LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 221

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THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS­­—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
Way Forward

Way Forward

Detailed Framework

Detailed Framework

6. Framework Part B: Changing the teaching to allow for
ordination of women and men

6.3 One church – two practices
The question of the ordination of women to the office of the public ministry has been
regarded as a doctrinal matter in the life of the LCA. It is a doctrinal issue for the LCA
because our public teaching on ordination claims to clearly represent the position of
Scripture and the Confessions. Therefore, all arguments either to maintain the teaching
of the Church or to change it, need to work within the LCA’s own attitude towards the
Theses of Agreement and the process outlined for changing the public teaching of the
church (The Status of the Theses of Agreement [1975] and The Permanent Status of the
Theses of Agreement [1976]).

The Church in Synod changes its public teaching, amending the wording of TA VI:11 to
allow both men and women to be ordained, acknowledging the change under Clause
3 of the Document of Union and continuing as one church with one teaching on
ordination.
The Framework acknowledges the different theological positions on the gender (male
and female) of pastors in the Church but considers them non-divisive of church
fellowship, enabling the LCA to remain as one Church.

The LCA doctrinal statement on the Status of the Theses of Agreement and other
Doctrinal Statements, adopted by General Synod (1975) affirms as follows: ‘It is clearly
the right and the duty of the Church, in the face of current challenges, to define how it
understands the Scriptures and the Confessions. Therefore, explanations and
amendments of the Theses, as well as any other statements of a doctrinal nature,
submitted to the entire Church after thorough theological examination and discussion
and adopted by it, must be accorded the same authority in the Church as the Theses
themselves.’

6.1 Proposed amendment to TAVI:11
A baptised person who is duly called (Luke 10:16; AC Apology 7 and 8,28; TA VI:7,8)
thereby enters the office of the public ministry for the proclamation of the Word and
administration of the Sacraments. Scripture that underpins the Church’s teaching on the
office of the ministry and the rite of ordination (John 20:21-23; Matt 28:18-20;
1 Cor 11:23-26) applies to duly qualified called baptised persons although some
understand that 1 Corinthians 14:34,35 and 1 Timothy 2:11–14 prohibit baptised women
from being called into the office of the public ministry.

The current public teaching of the LCA does not permit two practices of ordination
(TA VI:11). In carrying out the resolution of General Synod (2021-23) to develop a
framework for the LCA to ‘operate as one church with two different practices of
ordination’, the Convention of General Synod is advised that any proposal put forward
to meet this synodical resolution requires a change to the teaching of the Church with
regards to male-only ordination.

6.2 Background to the proposed amendment to TAVI:11

1.

2.

3.

2

The resolution of General Synod (2021-23) directed the GCB-CoB to develop a
framework for the LCA to ‘operate as one church with two different practices of
ordination’. Subsequently, the Way Forward Theological Working Group 2 consulted
the CTICR to examine and either confirm or amend guidance to be given to the
Way Forward project on some key theological matters. Included in this consultation
was the question: ‘How would the Church properly proceed with changing its
teaching with respect to TA VI:11 in the light of the Church’s statements on “The
status of the Theses of Agreement and other doctrinal statements” (1975), and
“The permanent status of Theses of Agreement” (1976)?’

A change to public teaching in the LCA regarding ordination will require more than a
simple rescinding or removal of TA VI:11. Any such decision would result in the Church
having no clear public teaching on the eligibility of duly qualified women to be regularly
called by a congregation or the Church, and publicly acknowledged through the rite of
ordination (TA VI:7,8). On the other hand, if a proposed amendment of TA VI:11 to permit
the ordination of women and men were to meet the necessary constitutional
requirement to change the public doctrine of the church, then it would become the
credible teaching of the LCA and would be afforded the same authority as any other
part of the Theses of Agreement 3.

This document and selected attachments provide theological and procedural
advice relating to proposed changes to the Theses of Agreement and LCA public
teaching on ordination as outlined in the Framework. This advice includes
information about both the necessity for these changes and how discussion on
change to the Church’s teaching might be treated in an orderly manner by the
LCA.

What could follow from such a scenario is that TA 1:4e might then be applied to the Way
Forward Framework proposal to operate as one church with divergent views on the
practice of ordination. Some congregations, bishops, pastors, and Individual members
may still feel conscience bound to uphold an interpretation of the scriptural texts
currently cited in TA VI.11, and regularly call qualified men to serve as pastors. According
to the Theses of Agreement (I:4e), such divergent views and practices arising from
differences of interpretation are not divisive of church fellowship, providing that:

Selected documents have been identified by the Theological Working Group to be
included with this advice. This material serves as a summary and evidence of long,
thorough theological discussion and debate in the LCA, including controverted
matters of the Church’s teaching on ordination (see Section 3.4 above)

The Theological Working Group, appointed by GCB-CoB, consisted of seven members. Five of these members were
current members of CTICR, including the Churchwide bishop, who was appointed as chair.

(i)
(ii)
3

there be the readiness in principle to submit to the authority of the Word of God
thereby no clear Word of Scripture is denied, contradicted, or ignored

DSTO 1A: Status of the Theses of Agreement and other doctrinal statements A25

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Way Forward

Way Forward

Detailed Framework
(iii)
(iv)
(v)

such divergent views in no wise impair, infringe upon, or violate the central
doctrine of Holy Scripture, justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ
nothing be taught contrary to the publica doctrina of the Lutheran Church as laid
down in its Confessions
such divergent views are not propagated as the publica doctrina of the Church
and in no wise impair the doctrine of Holy Writ.

The Way Forward Framework proposal to amend TA VI:11 that then would permit the
ordination of women and men, cites both scripture and confession — including
‘Principles governing church fellowship’ detailed in the Document of Union and Theses of
Agreement (DU 1-7; TA 1:1-7) — in support of its conclusion that divergent views on the
practice of ordination, arising from differences of interpretation regarding scriptural texts,
such as 1 Cor 14:33b-38 and 1 Tim 2:11-15, can be held in the LCA without dividing the
whole Church (TA 1:4c; 1:4e).
Following a General Synod 2024 vote on the Way Forward Framework proposal to
amend TA VI:11, that meets the constitutional requirements to change the teaching of
the church, those who in good conscience wish to uphold an interpretation of the
scriptural texts currently cited in TA VI:11, and maintain the option for congregations to
call and ordain only men into the office of the public ministry, would be free to remain in
fellowship with those who practice the call and ordination of both women and men.

Detailed Framework
1.

Divergent views should not affect a foundational teaching of the Christian
faith, such as the teaching of the Trinity, the person and work of Christ, or
justification by grace through faith in Christ, as these teachings are
articulated in the Book of Concord. Division may occur only when teachings
that contradict such foundational teachings are held and openly taught.

2.

The ongoing disagreement about the interpretation and application of the
two texts that have been at the centre of the LCA debate (1 Cor 14:33b–36;
1 Tim 2:11–15) is a matter of exegetical opinion, does not affect such a key
church teaching and is therefore not church divisive.

3.

The Lutheran doctrine of the ministry, clearly spelt out in Augsburg Confession
5 and 14, contains nothing that excludes women from entering the ranks of
the ministry. On the contrary, the Lutheran teaching on the ministry
undergirds and reaffirms the central teaching of the Scriptures, that we are
justified by God’s grace for Christ’s sake by faith alone, the very teaching by
which the Church lives and breathes.

4.

The Theses of Agreement themselves make it clear that, as new issues and
new questions arise, the Church has the liberty to examine its teachings
afresh in the light of the Scriptures and the Confessions, ‘and accordingly
confirm them, or amend or repudiate them when further study of God’s
Word shows them to be inadequate or in error’.

5.

Pastors and lay members uphold the official teachings and practices of the
LCA as a matter of good order and church discipline, including those
teachings with which they disagree. Their consciences are not bound to
confess those teachings that they believe are at variance with the biblical
witness.

6.

There are implications in a church which practises the ordination of ‘both
women and men’ and the ordination of ‘men only’ for church polity and for
people's reception of the means of grace within the worship life of the
Church. The Church has a responsibility to engage in the ongoing task of
addressing this in such a way that the ministry of the gospel is not hindered,
Christian love is upheld, and every effort is made ‘to maintain the unity of the
Sprit in the bond of peace’ (Eph 4:3).

6.4 Church fellowship
6.4.1 Theses of Agreement 1.4E
At its February 2024 meeting the CTICR considered the application of Theses of
Agreement TA1.4e to any proposed amending of TA VI:11. The meeting
determined that one part of the Theses of Agreement (TA) cannot be used to
amend another part of the TA.
In the same way, an amendment of TA VI:11 adopted by the Church, will become
the credible teaching of the LCA and is afforded the same authority as any other
part 4. TA 1.4e cannot be applied to refute a newly introduced amendment of
TA VI:11.
The principles of church fellowship articulated in the Theses, guide the approach to
determining doctrinal matters in the Church. These principles have guided the
Church’s consideration of this matter of ordination in the same way that they have
guided previous considerations in the Church (for example, the debate on
Scripture and Inerrancy at the 1984 Convention of General Synod).

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6.4.2 Church-divisive?
In 2018, the Convention of General Synod received a report from the CTICR which
gave a theological basis for why the ordination of both women and men need not
be divisive. The rationale included the following:

4 See Appendix

for DSTO Vol 1 A30 ‘The status of the Theses of Agreement and other doctrinal statements’

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2026 Convention Workbook