LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — January 9-10, 1987, Page 5

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congregation had been presented to the convention committee in a late overture but had not been dealt
with since the overture had not been submitted to the President at least six months prior to the synodical
convention in accordance with Bylaw 3.03, c, 1. In reviewing this matter, the Commission concluded that
on the basis of Bylaw 3.03 it is clear that the Synod determines the boundaries of the district. In accord
with this, the Northwest District has the right to and must seek the prior approval of the Synod to expand
its district boundaries to include the Church of All Nations, Hong Kong.
The Commission suggests that at this time the Northwest District Board of Directors accept the
congregation subject to the approval of the 1989 convention.
32. Women Congregation Officers (Ag. 1796; 1800) : A request had been received regarding an
opinion on the eligibility of women to serve on the board of deacons within the congregation. Three
specific requests were made calling for
1) The wording of the actual resolution or resolutions of the Synod pertaining to this issue
whereby women are expressly prohibited from serving a congregation as deacons;
2) The Synod's position, with respect to a congregation, considering a change in its Constitution
whereby such a prohibition would be removed; and
3) Whether a congregation's determination to so amend its Constitution due to the perceived
expediency of the existing resolution or resolutions is appropriate under Section 1.19 (b) of
the Synod's Bylaws.
The Secretary had provided a response which included resolutions of the Synod relating to the matter of
women holding positions in the congregation as well as the Commission on Constitutional Matters'
opinion on this issue. The letter had also pointed out that the congregation has a right to amend its
constitution but that the amended constitution would require approval of the District Constitution
Committee which would not approve a constitution containing provisions contrary to the position of the
Synod. The letter had also pointed out that the question of whether or not women could hold the position
of deacon in a congregation depended upon the function which was assigned to that office. If the
functions of this office involved the distinctive functions of the pastoral office, women would not be
eligible to hold it.
A similar response had been made to another request regarding the possibility of women
serving as chairman of the congregation.
The Commission ratified the responses which had been made.
33. Election of Chairman : Judge Schnelz was re-elected as chairman of the Commission by unanimous
vote.
34. Campus Congregation's Constitution (Ag. 1796,A) : The Commission had received
communications from the pastors of Calvary Lutheran Campus Church in Madison, Wisconsin, and the
chairman of the District Constitution Committee regarding the congregation's constitution and the
omission of paragraphs prohibiting women from holding certain offices or carrying out certain functions
such as assisting in the distribution of Holy Communion. The constitution of Calvary Lutheran Church
had been approved by the District Constitution Committee on May 12, 1983. Since that time, it appears
that the congregation had sought to amend its constitution further by using the term "convener" and
"assistant convener" and allowing women to hold this position. In review of the constitution relating to
these proposed changes, the District Committee had called attention to the fact that the constitution