Women may hold any office and serve on any committee of the congregation which enhances the work of the priesthood of all believers. The tasks of the elders in a congregation are often directly associated with the pastoral office and the public administration of the office of the keys. As stated in the introductory paragraph to this section, everything depends on the nature of functions assigned to various offices established by the church. The same general position outlined above applies to various district or synodical committees and commissions. Affairs of the church have never been assigned only to those holding the office of the public ministry.
Women offer valuable contributions to the work of such committees, boards, and commissions.
Here, especially in the tradition of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, much has to do with definition and perception. In such contexts, women should not preach or lead the services of worship. It is impossible to anticipate all of the exigencies of such situations in a general study such as that offered in this document. While some might argue that assisting the presiding minister in the distribution of the elements is not necessarily a distinctive function of the pastoral office, the commission strongly recommends that, to avoid confusion regarding the office of the public ministry and to avoid giving offense to the church, such assistance be limited to men. Since such service does not involve the exercise of distinctive functions of the pastoral office, there should be no objection to young women serving in such capacities.