LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 176

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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-