LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 173

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 173

3-59

To Address Reading of Scriptures by Women
in Divine Service
WHEREAS, Reading of God’s Word has been an integral part of

the liturgy and worship of our Lord, even long before the time of
our Savior; and

WHEREAS, St. Paul exhorts Timothy to “give attention to the
public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching” (1 Tim.
4:13 NASV); and

WHEREAS, In keeping with the long-standing liturgical practices
of the church, it has been the historical practice of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church to have the pastor read the Scripture lessons of
the day during Divine Worship; and

WHEREAS, It is apparent that throughout Synod there has been
an ongoing and continuing expansion of the practice of encourag-
ing women to read the Scripture lessons of the day; and

WHEREAS, Further confusion is added when women are allowed
to read the Old Testament and Epistle lessons, but not the Gospel
Lesson; and

WHEREAS, Some theologians maintain that the passage in | Tim.
4:13 forbids the practice of laypeople reading the lessons and that
God has established that it is strictly a pastoral function; and

Wuereas, Reading the Scripture lessons is one way of God
teaching His people and He has commanded in His Word, | Cor.
14:34, that a woman is not to assume a public teaching role in the
Divine Service; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and Church Re-
lations (CTCR) be commissioned to revisit their 1985 study on
“Women in the Church” and specifically address these issues, clar-
ifying some of its conflicting and confusing conclusions; and be it
further

Resolved, That the CTCR report their findings, with conclusions
and recommendations, to the Synod in convention in 2001,

St. Paul, Chesterton, IN: Trinity, Westville, IN

3-60

To Request CTCR to Continue to Examine Role
of Women in LCMS

Wuereas, In many congregations there continues to be concern
about the role of women in the presidents and vice-presidents posi-
tions; therefore be it

Resolved, That our District memorialize the Synod (CTCR) to
continue to study these issues; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod (CTCR) develop and generate bibli-
cally based materials for pastors and lay people to study and
prayerfully consider the whole counsel of God on this matter.

Minnesota South District

3-61

To Expand Service of Women in the Church

WHEREAS, Women as well as men have been gifted by God for
service in His church; and

WHEREAS, Both women and men were a very important part of
Christ’s inner circle and ministry; 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, Women, like men, can use the gifts God has given
them for full service in His church without “usurping authority”;
and

WHEREAS, When we fail to value the gifts that God gives to
women for service in His church we lose a valuable resource for
the work of ministry; and

WuerEAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has provided
increasing Opportunity for women to serve in the church; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Northwest District make every effort to ex-
pand the role of women in the mission of the church; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That the Northwest District submit an overture to the
1998 convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod re-
questing increased opportunities for women to serve in the church.

Northwest District

3-62

To Continue Studying Scriptural References
on Ordination of Women

Rationale

The 1995 synodical convention considered the “Dissenting
Opinion”’ to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations
report The Service of Women in C. ongregational and Synodical Of-
fices valid enough as to request further study of this issue, espe-
cially the ordination of women into the pastoral office. The focus of
the debate rests upon the interpretation and application of | Tim.
2:11-14, and | Tim. 3:1-7. While women have played a signifi-
cant role in the church as leader (Judges 4); proclaimers of the res-
urrection (Matt. 28:2-8: Luke 24:9-10; John 20:18); as co-workers
in the ministry (Rom. 16:12-15), the ordination of women to the
pastoral office has been precluded by Synod’s interpretation of the
| Timothy texts. There are those who are in disagreement with this
interpretation, believing that these texts do not apply to the role of
women in the church today. This disagreement within the church
disrupts harmony we have in Christ and is a cause for concern;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and Church Re-
lations continue its study of the biblical basis of ordination with
specific interpretation of 1 Tim. 2:11-14 and | Tim. 3:1-7 and the
methodology used to arrive at that interpretation; and be it further

Resolved, That the findings of the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations be submitted to all of Synod’s Circuit pastors
conferences for study and response; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Circuit pastors conferences’ responses be re-
ported to the synodical convention to the end that we may have a
broader base of understanding regarding the ordination of women.

Pacific Southwest District

3-63

To Restudy Women’s Ordination

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod does not or-
dain women to the holy ministry on the basis of its interpretation of
selected New Testament passages such as ] Tim. 2:11-14, which
speak of women learning in silence, not teaching, and having au-
thority over men; and

WHEREAS, Some laypeople and pastors within the Synod are
convinced that these passages simply reflect the practice of an ear-
lier time and are not intended to apply to the role of women in the
church today; and

WHEREAS, The gospels, identify women as the first witnesses
and proclaimers of the resurrection—a task assigned to the apos-
tles (Matt. 28:28; Luke 24: —10; John 20:18); and

WHEREAS, St. Paul speaks of unity in Christ that transcends gen-
der among all who are baptized (Gal. 3:27-28); and

WHEREAS, Many women who serve as pastors in other denomi-
nations have demonstrated such gifts as preaching, teaching, coun-
seling, and presiding at worship; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod gath-
ered in convention request the Synod’s Commission on Theology