LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 6-7, 1987, Page 1

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6) The Commission has had difficulty reconciling the statements contained in these documents
with those received from the campus ministry itself. This is particularly true of #7 which
states what the ministry at Sacramento essentially is.
7) The problem is compounded by the lack of utilization of the LCMS clergy in view of
documents of the Synod which require this.
8) The Commission on Constitutional Matters does not have the facilities to ascertain what the
ministry really is in view of the apparently contradictory statements.
9) The District Board of Directors is asked to please review and reconcile the statements and to
contact the Commission on Constitutional Matters once again. After thorough investigation
on the part of the District Board of Directors, the Commission requests that it be supplied
with facts sufficient for the making of a determination.
Prior to sending the letter, the Secretary is to consult with Dr. Hopmann and possibly other members of
the Commission.
66. Adjournment : Having completed its business, the meeting of the Commission on Constitutional
Matters was adjourned.
Walter L. Rosin, Secretary

Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - November 6-7, 1987
67. Opening Devotion : The opening prayer was offered by Dr. Schlecht, expressing gratitude for God's
protection in travel and asking for guidance and blessing on decisions which would be made during the
meeting.
68. Minutes : The minutes of the meeting of July 17-18, 1987 were approved as distributed.
69. Appeal of Dr. Alvin Schmidt (Ag. 1778,D) : Dr. Alvin Schmidt had been notified by the President of
Concordia Theological Seminary that his tenure on the faculty was being terminated and that his
remuneration would cease as of a certain date. Dr. Schmidt had appealed the matter of his termination to
the Commission on Appeals. Following receipt of the notification of cessation of remuneration, Dr.
Schmidt had requested an opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters regarding the
interpretation of Bylaw 6.47 m which states,
"During the period allowed for appeal and during the appeals procedure if an appeal is made, the
Board of Regents shall suspend from teaching activity but shall continue to meet its contractual
obligations."
The chairman of the Commission on Constitutional Matters had been informed by the chairman of the
Commission on Appeals that the matter of the appeal of Dr. Schmidt was under consideration and that the
Board of Regents of the seminary had been reminded of its responsibilities under the bylaw cited. The
salary of Dr. Schmidt is continuing during the appeal process. The chairman of the Commission on
Appeals had expressed a concern that the opinion of the CCM had been requested without channeling that
opinion through the Commission on Appeals. In the discussion which occurred, it was pointed out that it
is the view of the Commission on Constitutional Matters that the Commission on Appeals cannot refuse a