LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 27, 1979, Page 2

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168. Complaint Re Annual Listing (Ag. 1346): Pastor Harnapp had complained over the announcement in
the Reporter that Seminex pastors' names would be added to the congregational listings in the back of the
Annual. He had asked whether the Council of Presidents or even just a small group of District presidents
had the authority to add names to the clergy roster. The Commission resolved to inform him that he had
misunderstood the action, that the printing of the names in the congregational directory did nV place these
clergymen on the clergy roster of the Synod. However, the Commission was sympathetic to the concern
and advised Pastor Harnapp to take the matter up with the editor and publisher of the Annual.
169. Complaints Against Synodical President (Ag. 1343): Pastor Paul Burgdorf had asked what the
proper procedures are for bringing complaints against the synodical President. It was decided to inform
him that this would depend upon the nature of the complaint, but that if it is a complaint of interest and
concern to the Synod, then the procedures are covered by Section V of the Handbook.
170. Status of Certain River Forest Professors (Ag.1332): The Commission continued its discussion from
the previous meeting on the question of whether River Forest professors who insist upon continuing their
membership in Grace Church, which has left the Synod, could continue to fill their position or whether
their call would need to be terminated and whether with the termination of the call their positions would
also be vacated. The professors seem to insist that the contract relationship continues even if the call
would be abrogated. The Commission generally was of the opinion that eventually the call of such a
person would need to be terminated after proper pastoral admonition and that the call and the contract
could not be separated, that at the time of the termination of the call the position would also be vacated. A
new contract, without call, could indeed be entered into by the Board of Control, if it so desired. It was
felt that the specific language involved in the employment document should be known to the Commission
before making a formal ruling. John Klotz was asked to get in touch with Dr. Paul Zimmerman to secure
further information and to draft an appropriate reply which could be circulated for reaction, incorporating
as much of the tentative opinion as possible that the Commission had tested in the previous meeting (see
Minutes 161).
171. Dallas Resolution 5-01 (Ag. 1339): District Secretary Eisold of Florida-Georgia had asked whether
the provisions of Dallas Resolution 5-01 were not contradictory and unconstitutional. The Secretary had
replied stating the position taken previously by the Commission on Constitutional Matters, pointing out
that the constitutionality of dual membership had indeed been under review and that the Commission's
position had been approved by the convention. The Commission ratified this reply.
172. District Executive as Adivsory Delegate (Ag. 1344): President Arthur Kuehnert of the Central
Illinois District had asked whether a District executive could be chosen to represent the advisory pastors
in the District at the synodical convention. The Secretary had replied that even though it was perhaps not
fair for individuals to be eligible in several different categories, nevertheless the practice up to this point
had been to permit such a thing. The Commission ratified this reply.
173. Jurisdiction Issue, Colorado (Ag. 1308B): The Secretary called attention to the fact that the synodical
Board of Appeals had ruled that the question of a congregation's status under Dallas Resolution 5-01
belonged properly within the jurisdiction of the District rather than the synodical Commission of
Adjudication. However, it also seemed to indicate quite clearly that possibly the only question at issue
was whether or not the congregation had really entered into dual membership.
174. Congregational Bylaws (Ag. 1342): The Commission ratified the reply which the Secretary had
drafted for the chairman of a District Constitution Committee to the effect that congregational bylaws
could indeed be examined by the review committee to make certain that the congregation's positions were