LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — July 23, 1997, Page 3

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May a congregation of the LCMS be suspended from membership in the Synod for publicly stating that
women should be included in the pastoral office?
May a member of a Missouri Synod congregation continue as a teacher at one of the schools in the
Concordia University System who publicly states that women should be included in the pastoral office?
The response of the Commission is as follows:
In a recent opinion, the Commission stated that a congregation which publicly and persistently teaches a
position which is contrary to that adopted by the Synod may be suspended from membership in the
Synod. This would be true no matter what the issue involved.
Since the Synod has consistently stated as its position that Scripture does not permit the inclusion of
women in carrying out the specific functions of the pastoral office, for a congregation to teach publicly
and persistently contrary to this position would subject that congregation to the possibility of
suspension from membership in the Synod.
With respect to teaching in a school of the Concordia University System by a member of a Missouri
Synod congregation that women should be included in the pastoral office, the Commission first notes
that schools of the Concordia University System are schools of the Synod. As such they are required to
honor and uphold the resolutions of the Synod. To permit a teacher, whether or not a member of a
Missouri Synod congregation, to publicly and persistently teach in such a school that women should be
included in the pastoral office would not be consistent with honoring and upholding resolutions of the
Synod. It would be the responsibility of the administration of the school and/or its Board of Regents to
deal with the issue under the provisions of Bylaws 6.45 and 6.47.
130. Adjournment: Having completed the business included in the agenda, Rev. Bode, at the request of the
Chairman, concluded the meeting with prayer.
Walter L. Rosin, Secretary

Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - July -August, 1997

(The following items are not listed in the numerical order of the regular minutes of the Commission on
Constitutional Matters. Those issues dealt with and reported below were covered by correspondence and by
individual reactions relayed to the office of the Secretary.)
1. Bylaw Amendment and Special Standing Rule (Ag. 2056, A): Questions have arisen regarding a
possible conflict between Bylaw 3.905, a, and Bylaw 15.01, d. The former calls upon the Commission on
Constitutional Matters to "examine all reports and overtures to the Synod, asking for amendments to the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod or which in any manner affect the Constitution and Bylaws, to
determine their agreement in content and language with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod." The
latter requires that amendments to the Bylaws be "submitted to the Commission on Constitutional Matters
for clearance" and has been interpreted by some to mean that a special action of "submission" of proposed
amendments is required, an action not covered in Bylaw 3.905, a. This possible conflict should be
eliminated.