LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 15,1998, Page 3

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4. If the Council of Presidents committed a procedural error in not extending the candidate status of an
ordained minister, can the Council return him to candidate status while he is serving as the called
pastor of a nonmember congregation?
5. If an ordained minister who has been removed from the clergy roster of the Synod is serving as the
called pastor of a congregation that is not a member of the Synod, could he join an LCMS
congregation and apply for reinstatement while the congregation he serves is also applying for
membership in the Synod?
The issues were discussed by the Commission and a draft for a suggested response was prepared. The
response was, however, to be considered in a later meeting.
158. Questions Regarding Dual Parish (Ag. 2104): A District President had requested an opinion from
the Commission on Constitutional Matters as to whether the termination of a congregation's relationship
with its pastor by dissolving its parish agreement with a partner congregation and requesting pastoral
service as a vacant congregation was in keeping with our Synods doctrine and polity. He also asked whether
there was a need for the remaining congregations to issue a new call or whether his call as that
congregation's pastor remained intact.
Once again the Commission considered the issues which were involved in this request and suggested the
content of its response and a draft to be reviewed and ratified later.
159. Self-Exclusion of a Congregational Member (Ag. 2105): A District President had asked regarding
the recourse which a member of a congregation would have who is outspoken regarding doctrinal concerns,
but who was faithful in church and communion attendance and other congregational activities but had been
informed that his membership was terminated as a result of self-exclusion. This was contrary to the will of
the member, as well. as the Constitution and bylaw stipulations regarding membership.
Once again, the Commission discussed the issues that were involved in this matter and suggested the
contents of a response to be ratified later.
160. Interpretation of Bylaw 2.19, a, Regarding Candidate Status (Ag. 2106): Citing Bylaw 2.19, a,
with regard to candidate status, particularly the phrase, "may be continued on the roster for a period not to
exceed two years by act of the President of the District to which the person holds membership," a vicepresident of the district had asked the following questions:
1. Is the interpretation of two years to be understood as 365 days times two, or even August 8th of one
year to August 8th of two years in the future?
2. May a candidate assume that if he is placed on candidate status on a certain date that that status will
continue until the same date, two years in the future?
3. If an individual is placed on candidate status on, for example, June 30th, but the Council of Presidents
because of meeting schedule reviews that candidacy on April 26th, does the term of candidacy
continue through the June date or is it automatically terminated on the date of review of the Council
of Presidents?
Once again, the Commission considered a possible response and a draft of it to be ratified later.
161. Interpretation of Constitution Article , 2, Bylaw 2.39, and Others (Ag. 2107): In a communication
with the Commission on Constitutional Matters, a pastor had described a situation regarding a Good Friday