LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 9-10, 1990, Page 1

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Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - March 9-10, 1990
20. Opening : Trusting in God's guidance and presence, the Commission on Constitutional Matters began
its meeting on the evening of March 9, 1990. Items on the agenda were reviewed in order to determine
those matters to which responses might be provided more quickly and those which should be reserved for
the necessary extended discussion on the following day.
21. Commission on Theology and Church Relations Membership Eligibility-Parish Pastor (Ag.1872,
A,B, Min.7,10,) : Responding to an inquiry, the Commission on Constitutional Matters had determined
that because of his retirement, Dr. Arthur Drevlow no longer met the status of parish pastor for service on
the Commission on Theology and Church Relations as required by the bylaws. The Commission reviewed
that action in its December 14, 1989 meeting and declined to change its opinion. Dr Drevlow had again
written expressing certain concerns and disagreement with the decision of the Commission. The secretary
had provided a response in which it was pointed out that "the Commission cannot alter the fact that
pastors elected to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations are to be "parish pastors." It was
also pointed out that the restriction limiting membership to "parish pastors" does not apply to any other
ordained persons who are appointed to the Commission by the Council of Presidents, the President of the
Synod or any other group. Further, it was noted that the Commission was not interpreting the term "parish
pastors" in a novel way but rather in a manner consistent with previous Commission decisions of long
standing. Finally, it was pointed out that the Commission had no intention of casting aspersions on
anyone's action or the validity or effectiveness of anyone's service. The point which the Commission was
making was simply that any past practice, if it was not in conformity with the constitutional and bylaw
requirements, would not be normative for determining a practice in the present instance. Dr. Drevlow was
also reminded once again of the fact that the Commission on Constitutional Matters had encouraged the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations to utilize his services in completing some of their many
and varied assignments.
22. Walking Together-Communion Practices (Ag. 1884) : Reverend Kevin Hoogland of Merrill,
Wisconsin had written to the Commission on Constitutional Matters enclosing with his correspondence
other correspondence which had been carried on with the President of the Florida-Georgia district and the
President of the Synod stating his view that certain communion practices of Bethel Lutheran Church in
Clearwater, Florida, were not in keeping with the covenant made by the congregations of the Synod to
walk together in their practice. A brief response acknowledging receipt of the request had been provided
by the Secretary in which he stated that "a quick review of the questions posed indicates that a response to
at least some of them may not be within the purview of the Commission on Constitutional Matters." The
Commission concurred with the response which had been provided but asked that the words "may not" be
changed to "is not" and that the pastor making the inquiry be referred to the special report relative to
communion practice prepared by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations which appeared in a
1984 edition of the Lutheran Witness. The Commission has concluded that since an interpretation of
"open communion" and "close communion" seems to be involved the request made by Pastor Hoogland
falls within the province of the responsibility of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations.
23. Campus Ministry Congregations (Ag. 1886) : A request had been received from a pastor in Mt.
Pleasant, Michigan relative to Overture 1-28 of the 1986 Convention which had been referred back to the
petitioner for presentation to the Commission on Constitutional Matters for consideration. The Overture
requested that the status of a "congregation" in the Synod with all rights and privileges be denied all
campus ministries in the Synod and that they be defined as special ministries having neither "baptized
membership" nor "communicant membership" status for persons involved in those ministry organizations
for a period of more than four years. It also asked that persons received into synodical membership
through the campus ministry be transferred to a congregation holding membership in The Lutheran
Church---Missouri Synod. In forwarding the request to members of the Commission, the Secretary had
noted that the Overture had neither been referred previously to the Commission on Constitutional Matters