LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 27, 1993, Page 8

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If, as stated in the request for an opinion, the pastor has been teaching his elders that women should be
allowed in the pastoral office, contrary to the position of the Synod, there is indeed a violation of Bylaw
2.39 c, which indicates the procedure for dealing with doctrinal dissent. The Synod has stated its
position with regard to the ordination of women and their participation in the pastoral office just as it
has on other matters, for example, the franchise of women in the congregation. It has stated these
positions in keeping with the Scriptures and the Confessions. Doctrinal discipline must be exercised in
the case of the pastor who teaches, contrary to the position of the Synod that the Scriptures allow for
ordination of women just as such doctrinal discipline must be exercised with respect to those who teach,
contrary to the position of the Synod, that the Scriptures teach that women ought not exercise the
franchise in the congregation.
Article XII of the Constitution clearly points out the responsibility of district presidents in such cases. It
notes in Article XII, 7 that
The district presidents shall, moreover, especially exercise supervision over the doctrine life
and administration of office of the pastors and teachers of their district and acquaint themselves
with the religious conditions of the congregations of their district.
It further states in Article XII, 8 that
District presidents are empowered to suspend from membership pastors, professors, and teachers
for persistently adhering to false doctrine or for having given offense by an ungodly life in
accordance with such procedure as shall be set forth in the Bylaws of the Synod.
33. Advertisements in Official Periodicals (Ag. 1957) : The Executive Editor of the Lutheran Witness and
Reporter had addressed a letter to the Commission on Constitutional Matters requesting a ruling with regard
to advertisements appearing in official synodical periodicals. In addressing the question, attention was
called to Bylaw 11.03 a which states, "All official periodicals and journals of the Synod as well as any
material with doctrinal content issued publicly by boards, commissions, or other subordinate groups of the
Synod except as stipulated in these bylaws shall be subject to doctrinal review."
Further reference was made to Chapter XII of the Bylaws which govern official periodicals of the Synod
and especially to Bylaw 12.05 which states, "Matters relating to doctrine shall be approved under the
prescribed procedure for doctrinal review before publication."
The specific question which was now addressed to the Commission was, "Given these statements from the
Bylaws, is it permissible for the official periodicals of the Synod to carry advertisements for books or other
materials with doctrinal content that have not been reviewed through the Synod's doctrinal review process?
Stated another way, if a book or other publication with doctrinal content has not been reviewed through the
Synod's doctrinal review process, may the official periodical still carry a paid advertisement for that book or
publication?
After discussing this matter, the Commission decided to respond as follows:
The reference "official periodical" applied to specific publications in the Synod, clearly implies to
members of the Synod that anything which appears in these publications and which includes doctrinal
content can be relied upon as being in keeping with the doctrinal position of the Synod. Consequently,
advertisements of other publications which appear in the official periodicals constitute an unofficial
endorsement of those publications.