LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 177

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 177

ordinate a comprehensive study of the scriptural relationship of
man and woman, and recommended a series of questions to be con-
sidered in the study, including the question whether there is some
sort of subordination in the Trinity; and

WHEREAS, Theologians in the Reformed tradition are. teaching
an equality of essence, but a subordination of role, in the Trinity, in
order to maintain that mankind, being created male and female in
the image of God, possesses equality as human beings but are su-
perordinate or subordinate according to the respective role or func-
tion of their sex, male or female (see John Piper and Wayne Gru-
dem, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womenhood (Wheaton:
Crossways, 1991) pp. 103, 457, 540); and

WHEREAS, Teaching a subordination of role or function in the
Trinity is confusing at best, and easily leads to the heretical impli-
cation that the Son is eternally subordinate to the Father as opposed
to the evangelical teaching that He emptied Himself and took the
form of a servant and became subordinate to the Father according
to His humanity; and

WHEREAS, Further confusion is caused by Reformed theologians
who teach this subordination in function or role in the Trinity by
asserting that “the Father is Supreme in the Trinity; the Son carries
out the Father’s will (€.g., in creation, redemption”; Concordia
Self-Study Bible, p. 1769, n. 15:28), in contrast to the orthodox
teaching that was embraced by Lutherans in the Reformation, that
the works of God outside the Godhead, such as creation and re-
demption, are indivisible as far as the Godhead goes and therefore
are equally ascribed to each person of the Trinity (see Chemnitz,
Loci, Locus I.B., chapter V); and

WHEREAS, The teaching that the Son is eternally subordinate to
the Father has surfaced in the writings of some in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; and

Wuereas, In The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod matters
of doctrine and conscience shall be decided only by the Word of
God; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod reaffirm
the orthodox teaching of the Holy Trinity as expressed in the ecu-
menical creeds and Lutheran Confessions, and reaffirm the princi-
ple that divine works taking place within the Deity (ie., begetting,
proceeding) bespeak a distinction of persons, while divine works
outside the Deity are common to all three persons; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That the Synod urge its theologians, in seminaries,
Districts, and all its pulpits, to be diligent in their study and con-
templation of wholesome teaching on the nature of God, that their
lives and doctrine may lead the faithful to a more devout baptismal
communion in the life-giving Trinity; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod urge its theologians, in seminaries,
Districts, and all its pulpits, to avoid implying or expressing the
idea that the Son is eternally subordinate to the Father, but rather let
them express the truth that Christ is subordinate to God the Father
according to His assumed human nature; and be it further

Resolved, That the footnote on | Cor. 15:28 in the Concordia
Self-Study Bible be resubmitted for doctrinal review and revised
in light of the above.

Board of Directors
Atlantic District

3-80

To Prohibit Use of Gender Neutral Bibles
and Women Assisting in Worship at Schools of CUS

WHEREAS, The majority of Lutheran churches ordain women
pastors; and

WHEREAS, The feminist movement and theologies have had in-
fluences in all aspects of church life in such matters as the use of
gender neutral language in liturgy and Bibles; and

WHEREAS, The use of such gender neutral language puts aside
the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and gives a nonbiblical view of the
relationship of man and woman: and

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 are 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 and 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.

St. Matthew
Lake Zurich, IL

3-81

To Ordain Lay Ministers

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions state “No one shall pub-
licly ... preach or administer the Sacraments in the church without a
regular call” (AC XIV): and

WHEREAS, We regard ordination as the “solemn public ratifica-
tion of the call” to preach and administer the Sacraments; and

WHEREAS, Lay ministers in synodical Districts have presided at
Holy Communion and exercised other distinctive functions of the
pastoral office; and

WHEREAS, Laity and even lay ministers themselves have been
confused by this exercise of a sacramental ministry without benefit
of call; therefore be it

Resolved, That lay ministers who are to preside at Holy Com-
munion or assume other responsibilities of the pastoral ministry be
called by the respective congregation or District; and be it further

Resolved, That this call be publicly ratified in ordination by lay-
ing on of hands; and be it further

Resolved, That the work of such lay ministers may be restricted
by their District Presidents: and be it finally

Resolved, That scriptural qualifications concerning eligibility
for the pastoral office (character, gender, marital status) be applied
to all lay ministers who are to publicly preach and/or administer
the Sacraments.

Redford
Detroit MI

3-82

To Reaffirm Vocation of Holy Ministry

WHEREAS, According to Art. V of the Augsburg Confession,
God instituted the office of the holy ministry, i.e., the preaching of-
fice (Predigtamt), in order that by means of the Gospel and sacra-
ments we may obtain the faith; and

WHEREAS, The provisions set forth in the synodical Constitu-
tion, Art. VI and XIII, allow for removal from office only in cases
of inability to carry out one’s duties, false teaching, or offensive
conduct (i.e. public sin); and

WHEREAS, It is therefore regrettable that in recent times
throughout the Synod faithful ministers, in spite of their faithful-
ness in preaching, administering the sacraments, and decency of
life, are being reproached and even banished from office by their
congregations for failure to meet the congregations’ expectations;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we reaffirm the true vocation of the holy min-
istry (Predigtamt) by encouraging synodical and District authorities
to admonish those congregations who engage in organized efforts
to remove faithful pastors from their office: and be it further