LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 8, 1997, Page 3

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2. Are Bylaws 6.44, c, or 6.44, e, violated if full-time faculty positions are terminated under a RIF
policy and then replaced with part-time, adjunct faculty positions in the same academic field?
3. Are Bylaws 6.44, c, or 6.44, e, violated if a college transforms its full-time staffing of a particular
academic field to part-time, adjunct staffing under a RIF policy, but does not offer the former fulltime faculty member the new part-time, adjunct courses, as many courses as are available and for
which he or she is eligible to teach?
During the discussion which followed, it was concluded that there is a difference between contributing to
the institution and "competency and faithfulness" contrary to the position taken by the inquiring pastor. It
was further noted that in respect to the second question, Section E does not apply and with respect to the
third question, it is clear from the bylaws that available positions for which the faculty members qualified
must be offered to the faculty member who has been relieved of the faculty position because of a reduction
in force.
Secretary Rosin was asked to prepare a response to this question and to circulate it to the other members of
the Commission for their reaction.
136. Previous Commission Action: In dealing with a number of previous questions submitted to the
Commission, responses had been provided which had been circulated to the members of the Commission
for their reaction. Suggestions and modifications had been included in the responses which were offered to
these persons. It was also agreed that at a future meeting of the Commission on Constitutional Matters these
responses would be ratified.
The Commission then determined to hold a future meeting face-to-face at which time these issues would be
dealt with. This next meeting is scheduled for February 18, 1998.
137. Adjournment: At the request of the Chairman, Richard Schlecht led the members of the Commission
in prayer and before leaving, the members of the Commission wished each other a merry and blessed
Christmas.
Walter L. Rosin, Secretary

Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - February 18, 1998
138. Opening : The meeting of the Commission was opened with prayer.
139. Recognized Service Organization Issues (Ag. 2089) The Commission had received a request for an
opinion with regard to issues relating to Recognized Service Organizations. Specifically, the questions were
as follows:
1. Is it the position of the LCMS that congregations of the ELCA are able to acknowledge and remain
true to the Book of Concord of 1580 as a true exhibition of sound Christian doctrine and at the same
time also participate in full altar and pulpit fellowship with Reformed church bodies?
2. If congregations are not able to be in a state of faithfulness to the Book of Concord and at the same
time to be in a state of full communion with those of a Reformed confession, do they not violate the
Articles of Incorporation as stated in the Lutheran Association for Elementary Education
document?