# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S446
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

446

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

Ov. 5-39

To Request that the CTCR Revisit the 1985 CTCR
Document “Women in the Church: Scriptural
Principles and Ecclesial Practice”
regarding Lay Lectors
WHEREAS, God created the man first and then the woman
(Genesis 2; 1 Tim. 2:13); and
WHEREAS, On the basis of this order of creation God commands
women not to teach or to exercise authority over men in the
churches, but to remain silent and learn in quietness and all
submission, which St. Paul explains as follows:
Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not
permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to
be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam
was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into
transgression. Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if
they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control. (1
Tim. 2:11–15 NKJV)
and as follows:
Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not
permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also
says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own
husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in
church. (1 Cor. 14:34–35 NKJV); and
WHEREAS, “Learn in quietness and all submission” and “they are
not permitted to speak” explicitly excludes women from speaking
the Scripture lessons to the whole congregation in the divine
service; and
WHEREAS, Many congregations in The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS) have accepted the practice of women
speaking the Scripture lesson to the congregation; and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations
(CTCR) document of 1985, entitled “Women in the Church:
Scriptural Principles and Ecclesial Practice,” by claiming on page
45 that “there is no apostolic prohibition of such reading by
women,” directly contradicts St. Paul who says, “Let your women
keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak” (1
Cor. 14:34 NKJV); and
WHEREAS, This practice, being contrary to the Word of God, is
thereby destructive to the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
which we as Christians are to pursue; and
WHEREAS, The public reading of Scripture is listed by St. Paul
as one of Bishop Timothy’s official duties as pastor (1 Tim. 4:13;
cf. Acts 13:15); and
WHEREAS, While circumstances may arise when laymen may or
even must read the lessons before the congregation in place of the
pastor, the Scriptures specifically prohibit women from this task
based on the order of creation; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Iowa District East of the LCMS call on the
Synod in convention to commission the CTCR to revisit the 1985
CTCR document “Women in the Church: Scriptural Principles and
Ecclesial Practice,” specifically regarding the practice of women
reading the Holy Scriptures publicly before the congregation (pp.
44–45); and be it further
Resolved, That the CTCR revisit the issue of whether the public
reading before the congregation constitutes an official duty and

2019 Convention Workbook

authoritative act of the pastoral office in view of 1 Tim. 4:13; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the Iowa District East of the LCMS call on its
president and pastors to study together and teach their
congregations what the Scriptures teach about the roles of men and
women in the home and the church, that we might gain a better
understanding and stronger agreement on what God’s Word says
concerning our various stations in life.
Iowa East District
Ov. 5-40

To Conform to God’s Will Regarding the Roles of
Men and Women in Church Leadership
WHEREAS, God has instructed in 1 Tim. 2:11–13, “Let the
woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman
to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
For Adam was first formed, then Eve.”; and
WHEREAS, God has also instructed in 1 Cor. 14:33–35, “For God
is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the
saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not
permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under
obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let
them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to
speak in the church.”; and
WHEREAS, 2004 Resolution 3-08A: “To Affirm the Conclusions
of the 1994 CTCR Report: The Service of Women in
Congregational and Synodical Offices” did not specifically and
clearly address the congregational offices of chairman and vicechairman; and
WHEREAS, Such ambiguity has led to inconsistent practices
within congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
practices that are not wholly consistent with Holy Scripture and the
godly intent of the 2004 Res. 3-08A; therefore be it
Resolved, That Res. 3-08A be amended to add the following
clarification: “Resolved, That the Synod affirm that women on the
basis of the clear teaching of Scripture may not serve in the office
of congregational chairman or vice-chairman, since these positions
necessarily exercise authority that resides within and flows from the
office of pastor.”
Trinity
Bridgeton, MO
Ov. 5-41

To Direct the CTCR to Address the Signing of
Public Interfaith and Interdenominational
Statements by Members of Synod
WHEREAS, All public confessions and statements signed by
pastors in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) must
conform to biblical truth and the Lutheran Confessions; and
WHEREAS, LCMS pastors voluntarily subscribe the Lutheran
Confessions, by which we bind ourselves not to depart in substance
or in words from the doctrine set forth in them; and
WHEREAS, Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions teach that
there is only one God, the Holy Trinity, all other gods of all other
religions and secular philosophies being false and the figments of
man’s imagination; and