LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1995, Page 120

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_ 120 . RESOLUTIONS

freedom but is contrary to the Word of God, be urged to
make use.of the established procedures for expressing dis-
sent (Bylaw 2.39 c); and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod declare that honest Christian
conscience can and does exist on both sides of this issue,
but such difference of opinion is not divisive of Christian
fellowship; and be it further

Resolved, That:‘the members of the Synod, with due sen-
sitivity to those for whom change in this area is a matter
of conscience, continue to exercise Christian love and pa-
tience in all discussions and deliberations on this subject;
and be it finally
_ Resolved, That we beseech the members of the Synod,

by the mercies of God to honor and uphold its resolutions .

“until such time as the Synod amends or repeals them”
(Bylaw 1.09 b). -

Action: Adopted (4).

(During discussion delegates declined to consider an amend-
ment which was ruled a substitute motion as well as an amend-
ment to substitute the words doctrinal difference for Christian
conscience and the words can be divisive for is not divisive in the
third resolve.)

_ _, To Continue to Study
The Service of Women in Congregational
and Synodical Offices
. in Light of “Dissenting Report” .
and Other Ongoing Studies by the CTCR
on the Role of Women in the Church .

RESOLUTION 3-06A

Report R3-01, I, A, 4 and 13 (CW, pp. 57-58);
Overtures 3-40, 3-42-67, 3-72 (CW, pp. 164-74)

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Re-
lations (CTCR), in response to a request from the 1989 syn-
odical convention, has prepared its report, The Service of
Women in Congregational and Synodical Offices; and

WHEREAS, Five members of the CTCR have prepared a
“Dissenting Opinion” in which they have expressed con-
cerns about various aspects of this report; and

WHEREAS, This report was not completed until Decem-
ber of 1994 and has not had suitable time for widespread
study and discussion; and

WHEREAS, The CTCR has unanimously recommended
that its report, together with the dissenting opinion and its
previous documents such as Women in the Church, be stud-
ied throughout the Synod during the coming triennium;
and

Wuereas, The CTCR presently has on its agenda a num-
ber of studies on the role of women in the church, includ-
ing the June 1994 request of the Atlantic District conven-
tion to address concerns regarding the priesthood of all
believers, the order of creation, and the Greek word au-
thentein (“have authority,” NKJV, 1 Tim. 2:12) (Report R3-
01, 13, CW p..58); therefore be it

Resolved, That the CTCR be commended for its work;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention urge that the re-
port of the CTCR on The Service of Women in Congrega-
tional and Synodical Offices together with the “Dissenting

Opinion,” be studied by the members of the Synod, asking
them to respond to the CTCR during the coming triennium;
and be it fuirther ;

Resolved, That the CTCR take into account the com-
ments, concerns, and responses received; and be it further

Resolved, That the CTCR, in consultation with the fac-
ulties of the seminaries, continue to study the issues con-
tained in The Service of Women in Congregational and Syn-
odical Offices and the “Dissenting Opinion;” and be it ~
further

Resolved, That the CTCR give this topic of the service of
women in congregational and synodical offices the highest
priority; and be it finally

Resolved, That the members of the Synod continue to
uphold its position on women serving in congregational of-
fices and to abide by the position as stated in the 1970 opin-
ion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM)
that congregations may allow women to hold all congrega-
tional offices except those of chairman, vice-chairman,
elder, and any other board or policy-making committee
“whose chairmanship the congregation might wish to re-
strict to men.” (See 1995 Convention Workbook, p. 317,
“1970 Opinion of Commission on Constitutional Matters,
‘Suggestions for Congregational Constitutions or Bylaws re-
garding the Privileges of Women [Voting and Holding Of-
fices]’.”)

Action: Adopted as amended (9).

(By common consent the fifth resolve was amended by dele-
tion of the words one of and changing priorities to priority. An ©
amendment to delete the final resolve was declined, as was an
amendment to delete the words urge that and substitute com-
mend and to delete together with the “Dissenting Opinion” in the
second resolve.)

To Establish the Procedure
by Which Laymen Licensed
to Perform Functions
of the Pastoral Office
Be Called and Ordained
into the Ministerium of the LCMS
RESOLUTION 3-07A

Report R1-8-02 (CW, p. 8); Overtures 3-24, 3-27-28,
3-30, 3-116-18 (CW, pp. 159-62, 186-87)

_ WHEREAS, Res. 3-05B of the 57th Regular Convention of
the Synod authorized District Presidents to license certain
laymen to perform functions belonging to the pastoral of-
fice—preaching, leading in public worship, and administer-
ing the Sacraments—under the supervision of an ordained
minister in exceptional circumstances where no local pastor
is available; and ‘

WHEREAS, Any man performing the functions of the pas-
toral ministry as a licensed layman should be called by the
congregation which he is serving and ordained into the pas-
toral office (or, as in the case of fieldworkers, vicars, or spe-
cial colloquy students, he should be preparing to receive
such call and ordination); and

WHEREAS, Laymen licensed to perform functions belong-
ing to the pastoral office desire and should receive the the-
ological education necessary to carry out these duties; and