Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 357
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 357

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

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
WHEREAS, Woman suffrage permits women to vote against their
husbands (their heads), which violates God’s order of creation and
undermines marriage and the unity of the family as noted in
Ephesians 5:22; Genesis 3:16; and 1 Peter 3:1; and
WHEREAS, Woman suffrage permits and leads women away
from God’s command to obey and submit to their husbands as the
church obeys and submits to Christ in all things (Eph. 5:22–24); and
WHEREAS, Woman suffrage undermines the Gospel by
undermining the male headship principle upon which principle the
Gospel rests (Rom. 5:12–19); and
WHEREAS, God calls men to be heads, that is, God calls men to
lead, which entails men making the final decisions for their families
according to God’s Word and what is best for the family; the
responsibility of headship is laid on men and men lead rightly when
they consult God’s Word, their own families, and others in the
congregation; and
WHEREAS, Male-only suffrage does not deny women a say in
congregational affairs, but only the final say, which belongs to the
men; every woman and child in the congregation has a say, but the
final say rests with the men who are called by God to be heads; and
WHEREAS, The Church is called to be a light to the world and not
to conform to the ways of the world, which constantly attacks God’s
order of creation; and
WHEREAS, It is sinful for Christians to support a practice that
militates against God’s Word on His assigned roles to men and
women; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod and the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations—for the sake of the Gospel, that it be kept pure
for the sake of the souls of men and the glory of God that His Word
be honored in our midst—study and reexamine the practice of
woman suffrage in light of Scripture and the history of Synod; and
be it further
Resolved, That such study would intentionally include among its
participants pastors and professors who affirm Synod’s historic
position, in order that this position receives appropriate
representation and attention.
Circuit 5 (Mitchell)
South Dakota District
Ov. 5-35

To Affirm Role of Women in the Church
WHEREAS, Holy Scripture clearly teaches that the pastoral office
is reserved for qualified men, and therefore prohibits women from
publicly preaching, teaching, or leading worship in the assembled
congregation (1 Timothy 2; 1 Corinthians 11; 1 Corinthians 14); and
WHEREAS, The Synod has repeatedly affirmed this biblical
teaching and opposed the ordination of women into the pastoral
office as contrary to the Word of God (1971 Res. 2-04; 1977 Res.
3-15; 1986 Res. 3-10; 1998 Res. 3-25A); and
WHEREAS, The Synod has also consistently maintained that these
scriptural prohibitions do not apply to women voting in their
congregations or serving on boards and committees at the
congregational, district, or Synod level (1969 Res. 2-17; 1986 Res.
3-09; 1995 Res. 3-05; 2004 Res. 3-08A); and
WHEREAS, The Synod has urged against practices such as women
serving as elders or assisting in the distribution of the Lord’s

357

Supper, due to potential confusion with the distinct functions of the
pastoral office (1989 Res. 3-10; 2016 Res. 5-14); and
WHEREAS, The Synod has stated that the public reading of
Scripture lessons by women is not forbidden by Scripture, while
encouraging congregations to act with care and sensitivity in such
matters, recognizing this as an area of Christian judgment (1989
Res. 3-14); therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod again unequivocally reaffirm its
opposition to the ordination of women to the pastoral office as
contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its doctrinal and practical
positions regarding women’s suffrage and participation in boards,
committees, and commissions of the Synod, as well as appropriate
forms of service in the public worship life of the church; and be it
further
Resolved, That the Synod encourage women to exercise their
Spirit-given gifts in faithful service within congregations, districts,
and Synod structures to the glory of God and the building up of
Christ’s Body; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod commend the faithful service of
women throughout its history and in the present, and actively
encourage women to serve the church in various commissioned and
lay vocations, including but not limited to: teachers, directors of
Christian education, directors of Christian outreach, directors of
family life ministry, directors of parish music, deaconesses, parish
assistants, and directors of church ministries (Bylaw 2.6.1.1), as
well as many unpaid roles of leadership, mercy, witness, and
support; and be it finally
Resolved, That congregations, districts, and agencies of the
Synod be urged not to restrict the service of women beyond what
Scripture clearly prohibits, in faithful adherence to the resolutions
and doctrinal positions of Synod.
South Lake
League City, TX
Ov. 5-36

To Affirm Inspiration and Authority
of Mark 16:9–20
WHEREAS, The Holy Scriptures of the prophets (Old Testament)
and apostles (New Testament) are the foundation of Christ’s Church
on earth, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20); and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures, along with the Lutheran Confessions,
which are normed by the Holy Scriptures, are the unalterable rule
and norm of all doctrine and practice for and in all her
congregations, and by which all rostered ministers are pledged
before God to conduct their office; and
WHEREAS, Scripture is never a matter of private opinion or
interpretation but is given by the Holy Spirit through holy men
whom that same Spirit moved, inspired (2 Peter 1:20–21; 2 Tim.
3:16–17), and gave their very words; and
WHEREAS, The Gospel according to St. Mark is a universally
accepted Gospel in the New Testament canon of Scriptures and was
never included among the so-called antilegomena, that is, those
books the inclusion of which some church leaders spoke against
when the canon was accepted by the Christian church; and
WHEREAS, Two ancient Greek texts of the Holy Scriptures,
rediscovered in the 19th century and originating from the fourth
2026 Convention Workbook