LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 160

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Whereas, If passed, this legislation would require women 18
years of age on or after January 1, 2018, to register for selective service and a possible draft, as the primary rationale provided by the
U.S. Supreme Court in allowing women to be excluded from the
draft was their ineligibility to serve in a combat capacity (Rostker
v. Goldberg); and
Whereas, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on March 8, 1971, that
“the exemption for those who oppose ‘participation in war in any
form’ applies to those who oppose participating in all war and not
to those who object to participation in a particular war only, even
if the latter objection is religious in character” (Gillette v. United
States [401 U.S. 437 (1971)]), to the effect that the United States does
not allow for selective conscientious objection (e.g., for a specific
war deemed unjust); and
Whereas, Christians are to be subject to governing authorities
(Rom. 13; 1 Peter 2; Fourth Commandment LC and SC; AC XVI)
while remaining obedient to God whenever human authority seeks
to require us to act contrary to our conscience-bound convictions
regarding God’s Word and will (Acts 5:29; Fourth Commandment
LC and SC; AC XVI); and
Whereas, Biblical objections to women being required to serve
in the military in general or to serve in combat positions in particular have been voiced by many Christians, including members of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), based on scriptural concerns such as the complementary yet ordered relationship
between man and woman (Gen. 1–2; 1 Cor. 11); women as God’s
vessel for bearing life (Gen. 3:20); the requirement given to husbands, not wives, to love and honor in a manner that emulates the
sacrifice of Christ for His Bride, the Church (Eph. 5; 1 Peter 3:7; see
also Luther’s work “Whether Soldiers, Too, Can Be Saved” [AE 46,
pp. 87–135]); and the Scripture’s teaching on marriage, family, and
vocation (Prov. 31:10–31; Titus 2:3–5; etc.); and
Whereas, That which a Christian woman may do voluntarily
in her Christian freedom (Gal. 5:1) must be distinguished from that
which a woman is forced to do; and
Whereas, Lutheran Christians have a high regard for God’s
gifts of human reason and natural law, and take very seriously
the many reason-based arguments that have been made (by both
Christians and non-Christians) against women serving in combat positions (e.g., the negative impact on the family; the necessary
stripping away of modesty to be trained and perform combat functions; physical strength comparisons between men and women in
general; other physical and biological differences between men and
women; mixed-gender troop performance under combat conditions; etc.); therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention acknowledge the
Department of Defense Instruction 1300.06: Conscientious Objectors (DoDI 1300.06, May 31, 2007), where two classifications for a
conscientious objector are recognized (Class 1-0 and Class 1-A-0)
and stand resolutely with any woman who holds “a firm, fixed, and
sincere objection to participation in war in any form or the bearing of arms, by reason of religious training and/or belief” (DoDI
1300.06 paragraph 3.1); and be it further

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U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

Resolved, That the Word of God and the LCMS in convention
supports individuals in the LCMS who conscientiously object (1)
to a woman’s service in the military in general or (2) to a woman
in the military being required to serve in a combat capacity; and
be it further
Resolved, That due to deep and widespread concern among
many members of the LCMS—rooted in biblical convictions, historic understandings of natural law, and reason-based common
sense—about the negative impact of the conscription of women
on individual consciences, marriages, families, and society as a
whole, the LCMS in convention strongly oppose any legal action
that forces the compulsory service of women in the military, also
called the conscription of women, by mandatory participation in
Selective Service registration, a draft, or by any other mechanism;
and be it further
Resolved, That we also defend the informed consciences of
women who have carefully considered their station in life and Holy
Scripture on this issue who wish to voluntarily serve in our nation’s
military; and be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) continue their diligent and beneficial work as tasked
by the 2013 convention (Res. 2-12A) to study the issue of employing
women in combat and bring it to a swift conclusion for widespread
distribution and use in the church; and be it further
Resolved, That at its earliest convenience, the Council of Presidents become familiar with and discuss together this topic and the
information readily available (along with the forthcoming CTCR
document) to better assist pastors and congregations and those
LCMS individuals “whose position is firm, fixed, sincere and deeply
held” (DoDI 1300.06) who are bound to apply for conscientious
objector status; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention strongly support the
responsibility and necessity for men and women to live and act
according to the Word of God and their consciences in this matter
while respecting the consciences of others (Rom. 14:2-3, 13-23; 1
Cor. 10:29; 1 Tim. 1:5; Heb. 13:18).
Action: Adopted (6)
(Res. 5-11A was introduced by the committee after striking out
the third resolve paragraph. Debate was ended by voice and show
of hands, and the resolution was adopted as changed [Yes: 946;
No: 89].)

To Commend and Encourage
Use of Luther’s Catechisms
RESOLUTION 5-12
President’s Report Part 2 (TB, pp. 21–31)
Whereas, The importance of teaching the Christian faith and a
godly life—catechesis—has been understood since the earliest days
of the Christian church as an essential aspect of the church’s regular life and its missionary mandate (Matt. 2:20; John 13:13; Acts
“5. Theology and Church Relations”