# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S176 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 176 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is the largest confessional Lutheran church to oppose feministic intrusions into its church life, including opposing the ordination of women pas- tors; and WHEREAS, The seedbed for church leaders is the colleges of the Concordia University System; therefore be it Resolved, That the use of gender neutral Bibles not be allowed to be used in the formal and informal chapel and church services in these colleges; and be it further Resolved, That women not be allowed to lead such services or participate in them by reading the Scriptures, preaching, or conse- crating or distributing the Sacrament of the Altar; and be it finally Resolved, That professors teaching religion at these schools teach and support this position in their classes. Concordia South Haven, MN 3-76 To Grant Eligibility to Women for All Congregational Offices WHEREAS, Scripture certainly allows all members, men and women, to encourage one another in Christian faith and Christian living; and WHEREAS, Scripture clearly tells us of women who served in significant roles of leadership and authority among God's people in both the Old and New Testaments; and WHEREAS, St. Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, points out that “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28); and WHEREAS, All offices within the congregation serve to assist the pastor who is “regularly called,” including those involving the dis- tinctive functions of the pastoral office; and WHEREAS, Those who hold these offices perform their assigned functions under the supervision of the holders of the pastoral of- fice; and WHEREAS, The holding of any such offices by women would not, therefore, violate Paul’s instruction regarding authority or the order of creation; and WHEREAS, God, as in time past, continues to give to women the gifts needed to exercise leadership among His people; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod take a fresh biblical approach to this issue, not clinging solely to past interpretations or decisions; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod declare that women may serve in any congregational office in the spirit of and in service to Christ, the head of the church; and be it further Resolved. That women’s eligibility for service in all offices of the congregation be recognized by the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to revise their con- stitutions to provide this opportunity for additional service by women; and be it finally Resolved, That in all our preaching and teaching we emphasize the mutual love, honor, and respect that is to characterize all male- female relationships in both the home and the church, for Paul has instructed us to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph. 5:21). St. James Myrtle Point, OR 3-77 To Declare Women Eligible for Office of Congregation President WuerEAS, Great joy has been found in carrying out Christ’s commission with women working side by side with men in a rela- tionship of mutual and reciprocal deference; and WHEREAS, As stated in Gal. 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek. there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor fe- male; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”; and WuereasS, AS Christians learning to serve together as male and female according to Christ’s model, we long to serve as equals; and WuerEas, Synodical constraints discourage women from fully exercising God-given talents and thereby limit their contributions to congregations; therefore be it Resolved, That women are equally eligible for the congrega- tional offices of president and vice-president. Messiah Mounds View, MN 3-78 To Address Women Leading Chapel Services at Valparaiso University Wuereas, The Lutheran Confessions in the Formula of Con- cord state that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testament are the only norm by which our doctrine should be judged (Epit- ome, Part I, Comprehensive Summary, Rule and Norm... No. 1, 2, and 3, pages 464 and 465, and Solid Declaration, Part II, the Summary Formulation, Basis, Rule and Norm, . . . No. 1, 3, pages 503 and 504, Tappert); and WHEREAS, The Holy Spirit moved St. Paul to write in 1 Cor. 14:34-35; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; and Titus 1:5-9, either directly or by im- plication, that only men are to speak in a public worship service (St. Paul added in 1 Cor. 14:37 that the verses in 34-35 were the command of God); and WHEREAS, Christ Himself appointed only men to be His apos- tles; and WHEREAS, Chapel services at Valparaiso University are public services not “family devotions” (women, called leaders, have al- ready led chapel services at Valparaiso University); and WuerEAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), who is not in altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS and who has both male and female clergy, is to be invited to con- duct regular worship services in the Valparaiso University chapel (letter to congregations, June 3, 1997); and Wuereas, Valparaiso University has special ties to the LCMS with its President, Dean of Chapel, and LCMS theology professors being listed on the official roster of the LCMS; therefore be it Resolved, That LCMS direct Valparaiso University and its Pres- ident, Dean of Chapel, and LCMS theology professors to adhere to the rule and norm of the Formula of Concord, i.e., the clear Word of God, and therefore to cease and desist from allowing women to lead chapel services; and be it further Resolved, That if this practice, contrary to the Word of God, persists after one year, the LCMS urge its congregations and their members to stop supporting Valparaiso University with students, funds, and the right to appeal for funds in Synod’s official publica- tions. Redeemer Lake Station, IN 3-79 To Reject Subordinationism WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod assembled in convention in 1995 resolved in Res. 3-10 to have the CTCR co-