LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 22, 1998, Page 7

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two years by act of the President of the District through which the person holds membership." The
questions which were asked were the following:
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?
In response to the questions, the Commission replied as follows:
1. The answer is yes.
2, The bylaw states that the initial period for which candidate status is granted is at the discretion of the
District President up to a maximum of two years. Under normal circumstances a candidate could
assume continuation on candidate status for the period of two years. The District President, however,
at his discretion may limit such status to less than two years. Continuation on such status is not an
absolute right as indicated by the statement that such person "may be continued on the roster for a
period not to exceed two years . . . " Consequently, if circumstances change and the District President
determines that such status should not continue, he may notify the candidate of that decision. The
candidate has the right to call upon the dispute resolution process if there is a desire to challenge the
action of the District President.
3. The Bylaws are silent as to whether the negative vote of the Council of Presidents prior to the
conclusion of the two-year period for candidate status granted by the District President brings that
status to an end. In view of this, it would appear that the ending of initial candidate status prior to the
conclusion of the two-year period would be the responsibility of the District President, subject to the
condition noted above.
171. Interpretation of Constitution Article VI, 2. Bylaw 2.39, and Others (Ag 2107): In a previous
telephone conference, the Commission had also discussed questions which had been forwarded regarding
participation in a Good Friday joint service and a possible response to the question, "Is this situation of the
LCMS pastor's participation contrary, or not, to the Constitution and Bylaws of Synod?" The response
which the Commission provided stated that
Basically, the Commission believes that the real question is whether the Synod has been explicit enough
in its statements so that the Commission on Constitutional Matters can provide a ruling. The Commission
does not believe this has been done. In support of that position, it cites the report of the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations found on page 50 of the 1998 Convention Workbook, which includes the
matter of "Guidelines for Inter-Christian Relationships" as a study in progress. Until more definitive
positions are reached, stated, and adopted by the Synod as its position in situations such as described in
your request, the Commission does not believe it can provide an authoritative opinion based on the
Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod which are described in the Handbook as its
responsibility.