LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — July 7-15, 1983, Page 1

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Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - July 7-15, 1983
173. At various times during the convention the Commission met either at full strength or at least with a
majority of the members present.
174. Florida-Georgioa District Overture Re Inter-Lutheran Relationships: Eberhard reported that
President Lloyd Behnken had objected to the resolution covering his District's overture on the subject.
The Commission felt there was no necessity to take any further action on the ruling which it had made
during the days of the floor committee meetings in May.
175. "Appointing Authorities" (Ag. 1654): With reference to the difficulties of the Board for Parish
Services with its executive secretary, President Ralph Bohlmann had asked the Commission to interpret
what is meant by the appointing authorities in the bylaws concerning the dismissal of executives. The
Commission came to the following conclusion: In Bylaw 2.801 the President is given a veto power in the
appointment process. And Bylaw 2.803 d makes it plain that he has the same involvement in any
dismissal process, namely, that his approval is required also in order to dismiss an executive.
176. Interpretation of Each" Board of Regents (Ag. 1659): The Board for Professional Education had
asked whether the bylaw stating that each institution is to have a board of regents means that this must be
a separate and distinct board in each instance, or whether one board of regents could serve more than one
of the institutions. The Commission concluded that Bylaw 6.01, and also 6.03 h, indicate that each
institution has a separate and distinct board of regents. Note for instance that the District President is
made a member of the board. It is clear that the intent of the Synod is that each institution shall have a
separate and distinct board of regents.
177. Karp Letter Re Canadian Seminary (Ag. 1661): Pastor Karp of Edmonton had addressed several
communications questioning the validity of the action regarding the Canadian seminary. The Secretary
had replied, reviewing the position of the CCM and also stating that in his opinion the mere fact that LCC
may have been created not by the Synod but by the Canadian Districts would not alter the position of the
Commission. The Commission formally ratified this reply.
Herbert Mueller, Secretary
178. Late Submissions: The question was raised as to the constitutionality of resolutions which proposed
bylaw changes regarding the establishment of a Board of Theological Education and subsequently
regarding the establishing of a Commission on Church Literature. In the case of the proposal for a Board
of Theological Education, the Commission ruled that these proposed bylaws had not been submitted to
the Commission on Constitutional Matters for clearance prior to presentation to the convention (Bylaw
14.01 d) and could not therefore properly be brought before the convention.
In the case of the proposed Commission on Church Literature the Commission ruled that since the
proposal and the proposed bylaws had not been submitted to the President of the Synod no less than
sixteen weeks prior to the opening date of the convention, it could not properly come before the
convention unless it were adjudged a matter of overriding importance and urgency and had been accepted
for convention consideration by the committee consisting of the President, First Vice-President, and
Secretary of the Synod (Bylaw 2.19, 2, b). Furthermore the Commission ruled that it could not be
properly considered because it had not been submitted to the Commission on Constitutional Matters for
clearance prior to presentation to the convention (Bylaw 14.01 d).