LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 372

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372 THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

or committees in the institutional structures of a congregation, only if
such a way of proceeding involves women in a violation of this prin-
ciple. Accordingly, the Synod held, the pertinent scriptural texts do
not prohibit full membership of women on synodical boards, com-
missions, and committees, nor is the manner of filling an office or es-
tablishing membership on a board or commission in congregations or
in the Synod under any scriptural prohibition. With respect to woman
suffrage, which congregations without scriptural prohibition are free
to adopt, and the matter of congregational offices and board member-
ship, the Synod concluded that congregations are free to alter their
policies and practice, provided the polity developed conforms to the
scriptural principles informing the Synod’s position regarding the pas-
toral office. The Synod recognized the sensitivity of this issue and
therefore urged “cautious and deliberate action in the spirit of Chris-
tian love” if changes are implemented.

Following this action by the Synod in 1969, the President of the
Synod and a number of congregations asked that guidance be given
by the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) to congrega-
tions desiring to incorporate into their constitutions and bylaws the
provisions adopted in Resolution 2-17. In 1970 the CCM issued
“Suggestions for Congregational-Constitutions or Bylaws Regard-
ing the Privileges of Women (Voting and Holding Office).”’? Re-
stricting itself to the position taken by the Synod (“de iure humano
rather than de iure divino, by human right rather than divine right’),
and assuming that the Synod “may further define its position in the
future, thereby making it necessary perhaps to refine the sugges-
tions being offered herewith,” the CCM offered a sample constitu-
tional paragraph under the title “Privileges of Women.” This
paragraph allows, in addition to franchise, that women may “serve
as officers and as members of boards and committees as long as
these positions are not directly involved in the specific functions of
the pastoral office (preaching, the public administration of the
sacraments, church discipline) and as long as this service does not
violate the order of creation (usurping authority over men).” The
paragraph then concludes (footnotes bracketed): “Accordingly,
they shail not serve as pastor, as a member of [Here shall be listed
the board of elders or corresponding board directly involved in the
functions of the pastoral office.], as chairman or vice-chairman of
the congregation, or as chairman of [Here the congregation may list
at its discretion those major policy and decision-making boards or
standing committees, if any, whose chairmanship the congregation
may wish to restrict to men.].” The Synod affirmed this position as
stated in the CCM opinion in 1981'* and again in 1986.'

In response to inquiries regarding the eligibility of women for ser-
vice in congregational offices, the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations addressed itself briefly to this matter in its 1985 re-
port on Women in the Church: Scriptural Principles and Ecclesial
Practice. The Commission replied to the question “May women hold
office in a congregation, serve on committees of the congregation,
chair committees of the congregation?” by stating the following:

Women may hold any office and serve on any committee of the con-
gregation which enhances the work of the priesthood of all believers.
Women also have the privilege to chair congregational committees,
since a “chair” does not “have authority over men” any more than the
committee per se would have such authority in the New Testament
sense. The only stricture would have to do with anyone whose official
functions would involve public accountability for the function of the
pastoral office (e.g., elders, and possibly the chairman of the congrega-
tion). The tasks of the elders in a congregation are often directly asso-
ciated with the pastoral office and the public administration of the office
of the keys. As stated in the introductory paragraph to this section, every-
thing depends on the nature of functions assigned to various offices es-
tablished by the church.

The same general position outlined above applies to various district or
synodical committees and commissions. Affairs of the church have
never been assigned only to those holding the office of the public min-

2007 Convention Workbook

istry. Women offer valuable contributions to the work of such commit-

tees, boards, and commissions.!°
Taking into account its previously stated positions, the CTCR’s
counsel, and questions and concerns raised about the eligibility of
women for service in congregational offices, the Synod at its 1989
convention adopted Resolution 3—13A “To Study and Clarify Ser-
vices of Women in Congregational and Synodical Offices.” The
Synod specifically asked “that the CTCR, in consultation with the
Council of Presidents, prepare a study on the eligibility of women
for service in all offices of the congregation, including that of chair-
man, vice-chairman, and elder and district and synodical boards and
commissions where their official function would in effect involve
public accountability for the function(ing) of the pastoral office.”"”
Adopted by the CTCR on November 16, 1994

Notes

1. See Appendix.

2. 1989 Res. 3-13A “To Study and Clarify Services of Women
in Congregational and Synodical Offices,” Convention Proceed-
ings, 118.

3. Report of the CTCR on Women in the Church: Scriptural
Principles and Ecclesial Practice, 1985, 42.

4. See Women in the Church, 32-33, for more detailed discus-
sion.

5. Ibid., 34-37.

6. For a discussion of the creational pattern of male headship in
the church, see Women in the Church, 27-37.

7. See the Commission’s discussion of | Tim. 2:12, with special
reference to the Greek term authentein, in Women in the Church,
35-36. At its September 1992 meeting the Commission received a
request from the Atlantic District to clarify concerns relative to
women’s service in the church, including the meaning of the term
authentein.

8. Ibid., 44.

9. The term “elder” is derived from the Old Testament and the
Jewish Synagogue. In the Old Testament the “elders” were the chief
representatives of the tribes and together represented the nation (see
Ex. 3:16ff.). The New Testament often refers to the Jewish elders
who were the rulers of the synagogues and were apparently re-
sponsible for the discipline of the people in the practice of the Law
(see Luke 7:3). The New Testament’s own use of “elder” is in con-
tinuity with its Jewish antecedents. When used as a designation for
an office, the New Testament uses the title “elder” as a synonym
for “pastor” or for “overseer” (“bishop”), thus designating those
who on behalf of the people are responsible for teaching and the
maintenance of Christian discipline. The “elders” of Ephesus are
“bishops” placed by the Holy Spirit “to shepherd the church of God”
(Acts 20:17-29). The “elders” “shepherd the flock of God in their
midst” and are to perform this task as “types of the Shepherd”
(1 Peter 5:1-4). Elders “preside” in the church and labor “in the
word and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17). Scriptural evidence, therefore,
indicates that “elder” signifies those who represent the church and
on its behalf have oversight in doctrine and life. Even in the early
church when a distinction between bishop and the elders existed,
elders were closely associated with the duties of the bishop and were
usually ordained to Word and sacrament ministry.

C.F.W. Walther stated in 1864, “A congregation shall also es-
tablish (aufzurichten) the office of such elders or overseers as do
not labor in the Word and doctrine (1 Tim. 5:17: ‘Let the elders who
rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those
who labor in preaching and teaching’) but who assist the incumbent
of the office of the divine Word in ruling, disciplining, and keeping
order in the congregation . . .. The qualifications of the candidates
for this office are to be determined from Acts 6:3... 1 Tim. 3:8-12
....” (The Proper Form of an Evangelical Lutheran Local Con-
gregation Independent of the State, in Walther on the Church, John