LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 204

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204 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

The commission suggested to the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations that our Synod needs clear theological
definitions of such constitutional terms as “heterodox,” “union-
ism,” “syncretism,” ete. (Article VI), and a clear statement of
what should be the Synod's relationship to other Christian
church bodies.

It reviewed the proposed Bylaws for the Board for Evange-
lism.

It also reviewed, evaluated, and made suggestions for
changes in the following District Bylaws and or Articles of In-
corporation: Texas, Northwest, New England, South Wisconsin,
Northern Illinois, Montana, Manitoba-Saskatchewan.

The commission was represented in the meetings of the so-
called “Committee of 20."

The commission suggested that the Council of Presidents
recommend through proper channels a specific and simplified
appeals procedure regarding roster cases for consideration
by the 1975 convention.

III. Opinions and Interpretations

In addition to the items referred to in sections II and IV,
Opinions, rulings, or interpretations were also given on many
other questions, among them the following:

On the status of a delegate who moves to another Circuit or
District

On the beginning date of newly elected board members

On the faculty status of an institutional president

On procedures to be followed in a discipline case after governing
Bylaws have been changed

On the terms under which an LCMS pastor may accept a call
to an LCA congregation

On the ineligibility of an emeritus pastor to serve as a lay dele-
gate

On the retirement policies adopted by the Board of Directors
for synodical staff personnel

On the right of Districts to adopt limited tenure rules

On the realignment of Circuits

On the nomination of Counselors

On the question of whether an emeritus pastor can serve as
a Circuit Counselor

On the relationship between Sections V and VI of the Hand-
book with respect to the bringing of charges against faculty
members

That public school teachers who are still on the teacher roster
of the Synod may not serve as lay delegates

That only official District conferences may submit overtures to
a District convention

That Resolution 3-09 does not condemn an individual faculty
member but a doctrinal position

That boycotting faculty cannot Participate in the certification
and placement of seminary graduates

That boycotting students cannot be certified for the holy ministry
either by the boycotting element or by the synodical element
of the faculty

That individual District Presidents or a group of Presidents do
not have the authority to assign students to a congregation
or enter such students on the clergy roster of the Synod

That certification for ordination and installation within the
Synod cannot be made by an ALC, LCA, or Episcopal
seminary or governing body

That under the new Bylaw adopted in New Orleans simple
status calls are no longer proper

That a District President may remove an individual at any time
from the roster but after 3 years of ¢.r.m. status the District
President cannot retain an individual without action of the
entire Council of Presidents

That the Council of Presidents does not have the authority to
clarify or to interpret the Bylaws

That the rules of procedure in Bylaw 5.31 apply also when the
Board of Control takes the place of a Commission of Adjudi-
cation (6.79)

That member congregations must call pastors who are certified
by the Synod if they wish to retain their membership in the
Synod

On the involvement of the BHE in the supervision of vicars

On the bearing of Article VII on mixed marriage services

On the placement of graduates of the Saskatoon seminary

On the possibility of a worker-priest serving as a pastoral dele-
gate to a District convention

On the constitutionality of the action of the Council of Presidents
in placing Seminex vicars

On the synodical membership status of an unordained instructor
at a seminary

On the eligibility of a delegate from a congregation which is
withholding funds

On the proper interpretation and application of Bylaw 1.27 ¢

On the question of double Jeopardy

On the implementation of resolutions by the synodical and
District Presidents

On the basic relationship between the Synod and the Districts

On the constitutionality of the President's 1973 convention report

On the publication and release of A Statement

On the right to appeal a decision of a Board of Control to the
convention

On the interpretation of New Orleans Res. 5-27 regarding the
election of delegates

On District procedures for nominating and electing a President
and Vice-Presidents

On the status of former faculty members on various boards

On the authority of the Commission on Worship in the produc-
tion of a new lectionary and worship book

On the eligibility of women to serve on a congregational board
of directors

On the question of whether a congregation can call a man to
serve as a professor at a theological institution or to serve
as an assistant pastor at a distance

On the Council of Presidents’ resolution regarding the inter-
viewing and subsequent certification of Seminex graduates

On the disciplinary jurisdiction of a “student in exile”

On the question of whether a pastor who has accepted a call
may continue as a delegate representing his former consti-
tuency

On the constitutionality of New Orleans Res. 2-12, 3-01, and 3-09

On the use of A Statement as a test of orthodoxy

On a District executive's tenure and relationship to his Board
of Directors

On joint campus ministries

On Seminex graduates serving in a pastoral way without a call

On the meaning of “in such a case” in Bylaw 6.79 d

On the eligibility of called faculty members to serve ona faculty
committee

On several District resolutions regarding the placement of
Seminex graduates

On disciplining congregations and individuals involved in im-
proper ordinations

On the rights of a District convention floor committee

On the possibility of a pastor serving congregations of another
Lutheran church body

On the obligation of the Board of Directors and all other boards
and officers to carry out the resolutions of the Synod

On the San Francisco Night Ministry

That a District Board of Directors has neither the right to set
aside a resolution of the Synod (Bylaw 3.07 a) nor the right
to interpret the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the
Synod (Bylaw 2.107 e)

That a teacher who refuses to sign the Constitution cannot be
a member of the Synod

That a congregation or individual cannot belong to two church
bodies at one and the same time

That a parochial school association is not qualified to recognize
a theological institution on behalf of the Synod

That ordinations of uncertified persons are unconstitutional
even if they are referred to by other names such as investi-
tures, commissionings, appointments, etc.

That a member of a congregation not yet in membership with
the Synod cannot serve as a lay delegate to a synodical
convention

On the question of a roll-back of actions
On the special session of the Atlantic District convention