LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 30, 1990, Page 5

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The Commission first notes that Dr. Knippel is an advisory member of the Synod through the
Southern Illinois District but as an instructor at the St. Louis Seminary is under the ecclesiastical
jurisdiction of the Missouri District President, Bylaw 2.41,d.
It further notes that "at meetings of the districts of the Synod, every congregation or parish is entitled
to two votes, one of which is to be cast by the pastor and one by the lay delegate" -- Article V, A. The
agreement states that the congregation understands that Dr. Knippel's call remains with Concordia
Seminary. In view of that, he is not in the technical sense the pastor of Trinity, Worden, Illinois,
eligible to vote in meetings of the district. The Commission further notes that this does not involve a
matter of a man having two votes or voting in two different districts, since under his call to the
seminary he is an advisory member and cannot vote. The agreement specifically states that his call
remains with Concordia Seminary.
The Commission further notes that emeritus pastors who serve congregations, on the basis of previous
Commission on Constitutional Matters' decisions, cannot vote. It was determined that they could not
be retired and at the same time pastors in charge of congregations. Their number, however, is large,
and is increasing and consideration needs to be given by the appropriate commission to the question
of whether or not congregations are being denied a right as a result of that ruling. The Commission is
convinced that until and unless the Bylaws are changed to cover situations such as those of Dr.
Knippel and emeriti pastors who are serving congregations, that Dr. Knippel is ineligible on the basis
of the document which states that his call remains at the seminary.
Because of the concern noted above, the Commission on Constitutional Matters will be referring the issue
of the eligibility of retired or advisory pastors who serve congregations to vote at district conventions to
the Commission on Structure.
43. Southern Illinois District Bylaws (Ag. 1899) : The Commission reviewed the proposed articles and
bylaws of the Southern Illinois District and concluded that they contain nothing contrary to the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod. It did, however, offer the following suggestions:
1. Under the first section of District Organization, the Commission believes it would be best to have
Section A - Individual Membership
Section B - Congregation Membership
or
A. Membership
1. Individual -- appropriate Bylaws
2. Congregation – appropriate Bylaws
2. In Bylaw 1.07 - Is the statement regarding, "Former ordained and commissioned ministers ...”
'necessary? If they are "former," haven't they been removed from the roster and are automatically
ineligible for advisory membership?
3. 1.31 -- "Essayist" should probably be “essayist(s)” since there could be more than one whose
expenses should be paid.
4. 2.02 -- Is this bylaw intended to cover the fact that the President, Vice-Presidents and Secretary
are to be pastors while the Treasurer is to be a layperson? It is not very clear.