LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 3-4, 1978, Page 7

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51. Satellite Beach Statement (Ag. 1253): Mr. Jim Kraver, president of Our Savior, Satellite Beach,
Florida, had asked the Commission to review a statement adopted by the congregation concerning
fellowship, communion practice, use of worship materials. The Commission resolved to inform the
congregation that although it is the Commission's task to interpret the Synod's Constitution, Bylaws, and
resolutions and that there are no provisions to review resolutions of the congregations, nevertheless in an
effort to be helpful the Commission resolved 1) to inform the congregation that its statement is at variance
at several points with Bylaw 3.07, e, which may be regarded as a synodically adopted position on the
proper implementation of the Synod's Constitution, Article VI, 2, and 2) to call the congregation's
attention also to Article VI, 4, regarding the use of doctrinally pure hymnals.
52. AELC Membership in Teachers' Conferences (Ag. 1259): Teacher Ronald J. Seibert of Rocky River,
Ohio, had asked whether members of the AELC could be members of the Ohio District Teachers'
Conference. The Commission resolved to call attention to the following facts:
1.

Bylaw 4.111, a, clearly states "In each District of the Synod there shall be an official
conference for its pastors and an official conference for its teachers. Each official conference
shall consist respectively of all clergymen and all teachers on the District roster

2.

The Synod has not established fellowship with the AELC and therefore the following bylaws
also need to be kept in mind: 16.03, 1.21, 3.07, e.

53. LCMS Pastors Continuing to Serve Their Congregations Which Have Decided to Join the AELC (Ag.
1264): In a phone call President Zeile had discussed this difficult question with Secretary Mueller. Carbon
copies received by Mueller subsequently of letters addressed by President Zeile to two pastors involved
did not fully cover the situation. Mueller had therefore written to both pastors with carbon copies to
President Zeile and to Mr. Orville Richter, detailing the rather limited conditions under which Missouri
Synod pastors can serve non-Missouri Synod congregations as indicated on several previous occasions by
rulings of the CCM. (See August 24, 1973 Minutes, Ag. 460; July, 1974 Minutes, Ag. 648). The
Commission ratified this letter of the Secretary.
54. Colloquy Student on Board of Control (Ag. 1265): Teacher Thomas G. Kent, who is serving as
chairman of the Board of Control of St. John's, Winfield, had at the request of his board asked whether he
could continue to serve on the board in view of the fact that he was now enrolled as a pastoral colloquy
student at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. After considerable discussion the Commission decided to send
him the following reply:
Since you are still on the synodical roster as a teacher; since there is no bylaw that states
specifically that a student cannot serve on a board of control; since you are not in a position of a
conflict of interest, a situation which may prevail in other instances; therefore the Commission on
Constitutional Matters holds that you may continue to serve for the time being as a member of the
Board of Control of St. John's, Winfield.
55. Question of Unanimous Excommunication (Ag. 1210A): The Commission ratified the further
correspondence of the Secretary, suggesting that the Iowa West committee might wish to address the
question of whether excommunication must be unanimous to the CTCR.
56. Synodical Affiliation and Excommunication (Ex 1270): Rev. A. C. Warneke of the Minnesota North
District Committee on Constitutional Matters had asked whether congregational constitutions must have a
paragraph regarding synodical affiliation and whether a two-thirds vote for excommunication would be
permissible in a congregational constitution. The Commission resolved to inform him that the