LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 29, 1983, Page 5

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166. Convention Workbook: The rest of the meeting was devoted to a review of especially the proposals
before the convention in Section 5 of the Workbook, "Structure and Constitution." After reviewing the
reports of the Commission on Structure, the Ad Hoc Committee on Adjudication Procedures, and the Ad
Hoc Committee on Franchise, the Commission also went through the various overtures in that chapter.
Specific disagreements or challenges were noted as follows:
Ov. 5-12 - Since the constitution of Christ the King congregation in Spencer, Iowa is
unacceptable in two of its articles, this would need to be brought to the attention of
the floor committee.
Ov. 5-17 - Canada. See paragraph above.
Ov. 5-25 - To make deaconesses members of the Synod would require a constitutional
amendment.
Ov. 5-26 - The same applies to lay ministers.
Ov. 5-37 - The Director of Evangelism Program has not yet been approved by the Synod. Even
if that should happen, it is doubtful whether they should be designated as ministers of
religion since they qualify neither as pastors nor as teachers.
Ov, 5-41A- To allow lay ministers to vote as pastors would require constitutional amendments.
Ov. 5-58 - To permit three members of the Board of Directors to serve more than twelve
consecutive years, raises the troublesome question of rescinding a resolution of a
previous convention
Ov. 5-63 - To allow District Boards of Directors to elect members of the synodical Nominating
Committee seems to strain the concept of representative government almost to the
breaking point. The decision not to have the chairman of the previous committee
serve on the following committee was designed to break a chain of political heritage
from one convention to the next. On the other hand, the synodical Secretary serves
merely as a resource person and then absents himself from the scene and is
specifically mentioned as not being a member of the committee. Incidentally, the
floor committee should have its attention called to the reference in the Secretary's
report (4-03), page 126, column 1.
Ov. 5-72A- While maintaining the essentially congregational form of government, the
"hierarchical" dimensions of the Synod's polity in the eyes of the law should be
maintained.
Ov. 5-76 - The requirement of a congregational referendum on matters of fellowship would
require a constitutional amendment.
Ov. 5-80 - To create the office of "Circuit Layman Counselor" would tend to confuse the
constitutional responsibilities of the regular counselors.
Ov. 5-84 - This is well intentioned, but are schools really members of the Synod so that they can
be removed if they hold "dual membership?"