LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 374

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374 THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

the pastor in the public exercise of the distinctive functions of
this office.®

2. That lay assistance in the distribution of the elements in the
celebration of Holy Communion, in order “to avoid confusion
regarding the office of the public ministry and to avoid giving
offense to the church,” be limited to Jay men.?

3. That, while situations exist in which the service of women in
leadership positions in the congregation is desirable or even
necessary, men be encouraged to continue to exercise
leadership in their congregations even as they are encouraged
to exercise their God-given leadership in a God-pleasing
manner in their homes.'°

A Concluding Word

When the Synod in 1969 concluded that nothing in the Scrip-
tures prohibits women from exercising the franchise in the congre-
gation, it also recognized the need to promote and facilitate
“cautious and deliberate action in the spirit of Christian love”"!
(Res. 2-17). Similarly, 2004 Resolution 3—-08A includes a final re-
solve which states:

That the members of the Synod considering changes regarding the ser-

vice of women in congregational offices consult with neighboring con-

gregations, recognizing that in matters of Christian liberty, Christians
are called, above all, to do what edifies the church, respecting the con-
sciences of others.'?

“The consciences of others” must be a primary concern when
congregations consider changes that may impact the life of fellow
Christians in neighboring congregations. The service of women in
leadership positions is one such change. Particularly on the circuit
level, members of congregations may be aware of what is happen-
ing in neighboring congregations, and officers of congregations
may have occasion to meet and work together.

At the same time, it should be pointed out that 1977 Res. 3-06
“To Commend Task Force on Women and Continue to Study Role
of Women in the Church” recommends

That the whole church be encouraged to sensitize itself to the needs and

concerns of women, to recognize the gifts that women are and can be in

the mission of the church, and to utilize fully all the people of God as
the church carries out its witness and ministry in the world."°

To utilize fully all the people of God remains the interest of the
Synod, also in the adoption of 2004 Res. 3-08A. But this desire ex-
ists side by side with the Synod’s interest in heeding the clear teach-
ings of the Scriptures regarding the office of the public ministry, as
well as its expectations regarding the respective roles of men and
women.

As congregations consider changes to their constitutions, there-
fore, care must be taken that the teachings of the Scriptures are not
obscured by how a congregation understands “official functions”
and “public accountability” in its corresponding practice. To ad-
dress these and other issues, 2004 Res. 3-08A encourages the mem-
bers of the Synod who are contemplating change, and those who
will be affected by such changes, to consult with neighboring con-
gregations (congregations in their own circuit, in neighboring cir-
cuits, etc.), lest unnecessary offense be given. Likewise, when
congregations choose to change their constitutions in conformity
with this resolution of the Synod, these decisions should be re-
spected and honored by those congregations which decide not to
implement the conclusions of the CTCR Report.

We conclude these guidelines with the “Word of Encourage-
ment” with which the CTCR concludes its report The Service of
Women in Congregational and Synodical Offices:

The biblical restraints regarding the service of women in the church and

the authority of the pastoral office need not become the only, or even

predominant, word we speak to one another. To speak of the “eligibil-
ity” of the service of women in congregational and synodical offices
might give the impression to some that our primary concer in the con-

2007 Convention Workbook

temporary church is to discourage women from exercising the privileges
and responsibilities they hold as members of the priesthood of believ-
ers. Men and women alike, however, need to help one another, first of
all, to see that God’s Word itself provides standards of “eligibility” for
service in offices of the church, and it does so without any diminution
of the value of persons. But just as important, God’s people must be in-
struments of daily encouragement to one another and help each other to
discover and appreciate the joys of Christian service. All of us would do
well to emulate the apostle Paul’s example in giving words of support
and commendation to fellow workers in the church of God.!*

Members of the Task Force

Raymond L. Hartwig, Secretary of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod and Secretary of the Commission on Constitutional
Matters

Loren T. Kramer, Chairman, Commission on Theology and
Church Relations

Arleigh L. Lutz, President of the North Wisconsin District of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and member of the Council of
Presidents

Albert M. Marcis, Chairman of the Commission on Constitutional
Matters

Samuel H. Nafzger, Executive Director, Commission on Theology
and Church Relations
Notes

1. 2004 Resolution 3-08A “To Affirm the Conclusions of the
1994 CTCR Report The Service of Women in Congregational and
Synodical Offices,” Convention Proceedings, 132-33.

2. 1995 Resolution 3-06A “To Continue to Study The Service
of Women in Congregational and Synodical Offices in Light of ‘Dis-
senting Report’ and Other Ongoing Studies by the CTCR on the
Role of Women in the Church,” Convention Proceedings, \20.

3. The Service of Women, 9.

4. Ibid., 10.

S. [bid., 9.

6. Ibid.

7. See 1969 Resolution 2-17 “To Grant Woman Suffrage and
Board Membership” (Convention Proceedings, 88-89) and 1989
Resolution 3-14 “To Address Appropriate Roles for Women and
Men in Worship,” (Convention Proceedings, 118).

8. The Service of Women, 13.

9. 1989 Resolution 3~10 “To Address Practice of Women Serv-
ing Holy Communion,” Convention Proceedings, 116.

10. See CTCR opinion on “The Service of Women in Congre-
gational Offices of Executive Director/President or Assistant Di-
rector/Vice President” in response to a request from the Minnesota
South District, 29.

11. 1969 Resolution 2-17.

12. See Appendix A, 25.

13. 1997 Convention Proceedings, 129.

14. The Service of Women, 14.

Appendix A

To Affirm the Conclusions of the 1994 CTCR Report:
The Service of Women in Congregational and Synodical Offices*

RESOLUTION 3-08A

Overtures 3-88, 3-98-100 (CW, pp. 191, 194-195)

WHEREAS, The Synod at its 1969 convention declared, “those
statements of Scripture which direct women to keep silent in the
church and which prohibit them to teach and to exercise authority
over men, we understand to mean that women ought not to hold the
pastoral office or serve in any other capacity involving the distinc-
tive functions of this office” (1969 Res. 2-17); and