LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 10, 1976, Page 6

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Second resolved: This resolve is improper since the District cannot set up its own standards for
inclusion of pastors on the roster of the Synod.
Third resolved: The President of the Synod cannot initiate alternate procedures for endorsing
candidates.
228. Gronewold-Lieske Correspondence Re Counselor Malotky, Minnesota South District (Ag. 1118, A):
The Commission resolved to receive these exchanges of correspondence as information and to take no
further action on the matter.
229. Board of Directors on Irvine (Ag. 1124): The Secretary had shared with the Commission the fact that
the Board of Directors had resolved to appeal the CCM interpretation of New Orleans Resolution 6-31 to
the Dallas convention. The Commission decided to hold this item on the agenda to await further
developments.
230. Women Elders (Ag. 1141): Rev. Edward Meyer of the Southern Illinois District Committee on
Constitutions had raised some questions regarding the eligibility of women to serve as elders, inquiring
whether the CCM had ever adopted a firm ruling or had merely issued guidelines. The Commission
resolved to inform him that he may regard the stipulation that women cannot serve as elders, as this office
is commonly understood in our circles, as a ruling and to inform him that the Synod has taken no further
action on this matter.
231. Women Elders, Calling of Pastors, Synodical Affiliation in Congregational Constitution (Ag. 1146):
Mr. Howard P. Powell, Jr., chairman of the Board of Elders of Our Savior, Raleigh, N.C., had placed
before the Commission several questions which together with the answers decided upon by the
Commission are listed as follows:
1.

In reference to Article VI, paragraph 4, has there been any synodical resolution relative to
women holding the office of elder, president, or vice-president of a congregation?
Answer: The Commission refers the congregation to the Denver resolution on woman suffrage
and to the Guidelines issued by the Commission on Constitutional Matters and printed on page
244 of the Milwaukee Convention Workbook.

2.

Is Article VII [of the congregation] acceptable or should it specifically mention synodical
certification [calling of pastors]?
Answer: The Commission concluded that the wording of Article VII was sufficient.

3.

Article IX, paragraph 2: In addition to this statement should the continued affiliation with The
Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod be a part of the statement?
Answer: Such a statement in a congregation's constitution has been regarded as advisable but it
is not absolutely necessary. The central issue is not that synodical membership is or is not
stated in the congregation's constitution but that the congregation has indeed joined the Synod
and signed its Constitution, thereby voluntarily accepting all conditions of membership as
stated in the synodical Handbook.

232. California-Nevada Bylaws (Ag. 966, 933A); Starr-Brueckner Correspondence (1149): The
Commission decided to hold these items on the agenda to await further developments.