wfn.org | [LCMSNews] Convention affirm CTCR report

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	July 15, 2004 ........... LCMSNews -- 04-SC46-DM3

	Convention says women may hold all offices
	that do not involve pastoral functions

	ST. LOUIS  As a result of action taken today (July 15) by the
62nd Regular Convention of The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod, LCMS
congregations may permit women to hold any congregational office that
does not involve the exercise of distinctive functions of the office of
pastor.

	After more than 40 minutes of debate, delegates voted 576-520 to
affirm the conclusions of a 1994 report of the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations (CTCR), The Service of Women in Congregational and
Synodical Offices. The convention commended the CTCR for its work and
resolved:

	 to affirm that women on the basis of the clear teaching of
Scripture may not serve in the office of pastor nor exercise any of it
distinctive functions, and that women may serve in humanly established
offices in the church as long as the functions of these offices do not
make them eligible to carry out official functions [that] would involve
public accountability for the function of the pastoral office;

	 to urge the members of the Synod, in making decisions
regarding which offices women may hold, to bear in mind the CTCRs
counsel that congregations organize themselves in ways that complement
and reinforce the family, for the church is the household of God (1
Tim. 3:15);

	 to encourage men not to neglect their leadership
responsibilities in their congregations; and

	 that when considering changes in the service of women,
congregations consult with neighboring LCMS congregations, recognizing
that in matters of Christian liberty, Christians are called, above all,
to do what edifies the church, respecting the consciences of others.

	Before the vote was taken, CTCR Executive Director Samuel H.
Nafzger told the convention that with adoption of the resolution, the
conclusions of the CTCRs report now become the position of the Synod,
and congregations may have women hold these offices.

	In the course of debate, questions were raised as to whether
women may be a communion assistant, congregational president or elder.
Dr. Arleigh Lutz, chairman of the floor committee on theology and church
relations, said that whether or not women may hold a humanly devised
office depends on its job description, not on its title.

	A delegate asked what constitutes the distinctive functions of
the pastoral office. Citing a 1985 CTCR report on the service of women,
Nafzger said such functions include leading and preaching in the
congregations public worship services and public administration of the
sacraments and the office of the keys. He noted that the word public
means in behalf of and accountable to the congregation.

	In response to a question from one of the Synods districts, the
CTCR earlier this year said, There is no Thus saith the Lord
regarding positions such as executive director/president and assistant
director/vice president. These are offices established by the church in
Christian freedom. Scripture does not prohibit women who possess the
requisite gifts from holding these humanly established offices, assuming
that the occupants of these offices do not perform those functions that
are distinctive to the public exercise of the ministry of Word and
sacraments  or carry out official functions [that] would involve
public accountability for the function of the pastoral office.

	***************************************

	If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release,
contact Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org or (314) 996-1231,
or Paula Schlueter Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or (314) 996-1230.

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