# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_January 22 23 1970_S8
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

3. We hold likewise that Scripture does not prohibit women from exercising the franchise in
congregational or synodical assemblies.
4. We therefore conclude that the Synod itself and the congregations of the Synod are at liberty
to alter their policies and practices in regard to women's involvement in the work of the church
according to these declarations, provided the polity developed conforms to the general
Scriptural principles that women neither hold the pastoral office nor "exercise authority over
men."
Some congregations may desire to insert a separate paragraph in their constitution or bylaws. We
are proposing such a paragraph below. Other congregations may wish to change present provisions of
their constitution and bylaws instead of introducing a separate new article. In any event, the Commission
would caution each congregation carefully to examine all articles of its constitution, bylaws, and articles
of incorporation to make sure that there is agreement among and within these documents. In all
probability legal counsel should be secured All revisions of congregational constitutions must be
submitted to the District President for review (Handbook, 1.11 b).
In offering the suggestion below to the congregations the Commission on Constitutional Matters is
restricting itself to the position which the Synod