LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 16, 1993, Page 5

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Prior to the meeting, the Secretary had shared with the pastor a personal opinion on the similar matter which
had been brought to the Commission with that opinion having later been ratified by the Commission. It
stated:
As a personal opinion I believe it is correct that the specific statement need not be included in the
constitution or bylaws. Whether it is or not however is beside the point. At the present time, 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, the congregation would be expected to follow that practice.
As 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 president and vice president, I would assume women
would be prohibited from holding them.
As the response indicates, the question revolved around positions which may be held by women and
whether a statement identifying positions which could not be held by women must be included in the
constitution. Although not stated, I infer from the language of your constitution that the same question is
involved. If that is correct, I am quite sure the Commission on Constitutional Matters will provide a
similar response when it meets to discuss your request.
After reviewing the response which had been provided by the Secretary and discussing the matter further,
the Commission decided to respond as follows:
The Commission concludes that it is correct that a specific statement regarding positions which women
may not hold 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.
Accordingly, titles are not determinative, and if the functions of offices are the same as those normally
associated with the office of elder and president and vice president, it would follow that women would be
prohibited from holding them no matter what the title.
During discussion of your request for an opinion, the Commission also called attention to Bylaw 2.39 of
the Handbook of the Synod which calls on congregations of the Synod to "honor its rules and regulations"
and "to respect its resolutions and consider them of binding force if they are in accordance with the Word
of God and if they appear applicable as far as the condition of the congregation is concerned." This bylaw
clearly supports the position which the Commission has taken in providing the opinion as requested.
58. Board for Mission Services — Only Sending Agency (Ag. 1969) : The President of the Northwest
District had written a letter to the Executive Director of the Board for Mission Services as follows:
The synodical Handbook 1992, p. 64, par. 3.809 c states that the Board for Mission Services "serve as the
only sending agency through which workers and funds are sent to the mission areas of the Synod; even
though programs are supported by districts or other entities;"
It appears that the action of the Association of Loyal Lutheran[s] Northwest is in contradiction to the
letter and spirit of the bylaw.
Support had been requested for the sending of a worker to Russia through the publication of the Association
of Loyal Lutheran[s] Northwest, Inc. The question which was now addressed to the Commission was