Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 223
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 223

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 223

5-19

To Clarify Synodical Membership
Status of Various Ministries

WHEREAS, Article V of the Synod’s Constitution grants
membership in the Synod to congregations, ministers of the
Gospel, and teachers: and

WHEREAS, Other forms of ministry such as deaconess and
director of Christian education are now present in many con-
gregations; and

WHEREAS, Women teachers are now eligible for member-
ship in the Synod but deaconesses have not been granted that
privilege: and

WHEREAS, Eligibility for consideration for boards and com-
missions of the Synod under the present Constitution and
Bylaws is limited to those individuals listed on the pastor and
teacher rosters in The Lutheran Annual: and

WHEREAS, Programs of preparation for directors of Christian
education in synodical colleges provide options which may not
result in certification as a classroom teacher or ordination as
a pastor: and

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention in 1959 adopted a resolu-
tion granting eligibility for synodical membership to directors
of music and education while simultaneously limiting member-
ship to those who “are eligible for a call in any one of our
schools” (1959 Convention Proceedings. pp. 309-10): therefore
be it

Resolved. That eligibility for membership in the Synod be
clarified by amending Article V of the Synod’s Constitution to
read as follows:

Membership in the Synod is held and may be
acquired by congregations and ministers of religion
(pastors. teachers, deaconesses, directors of Christian
education, and other ministers approved from time to
time by the Synod in convention) of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church who confess and accept the con-
fessional basis of Article II.

and be it further

Resolved. That the Commission on Constitutional Matters
be instructed to modify the terminology in other articles of the
Constitution and all Bylaws to bring them into agreement with
this constitutional amendment: and be it finally

Resolved. That the Commission on Constitutional Matters
consider revision of the regulations in the Bylaws for member-
ship on synodical boards and commissions so as to include all
ministers and ministries approved by the Synod.

Faculty

Concordia Teachers College
Seward, Nebr.

W. Th. Janzow, President
James Nelesen, Secretary

3-20

To Study Membership Classifications

WHEREAS, The professional roster of the Synod has grown
in both number and variety of ministries: and

WHEREAS. The Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod do not
reflect this variety in the area of membership. representation
at conventions, and voting rights: and

WHEREAS. The directors of Christian education of the Central
Illinois District have petitioned the District Board of Directors
to bring their concerns about representation of directors of
Christian education to the synodical convention: and

WHEREAS, Other groups of ministers in the Synod could have
similar concerns: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Anaheim convention of the Synod estab-
lish a committee to study the membership, representation, and
franchise of the various ministries in the Synod and give its

report together with any proposed revisions of the Constitu-
tion and Bylaws to the 1977 synodical convention.

Board of Directors
Central Illinois District
Frederick A. Skov. Secretary

3-21

To Define Terms “Clergy,” ‘Ministers
of Christian Education,” and “Teachers”

WHEREAS. The inclusion of all teachers on the “clergy”
roster of the Synod involves almost insurmountable administra-
tive difficulties: and

WHEREAS. The vagueness of our use of the term “clergy
roster of the Synod” and “ministers of religion” has created
difficulties with rulings of the Internal Revenue Service and
will continue to create such difficulties: and

WHEREAS. The intention of the Constitution of the Synod and
the founders was not to create a professional organization of
church workers but rather an association of congregations: and

WHEREAS, There is an urgent need to determine what is
meant by terms such as “clergy,” ‘ministers of Christian educa-
tion, and “pastoral ministry”: and

WHEREAS. There is a distinct difference in the requirements
and qualifications of these various offices in the church: there-
fore be it

Resolved. That the President of the Synod appoint a commit-
tee from the Council of Presidents to study the entire matter of
the ‘roster of the Synod”: and be it further

Resolved. That the chairman of this committee shall be the
First Vice-President of the Synod: and be it further

Resolved. That this committee shall consider such questions
as:

Do all graduates of teacher training colleges qualify in the
same way as ‘ministers of religion’?

Should additional requirements, such as 1 year of postgrad-
uate work in religion be required of anyone who is listed as a
“minister of religion” or as a ‘‘minister of Christian education”
in a congregation?

Should the Synod list as ‘ministers of religion” only those
persons who have been ordained to the pastoral ministry?

Board of Directors
Montana District
Paul Blunck, Secretary

5-22
To Make Better Provisions for Signing
Synod's Constitution

WHEREAS. It has often been pointed out that the require-
ment to sign the Synod’s Constitution in open session creates
difficulty and at times confusion as to membership status: and

WHEREAS. A task force dealing with these and related
matters has recommended to the Commission on Constitutional
Matters that better provisions be made for signing the Synod’s
Constitution: therefore be it

Resolved. That Bylaw 1.03 be amended as follows:

PRESENT WORDING
1.03 Signing Constitution

All members of the Synod shall sign the Constitu-
tion of the Synod in open session at the first convention
of the District which they attend. The duly elected
lay delegate of...

PROPOSED WORDING
1.03 Signing Constitution

All individual applicants for membership in the