LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — June 4, 1982, Page 4

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48. Guidelines for District Committees on Congregational Constitutions (Ag. 1593) : Secretary Richard
A. Krogen of the Minnesota South District had informed the Commission that he and several others were
working on possible guidelines for the District commissions charged with reviewing congregational
constitutions. Secretary Mueller had replied that the Commission would welcome an opportunity to
review the end product. The Commission took note of this correspondence.
49. Mani t oba-Saskatchewan District Bylaws (Ag. 1594): The Commission resolved basically to approve
these bylaws on the assumption that the recommendations had been adopted.
50. Emeriti and Uncertified Pastors at Conventions (Ag. 1597): The Commission took note of the fact that
Secretary Mueller had once again replied to Pastor Lehnhardt of New Orleans that emeriti have speaking
rights but that uncertified pastors do not.
51. Voting Rights of Pastor Leaving Parish (Ag. 1598): Pastor Frederick W. Schielke of Cable,
Wisconsin, had phoned the Secretary to inquire whether he could still vote at the District convention
although he was leaving his congregation in order to go into the military chaplaincy. The Secretary had
explained that the Commission had always held that the acceptance of a call constituted the end of the
previous ministry and that seemingly this principle would apply also in his particular case. He challenged
this interpretation and had therefore addressed a letter to the Commission on Constitutional Matters. The
Commission ratified the position which the Secretary had taken on the phone.
52. Implementation of New Constitution (Ag. 1600): Edward Bohlmann, chairman of the Constitution
Committee of Immanuel, Evansville, Indiana, had placed several questions before the Commission
regarding the implementation of a new congregational constitution. The Commission decided to reply
along the following lines:
1. The congregation may indeed designate a definite date when the new constitution is to go into
effect; in fact, it would be advisable to do so.
2. All current voting members continue automatically as voting members even after the
adoption of the new constitution and are not I required to be received again into membership.
The congregation may indeed introduce new requirements and responsibilities of
membership, but these must be applied only prospectively and cannot be applied
retroactively.
3. In view of a proposed requirement of attendance at least once each year at a congregation
meeting, the Commission recommends that the quorum consist of those in attendance at a
validly called meeting, and therefore recommends that the manner of calling regular and
special meetings be outlined precisely in the congregation's constitution and bylaws.
53. Rev. D. G. Meyer, Cabot, Pennsylvania (Ag. 1602): Rev. Meyer had written a letter to the
Commission complaining about the Commission's handling of the request of St. Luke, Cabot,
Pennsylvania, and the conclusions reached by the Commission. The Commission resolved to reply along
the following lines:
While we understand your concern, we cannot agree with many of your assertions (e.g., your
claim "that the Handbook does not give a congregation the right to call and to install when in
adjudication" . . . “I could not accept a call or be installed until the adjudication be complete.").
But to answer them would serve no useful purpose at this point.