LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 9, 1988, Page 4

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Extension Fund Board of Directors. While requesting the Commission on Structure to reconsider the
bylaw which appears to be inordinately prescriptive, the Commission has concluded that it has no other
choice at this time but to reach the conclusion stated.
120. Service of Women (Ag. 1842) : The Rev. Louis Rush, chairman of the Northwest District
Constitution Committee, had forwarded a resolution adopted at the Northwest District convention which
requested the Commission on Constitutional Matters and the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations to develop a revised regulation that would permit women to hold the offices of president, vice
president, or elder in a congregation. It was making this request with the hope that resolutions involving
such regulations would be forwarded to the 1989 synodical convention for consideration.
After reviewing the material which was received, the Commission on Constitutional Matter responded to
the request by stating that to advocate any legislation would destroy the credibility of the Commission as
a neutral arbitrator in the interpretation of the Synod's Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions. The
Commission does not construe itself as an activist body and therefore declines to develop resolutions such
as those which were requested.
121. Eligibility of Women for Certain Offices (Ag. 1844) : A request had been received from a pastor
in California, asking certain questions regarding the inclusion of specific statements in a congregational
constitution on the eligibility of women for certain offices as well as the description of certain offices in
terms of executive director or assistant, rather than the normal terms used for president and vice president.
It was also pointed out that it did not see these positions as offices usurping authority, but rather as offices
of service to carry out the directives of the voting assembly.
The Secretary had provided a response which stated that as a personal opinion, he believed that it is
correct that a specific statement on these matters need not be included in the constitution or bylaws.
Whether it is or is not, however, is beside the point. The Commission on Constitutional Matters has no
other choice but to support the position that women should not hold the office of president or vice
president. That is the position of the Synod. Consequently, whether stated or not, a congregation would be
expected to follow that practice.
As to the positions of director and assistant executive director, if the functions of these offices are the
same as those normally associated with the office of the president and vice president, it would be assumed
that women would be prohibited from holding them.
After reviewing the request and the response provided, the Commission ratified the response of the
Secretary.
122. Adjudication and Appeals - Women Membership (Ag. 1845) : The Commission received as a
matter of information, a letter of President Bohlmann to a pastor in the Northwest District, in which he
stated his concern regarding the use of women for distributing the elements at holy communion during a
convention service in that district. He cited the advice of the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations that it is not loving and considerate to have women assisting in the distribution of communion
because it may easily give offense to those who consider this to be a distinctive function of the pastoral
office.
The response of Dr. Bohlmann also included a reference to a question which had been raised by the pastor
regarding the eligibility of women for service on Commissions on Adjudication and Appeals. It was
suggested that this matter be referred to the Commission on Structure, which might determine that the
members of Commission on Adjudication and Appeals would rule only on procedural dimensions of
excommunication cases, not their spiritual substance, in which case, the presence of a woman on such