LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — June 9, 1978, Page 6

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86. Tenure Regulations (Ag. 1304): Mr. Zane Z. Meranda, chairman of the Board of Control of our
Portland, Concordia, had raised two sets of questions regarding the procedures for the granting of tenure.
The Commission resolved to reply along the following lines:
1.

The Board for Higher Education cannot "stop the procedure for granting tenure by declining to
nominate." The original recommendation of the Board of Control to confer tenure is to be
evaluated first by the BHE and if the BHE has a negative reaction it may present its
argumentation in person before the Board of Control. If the Board of Control, after receiving the
negative evaluation from the BHE, still intends to go forward with its recommendation to grant
tenure, then the reactions of the BHE must be shared with the electors prior to their taking
action.

2.

The election need not be unanimous. It may be three to one. A tie vote loses. It should be
pointed out that the BHE itself is not an elector; the chairman of the BHE or his representative
is one of the four electors.

87. Teachers and AELC (Ag. 1298): The Board of Parish Education through Dr. Victor A. Constien had
forwarded a set of guidelines dealing with various relationships between parochial school teachers and
AELC congregations, schools, and school associations involving also AELC congregations. The BPE had
asked the CCM to evaluate the guidelines. The CCM drafted the following reply:
The guidelines submitted do not seem to be in conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod. In issuing this opinion, the Commission on Constitutional Matters is restricting itself only
to the question regarding the roster status of teachers in certain circumstances.
88. AELC Teachers as Members of Conferences (Ag. 1283): Mr. Walter Rittmueller, chairman of
Northern Illinois District Teachers Conference, had raised four questions regarding teachers who are
members of the AELC and their relationship to the synodical teachers conferences. The Secretary on the
basis of action taken at the previous meeting of the Commission had shared with Mr. Rittmueller the fact
that the Commission at that time had resolved to call attention to the following:
"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."

In the light of that opinion the Secretary had ventured the following answers- to the questions of Mr.
Rittmueller:
1.

Teachers not on the roster cannot be classified as official members.

2.
3.

It is indeed possible for them to attend as. guests.
The question of their participation in Holy Communion services is really beyond the scope of
the CCM and more of a theological question. However, the references in point 2 of the CCM's
ruling need to be kept in mind.

4.

Obviously guests should not hold elective office or serve on appointive committees.

The Commission formally ratified this reply.