# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S567
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 567

struction of men by the Christian woman in private witness (cf.
Priscilla, Acts 18:26). Furthermore, the early deaconesses no doubt
did much instruction of women and children in the privacy of
homes where, as on some mission fields today, the male evangelist
was barred on grounds of propriety. Wherever in the church’s
program limitations due to woman’s place in the Order of Creation
do not interpose, the woman may teach without any scruples.
Compare Concordia Theological Monthly V (1934), 764—773;
I (1930), 351—360.

In this connection, we hold that when a woman whom God
has led to use her special gifts in legitimate spheres of church
work that the Lord has opened to her, at the request of the congre-
gation, reports orally to the congregation “the things that God has
done with her,” this is not to be regarded as a violation of the
Pauline directives. Nor should our congregations scruple to seek
adviceyfrom women who through endowment and training are in
a position to give wise counsel. The gifts of the Spirit are given
for the common good (“to profit withal,” 1 Cor. 12:7).

E. Our assignment is, to give our best judgment on the ques-
tion concerning woman suffrage in the church. This is our best
judgment.

1. Scripture knows of only one type of church members, mem-
bers of the body of Christ, male or female (Gal. 3:28; Eph. 1:23;
4:4-6; 1 Peter 2:9, etc.).

2. In the Church Visible these members are bound together
in the confession of their common faith (Ps. 116:10-14; 2 Cor. 4:13;
Rom. 10:10).

3. In the performance of the church’s work (Matt. 28:19, 20),
administration becomes inevitable and organization naturally
develops, even becomes mandatory, where property holdings
require incorporation.

4. The precise method of administration of congregational
affairs in the early church is not ascertainable. We do not know
whether rules and regulations were discussed and adopted in
connection with the public services, with women present though
not allowed to speak; or whether in Christian freedom the con-
gregations placed all these matters into the hands of their elders
(bishops, pastors).

5. Every congregation has the right to regulate its own affairs
and establish its own polity provided only that God’s Word be not
disregarded. “All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or
Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or the present, or the future,
all are yours, and you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s” (1 Cor.
3: 21-23).