LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 11-12, 1981, Page 6

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Election of Presidents (Ag. 1550): The Secretary's replies to these requests for information were noted for
the record, with specific ratification of the last named reply.
300. Lutheran Witness Report: It was decided to incorporate in the Lutheran Witness report of the
Commission at least the following items:
1509 - The Role of the English District's Commission of Adjudication in the Atonement,
Florissant, Case
1560 - District Executives Serving on Synodical Boards
1526 - Guidelines to District Presidents for District Conventions
301. Ohio District Bylaws (Ag. 236, A): The Secretary was asked to write for five copies of the latest
version of these Bylaws and to ask Dr. Eberhard to make the preliminary review.
302. English District Commission of Adjudication and Atonement; Florissant (Ag. 1509, A-D): Much
time was spent on drafting an answer to this Commission's letter addressed to the CCM in which the
English District Commission faulted the Commission on Constitutional Matters and the 1979 convention
of the Synod for their position regarding dual membership. This letter had also served as a covering letter
for the opinion (enclosed) which that District Commission had issued regarding the synodical
membership of Atonement, Florissant, holding that the action excluding Florissant on the basis of its dual
membership was constitutionally defective, but that the congregation was properly excluded from
membership on the basis of offensive conduct rather than dual membership. On the first day Schnelz
agreed to draft a tentative reply. This was discussed at considerable length on the second day, with
additional paragraphs added during the course of the meeting. It was finally resolved that all drafts should
be sent to the Secretary who would try to pull them together into a draft which in turn should be circulated
among the members of the Commission prior to any further action. The draft will be attached to these
Minutes as a matter of record.
303. Gratitude: Gratitude was expressed to Chairman Donald Prevallet for more than twelve years of
service to the Synod, to the Church of Jesus Christ, and to our Lord Himself. He had served with
distinction first as a member of the Commission and then during the past two years as its chairman. He
has become ineligible under the limited tenure rule, but was elected at the convention of the Synod last
July to the Board of Regents of the St. Louis seminary. The Commission extended its best wishes to him
in the performance of his many new responsibilities.
Herbert Mueller, Secretary

Minutes of the Meeting of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - March 5, 1982
1. Vice President Carl Eberhard opened the meeting with prayer and served as chairman. The following
were also present: Dr. John Klotz, Judge Gene Schnelz, Dr. Herbert Mueller. It was reported that
Attorney Kermit Brashear had been appointed to the Commission for a two-year term. Unfortunately, he
was unable to be present. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as read. Several highlights
for the agenda were reviewed. It was stated that Rev. Ray Mueller, chairman of the Board for Parish
Services, had been invited to pursue the request of his board before the Commission.