LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 2-3, 1980, Page 2

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44. Eastern District Delegates (Ag. 1435): Pastor L. White of Millvale, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania raised
the following four questions concerning the seating of certain delegates at the Eastern District convention
(the answers adopted by the Commission are attached to the minutes in a separate document):
1. Is the seating of uncertified Seminex graduates as pastor delegates constitutional?
2. How does voting participation by uncertified pastoral delegates affect the legal validity of
actions taken by the convention?
3. What is the specific responsibility of the District President, as presiding officer of the
convention, if the convention should vote to seat uncertified pastoral delegates?
4. What is the specific responsibility of the synodical representative to the District President and
the convention itself, if uncertified pastors are seated as voting delegates at the convention?
45. Doka, Bronxville (Ag. 1392, A, B): The Secretary reported that President Ralph Schultz had informed
him that progress was being made in negotiations with Dr. Doka. It is expected that a final report will be
received before the next meeting.
46. Request Re Bultemeyer (Ag. 1374, A,B,C,D): Since this matter had been on the docket for quite some
time with no response from the Fort Wayne Board of Control since February 12, 1980, the Commission
finally decided to rule formally that Teacher Bultemeyer cannot serve on the Board of Control of the
institution which will determine his career. Therefore, if Teacher Bultemeyer wishes to remain on the
Board of Control, he will need to remove himself from the Fort Wayne colloquy program. If he wishes to
remain in the Fort Wayne colloquy program, it will be necessary for him to resign from the Board of
Control.
47. Teacher Tom Kent on Winfield Board of Control (Ag. 1402, A,B; 1410, B): The Commission had
been requested to review its previous ruling regarding this issue. After doing so, the Commission resolved
to reiterate its former opinion.
48. Board of Directors' Resolution Re Indian Matter (Ag. 1417): The Board of Directors had passed a
resolution permitting participation in the National Indian Lutheran Board and the Lutheran Desk of
LCUSA until March 1, 1981. However, since an amendment to extend the involvement beyond March 1,
1980 had been declined by the previous convention, the Board asked whether its own resolution was
constitutional. In the consideration of this matter Secretary Herbert Mueller, who is also the president of
LCUSA, physically absented himself from the meeting. The minutes of the meeting on this subject as
kept by Secretary Pro-Tem John Klotz are appended to these minutes together with the decision of the
Commission.
49. Ontario Questions (Ag. 1422, A,B): Rev. Robert S. Morley, chairman of the Ontario District's
Committee on Congregational Constitutions, had since the last meeting raised several questions with the
Secretary, who had drafted appropriate replies. These replies were ratified.
50. River Forest Welfare Committee Statement (Ag. 1428, B): The Faculty Welfare Committee of River
Forest had submitted a statement on confidentiality through its chairman, Harold F. Brockberg, with the
request that the Commission evaluate it to see whether it is in harmony with the synodical Handbook.
Presumably this is to become a section of the faculty handbook if adopted by the faculty. After some
discussion the Commission concluded that it might possibly do more harm than good to try to draft a
statement covering all possible cases involving confidentiality. For example, the eventual carrying out of
prescribed responsibilities and duties might interfere with a literalistic statement of policy. In general it