LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1977, Page 134

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134 RESOLUTIONS

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
at Denver, 1969, declared fellowship with The
American Lutheran Church and at the same time
declared fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Canada (formerly The American Lutheran
Church in Canada); and

WHEREAS, The LCMS and the ELCC had declared
consensus in doctrine; and

WHEREAS, The ELCC in convention in 1976 adopted
a position to permit the ordination of women to the
pastoral ministry; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS is opposed to the ordination of
women to the pastoral ministry; and

WHEREAS, Other problems and disagreements can
develop among us; therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of the LCMS, in
consultation with the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations, appoint a committee (a majority of
which is to be from Canada) similar to the Commission
on Fellowship with the ALC, to initiate discussions
with official representatives of the ELCC on the
doctrine of Scripture, the ordination of women, and
other possible differences, and that this committee
report through the CTCR to the LCMS.

Action: Adopted (12).

To Reaffirm the Synod’s Position
on Women with Reference
to the Pastoral Office

RESOLUTION 3-15

Overtures 3-75—3-80, 3-82—3-83B, 3-88, 3-179
A—B (CW, pp. 91—93, 95—96, 120)

WHEREAS, in previous conventions the Synod has,
after study in depth by committees and commissions,
repeatedly and at length stated its position on the place
of women in the church according to the Scriptures; and

WHEREAS, The Synod stated in Detroit in 1965:

On the basis of 1 Cor. 14:34-35 and 1 Tim. 2:11-15 we hold
that God forbids women publicly to preach and teach the
Word to men and to hold any office or vote in the church
where this involves exercising authority over men with
respect to the public administration of the Office of the
Keys. We regard this principle as of binding force and also
today because 1 Tim. 2:11-15 refers to what God
established at creation.

and

WHEREAS, The Synod stated in Denver in 1969:
These statements of Scripture which direct women to keep
silent in the church and which prohibit them to teach and to
exercise authority over men, we understand to mean that
women ought not to hold the pastoral office or serve in any
other capacity involving the distinctive functions of this
office.
and

WHEREAS, The Synod stated in Milwaukee in 1971:

That the Synod reaffirm its position that the Word of God
does not permit women to hold the pastoral office or serve
in any capacity involving distinctive functions of this
office.

Therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its position that
the Scriptures forbid women to hold the pastoral office
or to serve in any capacity involving distinctive
functions of this office.

Action: Adopted (12).

To Take No Action
on AELC Fellowship

RESOLUTION 3-16
Overtures 3-161, 3-163—3-170 (CW, pp. 116—118)

WHEREAS, The requirements for the consideration
by the Synod of altar and pulpit fellowship have not
been met according to Bylaw 16.03 a; therefore be it

Resolved, That no action on fellowship with the
AELC be taken at this time.

Action: Adopted (15).

To Decline Overtures
Regarding Dr. Tietjen
RESOLUTION 3-17

Overtures 3-21, 3-22A—B (CW, p. 76)
WHEREAS, The requested documentation for one of
the overtures has not been forthcoming; and
WHEREAS, The case of Dr. Tietjen has not been
completed and is still in the process of adjudication;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the convention respectfully decline
Overtures 3-21, 3-22A—B.

Action: Adopted (15).

To Decline Consideration
of Overture 3-118 (Arthur Piepkorn)

RESOLUTION 3-18
Overture 3-118 (CW, p. 104)

WHEREAS, N.O. Res. 3-09 dealt solely with doctrinal
aberrations found by the Fact Finding Committee
(“Report by the President . . .”) and contained in the
document “Faithful to Our Calling, Faithful to Our
Lord,” rather than with the teaching of specific
individuals of the so-called “faculty majority” which
signed the document; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has never intrepreted N.O.
Res. 3-09 to charge individual members of the faculty
with false doctrine; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod decline to consider
Overture 3-118.
Action: Adopted (15).

(A motion to substitute Overture 3-118, whereases and
first resolved, failed.)