LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 9, 1984, Page 8

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The Secretary also indicated a number of Handbook items which may require consideration by the
Commission on Structure, which has asked the Commission on Constitutional Matters to assist them in
dealing with these items wherever possible. The Secretary will provide recommendations for any
necessary or desirable changes.
27. Lay Delegate to the Synodical Convention and Voting Membership on the Circuit Forum (Ag. 1693,
A): A Circuit in Oklahoma had raised a number of questions regarding the election and voting
membership of a lay delegate to the synodical convention on the Circuit Forum. The questions were as
follows:
1) Since the election of the lay delegate to the synodical convention occurs approximately nine
months before the synodical convention, exactly when does this delegate become a voting
member of the Circuit Forum?
2) In a case where neither the elected delegate nor his alternate could attend the convention and
an appointed alternate went in his stead, who should be the lay delegate to the Circuit Forum?
Bylaw 4.35 states the lay delegate to the forum is elected.
3) By allowing the lay delegate to the synodical convention a vote on the Circuit Forum, it
allows one congregation to have three votes on the Circuit Forum for a period of three years
while all other members have only two. Is this procedure correct?
In reverse order, the Commission ruled that it is possible for a congregation to have three votes in the
Circuit Forum while other congregations have only two. The purpose of having a convention delegate
serve as a member of the Circuit Forum is that the delegate may provide information to the Circuit Forum
as needed, based upon information received at the convention. The properly appointed lay delegate to the
synodical convention appointed in accordance with 2.05, f, is therefore the lay delegate to the Circuit
Forum, who can carry out that function. Finally, the Commission rules that the convention delegate serves
for a term of three years, with his term beginning at the close of the meeting in which the election takes
place. The delegate then serves three years until a successor is elected.
The Commission recognizes that there is an obvious conflict in the bylaws which must be resolved. Until
that conflict is resolved, it rules that a delegate ceases to serve as soon as a successor is elected. The
Commission also observes that, in practice, the newly elected delegate is eligible for service on floor
committees of the synodical convention prior to the opening of the convention, although the Handbook
states that his term begins with the convention.
28. The meeting was adjourned with the benediction pronounced by the chairman.
Walter L. Rosin, Secretary

Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - March 28, 1984
29. Present for the telephone conference called following a request to reconsider the Commission decision
relative to the eligibility for women to serve as presidents of synodical colleges were Carl Eberhard,
Roland Hopmann, Walter Rosin, and Judge Gene Schnelz. Dr. Nafzger, who had been requested to be
Available for consultation, was also involved in the discussion of the matter.