Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 516
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 516

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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.