LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 26–28, 2010, Page 15

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The title to Article I should reflect that it includes the duties of officers of the district as well.
Article II, 8.01, paragraphs A and D: Mention might also be made that duties include also those
prescribed by the district.
Art. II, 8.01, paragraph E 4: Wording will need to be changed to agree with Synod Constitution
Art. XII 9 (d) which gives this responsibility solely to the president of the district.
Art. II, 8.01, paragraph G 1: Technically incorrect, wording could be changed to advocate the
president being “pastoral.”
Art. II, 8.03, paragraph C: Attention should be given to reflect existing Synod bylaws governing
the reception of new members (Bylaws 2.3.2 and 2.10.2 [d]).
Art. VI, 21.01: Should read “reconcilers.”

159. Constitution Review Request from Kansas District (10-2575)
The secretary of the Kansas District in a letter received February 22, 2010, forwarded a resolution from
the district board of directors asking the commission to examine and provide an opinion regarding the
constitution of a congregation reviewed by the district’s constitution committee.
Response: This request falls outside the responsibilities of the Commission on Constitutional Matters as
provided by Bylaws 3.9.2ff. While the commission has provided guidelines for constitutions and bylaws
of congregations as a service to the Synod, it does not have the responsibility to examine and opine
regarding individual congregations’ documents. Such responsibility clearly is given to district constitution
committees (Bylaws 2.2.1 [b]; 2.4.1 [b–c]).
160. Women as Presidents of LCMS Colleges and Universities (10-2576)
In a letter dated February 22, 2010, the Synod’s Director of University Education submitted on behalf of
the Concordia University System two questions for response from the commission. The questions were
accompanied by extensive background information and a bylaw amendment proposal.
Question 1: Do the LCMS Bylaws prohibit women from serving as the president of an LCMS college or
university, apart from Bylaw 3.8.3.7?
Opinion: Outside of Bylaw 3.8.3.7, there are no current bylaws that specifically prohibit women from
serving as president of an LCMS college or university. However, care will need to be taken to locate and
make changes to any other bylaws with pronouns referring to the office of college or university president
that are not gender-neutral (as in Bylaw 3.8.3.7.1 [b]).
Question 2: Is the attached draft memorial to the 2010 LCMS convention consistent with the LCMS
Handbook, apart from Bylaw 3.8.3.7?
Opinion: Any bylaw amendment(s) intended to allow women to serve as president of an LCMS college or
university will need to address spiritual versus gender dimensions associated with the expectations and
duties of this office and satisfy the concerns articulated in prior CCM opinions, as in Opinion 07-2489:
When asked to reconsider this opinion, the commission on April 6, 1984, reaffirmed its
previous decision, stating “that when Bylaw 6.15 designates the president as the “spiritual
head” of the institution, service in the position of president by a woman would be in conflict
with the position of the Synod as stated in Resolution 2.17 of the 1969 Denver convention,