# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S527 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 516 gether 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 congrega- tional 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 congregations 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). 6. The fathers of our Synod found in America the greatly prized liberty of determining their own polity as a free church in a free country. They established the sys- tem of voters’ meetings now in vogue among us in order to regulate and administer the congregation’s affairs. 7. With minor variations of procedure the subjects of deliberation and action in such voters’ meetings are still what they were in our fathers’ days: “matters of doctrine (Acts15), election or appointment of church officers (Acts 1:15-26; 6:1-6; 2 Cor. 8:19); church discipline (Matt. 18:17-20; 1Cor.5:1-5; 2Cor.2:6-11; 1Tim.5:20) publie offenses (Acts 21: 20-22); quarrels among members (1 Cor. 6:1-8); matters of good order and ceremonial (1 Cor. 14: 26-40; 16:1,2). and the like.” (Walther and the Church, [St. Louis: CPH], p. 95 ff.) 8. In the early church matters of discipline, at any rate, were handled in the full congregational meeting, with only the men speaking. For this reason, and on the gen- eral conviction that in the discussion and action with re- gard to matters so vitally connected with the church’s life and welfare — as those listed in par. 7 above — and which can be disassociated from the church’s worship service only with great difficulty, it follows that under these cir- cumstances the Pauline veto of woman’s voice in teach- ing and directing men applies also here. Consequently it has been the general practice of our congregations to withhold voting privileges from women. This has not pre- cluded asking the opinion of women in the congregation in any matter of the church’s program. 9. Our church has prospered under this system. Through participation in the business of the local con- gregation there has been trained a steady stream of able and enlightened laymen who have become strong leaders in the work of our congregations and Synod. At times, indeed, because of sinful human weakness, some meet- ings have been tumultuous and quarrelsome, below the dignity of Christian gentlemen. But at least the meetings were not an arena for battles between the sexes. 10. Our women generally have not been resentful about their exclusion from this voting membership as it has developed in our congregations. In faith and love they gladly exercise their rights as members of the royal priesthood, in this respect through the natural admin- istrant sex to which the Scripture assigns the ruling func- tion in the church. They, too, have read, and they will- ingly heed, the Pauline texts. Their Spirit-prompted urge to serve the church has not been wanting in oppor- tunities for activity. There is so much for all to do, and there are things that none can do so well as women. We believe that Scripture fully sanctions the basic polity set up in our church, and we can foresee only evil results in any change of the polity under which our church has been so signally blessed for more than a century. After the committee had stated its best judgment under the 10 points just cited, it made the following recommendations to the Synod (Section IV): WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN THE CHURCH A. That Synod, for the sake of peace and order, urge that our congregations continue the Scripture-sanctioned and time-tested policy of administering their affairs through the male voters’ meetings; B. That Synod, for the sake of peace and order, urge congregations which deviate from this policy to conform to the established procedures; C. That Synod urge all congregations to inform their total membership, male and female, on the transactions of the voters’ meetings (printed and distributed minutes; Sunday bulletins, annual “state of the church” messages, etc.), to provide opportunity to ascertain the opinion of the women on important issues, and to examine and rightfully resolve all conscientious protests that may be lodged against the adoption of certain measures; and D. That Synod urge our pastors and congregations to make diligent study of the Scriptural teachings concern- ing both the Order of Redemption and the Order of Crea- tion, that we may ever fervently adore and obediently serve the Triune God, our Creator, as well as our Re- deemer and Sanctifier. This committee report together with the recommenda- tions to the Synod was considered in several sessions. Thereafter the convention accepted the recommenda- tion of Floor Committee 3. We quote pertinent sections both from the Where- ases and from the Resolveds of this somewhat lengthy resolution. The second Whereas: WHEREAS, The committee does not state that it finds woman suffrage in our congregations forbidden in express words in the Scriptures, but emphatically warns against any anti-Scriptural practice whereby the headship of man to woman in the affairs of the church would be sur- rendered; The last Whereas: WuerEAs, Above all, the committee urges continued diligent study of the Scriptural teachings relative to these matters, with special reference to the Order of Redemp- tion and the Order of Creation; The second Resolved: Resolved, (b) That we recognize the problems in- volved in applying these texts of Scripture to woman suf- frage in our congregations and all the issues involved therein; The fourth to sixth Resolveds: Resolved, (d) That all congregations who administer their affairs through the male voters’ meeting be urged to continue this policy, but to inform the entire member- ship on the transactions of the voters’ meetings, and to im- press upon the men the importance of utilizing this blessed privilege of suffrage to the utmost to the glory of God and the welfare of the church; and be it further Resolved, (e) That we urge any congregation in the membership of Synod now, or applying for membership, which grants woman suffrage, to reconsider this practice in the light of Scripture and the glorious position of woman in marriage and in the home, and also in the light of the consequences of such practice in the history of the church, and to consider the danger of offense to others and to conform to the historic position of Synod in this mat- ter; and be it further Resolved, ({) That a standing committee of the mem- bers be appointed by the Praesidium of Synod which will continue to study this entire area of the place of woman in the church and which will provide guidance and direc- tion through pamphlets, brochures, books, correspondence, and direct consultation wherever desired. This resolution was accepted by the Synod.