LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 20, 1999, Page 1

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The Board of Regents of a synodical university in a letter dated August 20, 1999, requested a ruling on the
interaction of Bylaw 6.47 and Bylaw 2.27 in the case of charges of false doctrine brought against a member
of the university’s faculty. This matter was assigned to a Commission member for the drafting of a
response.
64. Meeting Date
The Commission discussed potential dates for a face to face meeting to discuss the matter of the revision of
the “GUIDELINES for Constitution and Bylaws of a Lutheran Congregation” (98-2135). Several dates
were identified for further consideration. In the meanwhile the Commission will continue to conduct other
business via the exchange of faxed materials and conference calls.
65. Adjournment
All necessary business having come before the Commission, Chairman Tesch called on Gerhard Bode to
provide a closing prayer.
Raymond L. Hartwig, Secretary

Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes - October 20, 1999
67. Call to Order and Prayer
Chairman Walter Tesch called the conference call meeting to order and called upon Gerhard Bode for an
opening prayer.
68. Review of "GUIDELINES for Constitution and Bylaws of a Lutheran Congregation'' (98-2135)
Albert Marcis called attention to the draft document he has prepared for the Commission's consideration at
its December 16, 1999 meeting in St. Louis.
69. Definition of "Professional Church Worker" (99-2155)
In a June 16, 1999 letter, the Chairman of the Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support, "whose
charge has to do with the Synod's professional church workers," asked the following on behalf of his
commission:
QUESTION: How do Synod's Bylaws define the term "professional church worker"? Specifically, are nonrostered teachers included in that group of persons for which the Commission on Ministerial
Growth and Support is to provide services as outlined in Bylaw 3.915?
OPINION: Article 111, 3, of the Constitution of the Synod states that one of the objectives of the Synod is
to "recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers (emphasis added) and provide
opportunity for their continuing growth." Paragraph 8 of the same Article III adds that the Synod is also to
provide evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pastors, teachers, and other professional church
workers (emphasis added) of the Synod in the performance of their official duties." Since in this Article
"professional church workers" are referred to in the same context as pastors and teachers, "professional
church workers" is intended to include only other rostered workers.
This conclusion is supported also in the Bylaws of the Synod: