LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 28, 1996, Page 2

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assigning you to this ministry? What is meant by a "Call extended jointly by the Congregation and by
the District"? Which of the two entities would be responsible for the continuation of your ministry at
University Lutheran Chapel?
The Commission believes that in order to deal with your concern it is necessary for questions such as
those posed above to be answered. The members believe that the issue of facts is involved and that they
are not in a position to provide any other opinion than that already given until they are known. If you
can provide the Commission with more complete information regarding the origin of your call, the
entity to which you are responsible and any other pertinent details, the Commission will give further
consideration to your request.
39. Status Call - Ecclesiastical Supervision (Ag. 2031) : The President of the Eastern District had
received notice of a call extended to a pastor on candidate status in the Texas District to carry out a weekly
radio ministry in the San Antonio area while residing in San Antonio and to do other ministry and serve as
missionary-at-large in the San Antonio area. The call had been extended by a congregation of the Eastern
District. The District President identified the following questions which he felt needed answering and which
he placed before the Commission for consideration. These were as follows:
5.

In accord with the responsibilities of a District President (1992 Handbook, Constitution Article
XII 7, VI, Bylaw 4.71 a, 4.73) can, and should I, as President of the Eastern District, LCMS,
authorize the installation of the pastor at Holy Cross in. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to serve on
behalf of that congregation as a missionary-at-large in San Antonio, Texas? Is there a policy, plan,
or guideline that covers this type of situation?

5.

What are the implications of 1992 Handbook Bylaw 2.15 a-j? Does Bylaw 2.41 apply? Is this a
"status call"? What is the relationship between congregational autonomy and the responsibility of a
District President in relationship to that congregation and other congregations, and/or districts of
the Synod?

5.

How can responsible ecclesiastical supervision in ministry be carried out by this District
President when the missionary-at-large is called by a congregation, not by the district or Synod
Mission Board, while that missionary lives in another geographic district of the LCMS over 1,000
miles away from the calling, sponsoring congregation? Is there a way this can be worked out?

In conversations it was understood by all that Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
had agreed to take full responsibility for the ministry of the pastor serving as their missionary-at-large in the
San Antonio area. They indicated that they would provide liability coverage for him as a member of their
staff, seeking to expand a variety of ministries in a different geographic territory.
After reviewing the letter from the District President and in specific reference to the questions which it
contained, the Commission decided to respond as follows:
As it considered the questions posed in your letter, the Commission noted that there is nothing in the
Constitution or Bylaws which envisions a situation of the kind described. However, neither does it
appear that there is anything which explicitly inhibits it.
In reviewing various bylaws which might have a bearing on the matter, the Commission perused
Bylaws 2.15, 2.19, 2.41, and 4.71 in particular. Bylaw 2.15, as you know, identifies positions which a
minister may hold for eligibility for active status. Bylaw 2.19 deals with candidate status and is relevant
only to the extent that it defines requirements for candidate status held unless and until there is an
installation into one of the positions of active ministry. Bylaw 2.41 deals with matters relating to the