LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — January 22-23, 1970, Page 7

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106. Rights of Congregational Trustees: A Mr. Louis Kaehn of Harbor Beach, Michigan had written to
the chairman with a complaint regarding the rights of congregational trustees. The chairman had replied
that this was not our Commission's responsibility. This reply was approved (Ag. 63).
107. Guidelines for Guidelines: The Commission approved the guidelines for Guidelines which Kuenne
had developed, with the provision that the document should be dated and that special attention should be
drawn to the new statement on woman suffrage now adopted by the Commission (Ag. 70).
108. Board of Directors Type of Government for Congregations: Reverend Carl W. Beuschlein of Toledo,
Ohio had asked for reactions to such a proposal. The Commission approved Kuenne's reply to the effect
that the Commission has no guidelines for such a type of congregational government (Ag. 71).
109. Constitutional Changes Because of Fellowship Declaration: Kuenne had replied to Reverend Arnold
Aschbrenner of Imperial, Kansas that no changes in congregational constitutions were necessary since a
fellowship resolution is an action of the Synod and does not affect a congregation's organization (Ag. 72).
The Commission approved this response.
110. Investment of Funds, Concordia Historical Institute: The Institute had inquired whether in view of
9.27 its special bequests and endowments needed to be handled by the Board of Trustees for Trust Funds.
The Commission ruled that such funds seem to come under the provisions of 9.27 and suggested therefore
that the Institute report the entire matter to the Board of Trustees for Trust Funds for its decision.(Ag. 92).
The meeting stood adjourned.
Herbert Mueller, Secretary

Suggestions for Congregational Constitutions
or Bylaws Regarding the Privileges of Women
(Voting and Holding Office)
The President of the Synod and many congregations have requested the Commission on
Constitutional Matters to give guidance to those congregations which desire to incorporate in their
constitutions or bylaws the provisions adopted by the Denver convention regarding woman suffrage.
The Commission recommends that each congregation contemplating changes in this respect study
thoroughly again Resolution 2-17 of the Denver convention, especially the following points:
Resolved, That the Synod accept the following declarations as guides on this matter:
1. Those statements of Scripture which direct women to keep silent in the church and which
prohibit them to teach and to exercise authority over men, we understand to mean that women
ought not to hold the pastoral office or serve in any other capacity involving the distinctive
functions of this office.
2. The principles set forth in such passages, we believe, prohibit holding any other kind of office
or membership on boards or committees in the institutional structures of a congregation, only if
this involves women in a violation of the order of creation. We hold that they do not prohibit
full membership of women on synodical boards, commissions, and committees. The manner of
filling an office or establishing membership on a board or commission, in congregations or in
the Synod, has no prohibitory Scriptural implications.