LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 20, 1999, Page 2

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Bylaw 3.409 states that one of the functions of the Concordia University System/Board for
Higher Education is "the overall responsibility to provide for the education of ordained and
commissioned ministers and other professional church workers for the Synod by supervising and
coordinating the activities of Synod's colleges, universities, and seminaries as a unified synodical
system through their respective boards of regents.
Bylaw 3.503 provides that one of the objectives of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund is to
provide financing and services for professional church worker education and the residential housing
needs of professional church workers.
Bylaw 3.713 stipulates that the Support Program of the Synod is intended for eligible ordained
ministers, commissioned ministers, and "other professional church workers and their eligible
dependents who are in financial need."
Bylaw 3.930, e, requires that the Council of Presidents "serve as the Board of Assignments for the
first calls to candidates for the offices of ordained and commissioned ministers and to handle or
assist with the placement of other professional church workers."
Bylaw 6.35, b, instructs that synodical school faculties "develop and construct curricula
implementing the recognized and established purposes of the institution and designed to attain the
synodically approved objectives of preparation for professional church workers and other Christian
leaders."

Therefore, the Commission rules that the functions of the Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support
as enumerated in Bylaw 3.915 are applicable only to rostered ordained and commissioned ministers.
Therefore, non-rostered teachers are not included in that group of persons for whom the Commission on
Ministerial Growth and Support is required to provide services.
70. Ouestions Re 1998 Synodical Resolution 7-12 and Dual Membership (99-2158)
Two congregations in letters dated May 30, 1999, and July 16, 1999, raised questions regarding the
applicability of 1998 synodical convention Resolution 7-12 to specific situations. The substance of each
question queries whether certain congregations are included in the term, "dual membership." The
Commission on Constitutional Matters asserts jurisdiction in this case by virtue of Bylaw 3.905, d, which
states that the CCM shall "interpret the Synod's Constitution, Bylaws and Resolutions upon the written
request of a member...."
QUESTION 1: "Whether Synodical Resolution 7-12 applies to Palisades Lutheran Church of Pacific
Palisades, California?"
OPINION: The second question raises a similar issue but pertains to a fact situation arising in the
Lutheran Church of Arcata, California.
QUESTION 2: "Do two congregations that share pastors and property, that are each incorporated
separately, that each pays to their respective synods, that hold title to their church property
as tenants in common, and that have no members that are members of both congregations
and/or both synods, have dual membership status with the meaning of 1998 Convention
Resolution 7-12? If so, what are the Scriptural and legal bases for such a finding?
OPINION: The fact situation underlying the first question parallels that of the second. Throughout its
history Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Pacific Palisades has been a member of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS). In 1970 Holy Cross entered into fellowship with an American Lutheran Church
(ALC) congregation, the Lutheran Church of the Palisades. In 1988 the Lutheran Church of the Palisades
followed its ALC into membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Representatives for Pacific Palisades assert that they are not dual membership congregations, but are in
fact two separate congregations holding property together, doing business together as a congregation, and