Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2001 · 61st Convention › Page 191
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 191

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 191

community (false teaching of the Artimis cult that said Eve preex-
isted Adam and was not the one deceived)

* Eph. 5:22, which speaks of submission, while ignoring Eph. 5:21,
which speaks of “mutual submission”

* Many similar human interpretations of other passages that need to be
restudied; and

WHEREAS, Such misunderstandings shared as “official teach-
ings” legalistically bind the consciences of both God’s men and
women; therefore be it ;

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod gath-
ered in convention instruct the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations to restudy the question of women’s ministry, and
withdraw for restudy the 1985 document Women in the Church:
Scriptural Principles and Ecclesial Practice; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod affirm
its desire to provide for the ordination of women as soon as possi-
ble.

Ascension
Littleton, CO

3-104

To Declare in Constitution That Only
Men May Be Pastors

WHEREAS, Scripture indicates that only men may be called as
pastors (1 Tim, 2:11-12; | Cor. 14:34—-35); and

WHEREAS, The 1998 convention of the LCMS adopted Res.
3-25A, “To Affirm Position of Synod That Only Men May Hold
the Pastoral Office”: and

Wuereas, Currently. the Constitution of Synod does not ex-
plicitly address this issue; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend to the mem-
bers of the Synod an emendation of Art. VI of the Constitution,
section 3, by adding the sentence “In the case of pastors, only men
may be so regularly called.” and section 6, by adding the sentence
“In the case of pastors, only males may be so received.”

Zion, Tomball. TX; St. Paul, Decatur, IN; Prince of Peace,
Hartford City, IN

3-105

To Not Recognize or Advocate Women Pastors

WHEREAS, There is tremendous pressure exerted on our church
from society and from errant church bodies to ordain women into
the Office of the Holy Ministry; and

WHEREAS, The holy, apostolic Scriptures state without any
equivocation that the ordination of women to the office of pastor
is contrary to Holy Scripture: | Cor. 11:3; 14:34; Eph. 5:22-23:
| Tim. 3: 1-5; Titus 2:3—5; and | Peter 3:1-6; and

WHEREAS, The question of ordaining women to the office of
pastor is not an open question. as though our doctrine and practice
could be changed; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS pledge its faithfulness to the teach-
ing of Christ, as revealed through His apostles, that the Office of
the Holy Ministry is a responsibility to be entrusted only to quali-
fied men; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS and its members not recognize
women pastors as true pastors; and be it finally

Resolved, That any pastor who publicly advocates a position
contrary to the position of the Synod as provided in Art. XII 8 of
the synodical Constitution shall be removed from membership in
the LCMS.

Mount Hope
Casper, WY

3-106

To Codify Opposition to Ordination
of Women in Handbook

WHEREAS. The Synod in convention has repeatedly affirmed
that the ordination of women is contrary to Holy Scripture; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the President of the Synod appoint a task force
to codify opposition to this practice in the Handbook of the Synod;
and be it further

Resolved, That the work of the task force be presented to the
2004 convention of the Synod for consideration.

Circuit 2 Forum

Ohio District

3-107

To Adopt CTCR 1994 Report as Official Position

WHEREAS, In 1994. the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations published the document The Service of Women in Con-
gregational and Synodical Offices; and

WHEREAS, The document carefully distinguishes the difference
between what is established by God through Holy Scripture (ire
divino) and what has been established by human right (iure hu-
mano); and

WHEREAS, The Synod, through the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations and other documents, has studied this area
of concern and opportunity since 1985; and

WHEREAS, The above-mentioned document (1994) seeks to be
faithful to the Word and the Confessions of the church within the
context of the church’s sensitivity toward the church’s ongoing task
of “‘meet(ing) various needs in different times and places” (Docu-
ment 11, B. 1); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention (2001) adopt the 1994
report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations entitled
The Service of Women in Congregational and Synodical Offices as
the position of the Synod on the role and service of women in the
church and possible implementation by the Synod’s congregations.

Glendale
Glendale. MO

3-108

To Clarify Terms Related to Pastoral Office

WuereEAS, The apostle Paul uses the Greek term authentein only
once in the New Testament (1 Tim. 2:12); and

WHEREAS, There are no examples in first-century Greek litera-
ture where authentein, a term from the vernacular. is used for the
rightful use of authority in the church; and

Whereas, Arndt-Gingrich define the term “to domineer,” and
Liddell and Scott call attention to how authentein is associated with
having power over another as an absolute master or ruler, and
Thayer associates the term with one who kills with his own hand,
and Robertson states that authentein comes from au—hantes, a mas-
ter, an autocrat and self-doer; and

WHEREAS, The terms authentein and exousia are not synony-
mous and are easily confused; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents appoint a Task Force
of LCMS Greek scholars to clarify the meaning and use of the
terms authentein and exousia; and be it further
Resolved, That this Task Force determine the validity of quoting .
{ Tim. 2:12 in regard to the rightful use of exousia in the church by
women or men; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Task Force explore whether authentein or
exousia is the New Testament term for authority conferred on the
pastoral office by God.
Circuit 10
Atlantic District

2001 Convention Workbook