# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S354
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

354

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

Whereas, President Harrison requested the CTCR on Sept. 12,
2012, to “provide clarity and direction on the issue of women’s service in the church” including the question of “female presidents/chairs
of congregations” (CTCR Review, p. 1); and
Whereas, The CTCR did release its review in December 2014
to the Synod; and
Whereas, Congregations continue to have difficulty in properly
formulating constitutions and bylaws which reflect the practice of the
Synod in this matter; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod give greater guidance and direction to
the congregations of the Synod regarding the service of women in
congregational offices, particularly concerning formulating proper
language for governing documents.
Mount Olive
Milwaukee, WI
5-27

To State Women Have No Authority Over Men
in Church Humanly Established Offices
Whereas, 2004 Res. 3-08A resolved “that women may serve in
humanly established offices in the church as long as the functions of
these offices do not make them eligible to carry out ‘official functions [that] would involve public accountability for the function of
the pastoral office’ ”; and
Whereas, Holy Scripture plainly states in 1 Timothy 2:12 that
women are not permitted to exercise authority over a man: “I do not
permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention state, in accordance with
Scripture, that women may serve only in humanly established offices
in the church that do not exercise authority over men.
Zion
Chippewa Falls, WI
5-28

To Encourage Utilization of Women
in Delivery of the Word
Whereas, Old and New Testament Scriptures are replete with
examples of God delivering His message in a public way through
women (Deborah, Huldah, Priscilla, Junia, etc.); and
Whereas, God chose to introduce the Word made flesh to the
world through the birth of Jesus by the Virgin Mary; and
Whereas, Women are noted by John as the first witnesses and
bearers of the message of Christ’s resurrection; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod acknowledge the importance of women of faith in our congregations as
bearers of God’s Good News; and be it further
Resolved, That with this acknowledgement congregations encourage women to participate with delivery of the Word; and be it finally
Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention authorize the President
of the Synod, with the approval of the Council of Presidents, to
appoint five (5) representatives from the Council of Presidents,
along with one (1) seminary representative from each seminary and
at least five (5) laywomen and five (5) rostered women, to serve on a
task force that would create literature and other publicity that would
encourage the utilization of women in delivery of the Word, with
2016 Convention Workbook

examples from the Holy Scriptures of the prophetesses, deaconesses,
and female matriarchs and saints.
Village
Bronxville, NY
5-29

To Condemn Conscription of Women
Whereas, On January 24, 2013, the U.S. Department of Defense
announced its intent to lift the nation’s exclusion of women from all
remaining combat positions from which they have been previously
barred, an exclusion upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court; and
Whereas, The women of the LCMS may be subject to registering for selective service and a possible draft, as the rationale
provided by the U.S. Supreme Court in prohibiting this practice was
the Department of Defense’s ban on women in combat; and
Whereas, The conscription of women, especially in view of
their imminent inclusion into all combat positions in the U.S. Armed
Forces, is not in accordance with God’s order of creation (Gen. 1−2;
1 Cor. 11), in which men are to be the self-sacrificial heads and protectors of women, laying down their lives for them as Christ laid down
His life for His Church (Eph. 5:25), and showing honor to them (1 Pet.
3:7), which is further confirmed and testified to by the exclusion of
women from combat duty and conscription throughout the Scriptures
(Num. 1; Joshua 1:14; Deut. 20; Deut. 22; etc.); and
Whereas, At the 2013 LCMS convention, the Mercy floor committee intended to speak to the issue of the conscription of women in
their original resolution, as was printed in Today’s Business (July 23,
2013): “Resolved, That the LCMS support those who have a religious
and moral objection to women serving in ground combat positions
and/or participating in the selective service system and being subject to a possible draft.” Yet the committee did not present the above
phrase, “and/or participating in the selective service system and being
subject to a possible draft,” because “Mercy committee members saw
no need to address that issue at this time” (Reporter Online); and
Whereas, Since then (on December 3, 2015), the U.S. Department
of Defense announced that all U.S. military combat positions are
being opened up to women, and detailed legal analysis has already
been undertaken by the Department of Defense in consultation with
the Department of Justice concerning the legal implications of this
change of policy in regard to the constitutionality of the application
of the selective service system; and
Whereas, We would be negligent if we did not defend the women
of the LCMS and prepare for the serious and imminent possibility of
women being subjected to being required to participate in the selective service system and a possible draft; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS condemn the conscription of women,
in particular by means of participation in the selective service system
and a possible draft, as it is a confusion of God’s order of creation;
and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS support those who have a religious and
moral objection to women participating in the selective service system and being subject to a possible draft.
St. Paul’s, Readlyn, IA; Immanuel, Readlyn, IA; Immanuel,
Terra Haute, IN; Emmaus, St. Louis, MO; Immanuel,
Tuscola, IL; Grace, San Mateo, CA; St. Luke’s, Wood
Lake, MN; St. Paul’s, Union Grove, WI; Blessed Redeemer,
Brandon, SD; High Plains Circuit, Wyoming District;
Mt. Pleasant Circuit, Iowa District East; Central Jersey
Circuit, New Jersey District; Our Savior, Westminster, MA;