LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 31

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 31

5 a. That the Synod commend the position paper entitled “The
Ministry in Its Relation to the Christian Church as Seen on the
Basis of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions” to its
members for reference and guidance.

b. That the specific recommendations included in the docu-
ment be adopted by the 1973 synodical convention. namely:

1) That the Synod approve the ordination of synodically
certified and called male teachers and directors of Christian
education.

2) That the President of the Synod be asked to appoint a com-
mittee representative of all groups particularly concerned in this
matter to consider the implementation of this recommendation
in all aspects. and to report to the President.

3) That the President of the Synod appoint a committee of
competent persons to examine all ramifications of the question
of the ordination of synodically certified and called woman
teachers in schools within the Synod. and report to the President
no later than 6 months before the 1975 convention of the Synod.

E. Women in the Church
Woman Suffrage

In response to a number of overtures, the 1971 synodical
convention requested the commission to reexamine the Synod’s
position on woman suffrage in the church (Res. 2-17). That
position was set forth in Resolution 2-17 of the 1969 synodical
convention which incorporated the recommendations of the
CTCR contained in the study document entitled ‘Woman
Suffrage in the Church.” After reexamination of the basic
questions involved in this matter, the commission concluded
that it found no fault with either the exegesis or the conclusions
of the CTCR document on Woman Suffrage. The commission's
completed statement on this matter is included with this report
as Appendix A.

Changing Role of Women

Resolution 9-22 of the 1971 synodical convention directed the
commission to study theological aspects pertaining to the chang-
ing role of women in church and society. In order to help the
commission understand the implications of this task, the com-
mission invited the following panel of church women to share
their concerns in this area with the commission: Dr. Lucille
Wassman, Mrs. Florence Montz, Mrs. Janet Larson, Mrs. Marlys
Taege, Mrs. Signe Carlson, and Mrs. Jean Garton. The commis-
sion is continuing to study the concerns as presented by this
panel, particularly the Biblical teaching on the relationship
between male and female in the church with special emphasis
on the meaning of such topics as “subordination,” ‘‘submission,”
and “headship.” The commission has maintained a close
liaison on this question with the Commission on Mission and
Ministry in the Church which was also given responsibilities in
this area by 1971 Resolution 9-22. It is the judgment of the CTCR
that the matter of women’s role in the church is especially signifi-
cant at this time in the history of the church: it therefore plans
to devote considerable attention to it in the coming biennium.
The commission recommends:

6 That the Synod establish a task force on the role of women in
the LCMS. with adequate representation by women. and that this
task force report and make recommendations to the Synod 6
months prior to the 1975 synodical convention.

Permanent Commission on the Role of Women

One of the overtures addressed to the 1971 synodical conven-
tion (Overture 2-163) requested the Synod to set up a synodical
commission on the role of women. In response to that overture
(which was directed to the commission by Res. 2-17 of the 1971
convention), and in view of its recommendation calling for the
creation of a special task force, the commission adopted the
following statement:

The overture points to the importance which the question of the
role of women in the church and in society has assumed in our time,
and which it is likely to occupy for some time to come. It requests the
Synod to set up a permanent synodical commission on the role of
women, and specifies both the membership of this commission and
its tasks.

The CTCR fully agrees that the Synod should study the role of
women both theologically and sociologically, and that it should speak
to the question realistically and forthrightly. It is, however. of the

opinion that a permanent synodical commission on the role of women
as proposed in Overture 2-163 is neither necessary nor advisable.

Ordination of Women

The question of whether women may hold the pastoral office
has been treated at various times by the CTCR in recent years.
Its 1969 document entitled ‘‘Woman Suffrage” states the com-
mission’s position on the subject; however, it does not contain
the detailed rationale which led to that position. A study of the
question was again undertaken in 1970 in connection with the
Lutheran Council study on the ordination of women. After
reviewing the council’s materials and findings, the commission
declared that it found the essential issues treated adequately
in the Commission on Theology’s document on woman suffrage
and reaffirmed the Synod’s position that women ought not hold
the pastoral office (cf. 1971 CTCR Report, Convention Workbook.
p. 32). Because of the importance of this matter for our inter-
Lutheran relationships, and because of requests that materials
be made available to the church for study of this question, the
President of the Synod asked the CTCR to prepare appropriate
study materials. This assignment has not yet been completed.
However, the commission does call attention to the fact that
essays dealing with this subject were presented in meetings of
the ALC-LCMS Commission on Fellowship: it is hoped that
these essays will be shared with the Synod prior to the 1973
convention.

F. Abortion

The commission presented its document entitled ‘Abortion:
Theological, Legal, and Medical Aspects” to the 1971 synodical
convention. In addition to commending that document for study
and guidance, the convention stated its conviction that ‘willful
abortion” is “contrary to the will of God” (Res. 2-39). The con-
vention also directed the commission ‘to continue to study the
subject of abortion,” asked the commission to consult a docu-
ment on abortion prepared by the Commission on Social Con-
cerns, and requested the commission to consult with a com-
mittee representing a cross section of Missouri Synod women
in the course of this study (cf. Res. 2-49). These directives have
been carried out by the commission. The commission is also
happy to report that its aforementioned document on abortion
continues to be requested by a number of civic and church
groups throughout the country. The commission intends to
continue to review the issue of abortion and produce additional
materials on the subject, giving attention to provisions for
pastoral guidance, taking into account the continually changing
situations in society and in law, and including women and
representatives of the Commission on Social Concerns in the
production of these materials.

G. “True” in Catechism

1971 Resolution 2-35 called for the inclusion of the word
“true” in the inter-synodical translation of Luther's Small
Catechism in the section on the Lord's Supper (“it is the true
body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ’). Because of the press
of time, the 1971 convention did not act upon this resolution but
referred it to the Board of Directors, who requested the CTCR
to study the matter and report to the 1973 convention. The com-
mission offers the following recommendation:

7. WHEREAS, The translation of the Catechism was made by
an inter-synodical committee working with care and concern
that Lutheran doctrine be preserved: and

WHEREAS. A text common to all Lutherans is a desirable goal:
and

WHEREAS, Two conventions of the Synod have concluded
after study and debate that no false doctrine is involved. but
only a question of translation and English style: and

WHEREAS, However. continuing interest shows that many in
the Synod feel that there is a loss in the omission of the word
“true” in the inter-synodical translation: therefore be it

Resolved. That no change be made in the text of the inter-
synodical translation of Luther's Small Catechism: and be it

further

Resolved. That the Board of Parish Education and Concordia
Publishing House be asked in future use or printing of the inter-
synodical translation of the Small Catechism to add a footnote
at the appropriate place calling attention to Luther's words. “Es