LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 195

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 195

Wuereas, In our world today for the sake of the Gospel we
must do exactly the opposite, because today it is the exclusion of
women that is offensive: this unwarranted discrimination is
morally repugnant, alienates prospective hearers, and thus
jeopardizes the Gospel’s advancement; and

WHEREAS, The 1997 convention of the California-Nevada-
Hawaii District resolved that there be further discussion of this
issue, especially involving the church's laity, and consequently a
series of forums were held, results of which were reported to the
Synod’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations; and

WHEREAS, This critical issue needs to be reexamined and
opened up to discussion at the synodical level; therefore be it
Resolved, That this convention declare that steps be taken that
will ensure the full use of all gifts of all God’s people and will
end gender discrimination at all levels, including the pastoral
office; and be it further
Resolved, That this convention instruct the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations to restudy this issue and prepare
materials that will promote the elimination of gender
discrimination in our Synod; and be it finally
Resolved, That the synodical President be instructed to
establish a process in the entire Synod similar to that followed in
the California-Nevada-Hawaii District that will foster discussion
and further education leading to full gender-inclusiveness in our
church body.
Redeemer
Fresno, CA

3-117

To Affirm Service of Women Including
Pastoral Ministry

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture clearly states that in Christ “there is
neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, there is neither male nor fe-
male, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28) and that in the
church there is a new order (1 Cor. 11:11); and

WHEREAS. There are many examples of women in Holy Scrip-
ture gifted by God for ministry among His people—women leading
prayers in worship (1 Cor. 11:5); Mary Magdalene: Priscilla (Acts
18:26) Euodia; Syntyche (Phil. 4:2-3): Phoebe, a deacon (Rom.
16:1); Junias, an apostle (Rom. 16:7); Dorcas; Anna the prophetess
(Luke 2:36); the Samaritan woman (John 4); and others; and

Wuereas, Holy Scripture proclaims through the prophet Joel
(2:28) and we are reminded in Acts 2:17-18. “in the last days, God
says, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy ... and on My servants and on My
handmaidens I will pour out in those days My Spirit and they shall
prophesy”; and

WHEREAS, God has given His command to all His followers to
“go and make disciples of al] nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them
to observe all that | have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20). In
John 20 Jesus gives His Spirit to all His followers, and according to
the other Gospel accounts, this gathering included women; and

WHerEAS, The Lutheran Confessions say nothing to prohibit
women from ministry and emphasize Christian freedom over le-
galism, and in fact the power of the Gospel in Word or Sacrament
does not depend on the person who is an instrument in the Lord’s
hand, as we acknowledge in the Augsburg Confession, Art. VIII;
and

WHEREAS, In Lutheranism we believe that everyone has a
unique vocation as a calling from God and, whether male or fe-
male, we dare not restrict the Spirit of God to call us and use us in
the way He sees fit; and

Wuereas, Basically only two passages of Holy Scripture have
been used in our tradition to limit the roles of women serving in
the church (and, at one time, in society as well): | Cor. 14:33~36
and | Tim. 2:8-11; and

WHEREAS, A basic principle of interpretation is to start with
clear passages of interpretation and proceed to those less clear; and

WHEREAS, Passages that have been among the least clear in
Scripture—that women are to be silent in the church, to be veiled,
to not wear makeup, to not cut their hair, and that older women
should not remarry (some of these passages were once used to for-
bid women from the teaching ministry as well as from voting and
holding office in a congregation)—are to be taken in their context
and time (“sitz in leben’’), are not as simple to understand as some
may think (i-e., “women saved in child bearing” [1 Tim. 2:15]). and
are culturally conditioned; and

WHEREAS, We live in a time when women are accepted without
stigma in positions of responsibility and leadership in much of our
society; and

WHEREAS, Many women are already leading (and are a bless-
ing) in the worship life of God’s people through songs and hymns
—written, spoken, and played—and through messages, both
printed and spoken; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has lost
many women and men for ministry by its restrictions on the full,
unrestricted service of women in the church; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod affirm
women in all roles of service in the church, including pastoral min-
istry. ;

St. John, Portland, OR; Trinity, Portland, OR

3-118

To Encourage Participation of Women
in Delivery of the Word

WHEREAS, Old and New Testament Scriptures are replete with
examples of God delivering His message in a public way through
women (Deborah, Huldah, Priscilla. Junias, etc.); and

WHEREAS, God chose to introduce the Word made flesh to the
world through the birth of Jesus by the Virgin Mary; and

WHEREAS, Women are noted by John as the first witnesses and
bearers of the message of Christ’s resurrection; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention acknowledge the im-
portance of women of faith in our church as bearers of God’s Good
News; and be it further

Resolved, That with this acknowledgment congregations en-
courage women to participate with delivery of the Word (i.e.,
Scripture reading in public worship, Sunday school teaching, Bible
class leadership, and distribution of the Sacrament) in appropriate
biblical and confessional ways.

Village
Bronxville, NY

3-119

To Allow Women Elders on Basis of CCM Opinion

WHEREAS, The Committee on Constitutional Matters (CCM) in
its 1970 opinion “Suggestion for Congregational Constitutions or
Bylaws regarding the Privileges of Women (Voting and Holding
Office)” recommended that women not serve on the board of el-
ders or any decision-making board whose chairmanship the con-
gregation may wish to restrict to men; and

WHEREAS, The CCM. in offering a suggested paragraph on the
“Privileges of Women” in its 1970 opinion, made it clear that it
was “restricting itself to the position which the Synod has taken in
this matter (de iure humano rather than de iure divino) at this
point”; and

Whereas, The CCM went on to say that “it is assumed that the
Synod may further define its position in the future, thereby mak-
ing it necessary perhaps to refine the suggestion made”; and

WHEREAS, The Synod itself, by adopting and repeatedly reaf-
firming this position, recognized that this de inure humano opinion

2001 Convention Workbook