified the Secretary's reply to the effect
that there was no official connection and that the Commission had never seen a copy of the
congregational Constitution being proposed by the Abdon firm.
38. District Auxiliaries (Ag. 1208B): President Niedner had written a follow-up letter, assuring that there
would be no official connection between the "Lutheran Lay Witness Weekend" and the Nebraska District,
but also asking about the status of Lutheran Bible Translators. He had also raised questions about the
fiscal and legal liability a District may have over against such a loosely related organization. The
Secretary had stated that he had no knowledge that the Lutheran Bible Translators had ever been officially
approved and that the headquarters have been sensitized by legal counsel over the past few months to
legal implications involved in any type of recognition proceedings. The Commission ratified this reply.
39. St. Louis Lutheran. Error (Ag. 1242): In a prominent lead article the St. Louis Lutheran had stated that
the CCM had ruled that Oscar Gerken had failed to act in the Tietjen case. The Secretary had written a
correction to the editors. However, no correction was ever made nor was the letter acknowledged. The
CCM took note of this fact.
40. Voting Age (Ag. 1254): In answer to an inquiry the Secretary had informed Rev. Thomas D. Kraus of
the Constitution Committee of the English District that in 1970 the CCM had ruled that congregations
have the right to set the voting age for membership although it was expected that the congregation would
exercise good Christian judgment and also act in conformity with state laws. This reply was ratified.