To Direct that the Synod and Its Commission on Theology and Church Relations Study and Reexamine Woman Suffrage in Light of Synod’s Historic Practice and Holy Scripture, so as to Address and Resolve Confusion and Disunity

Official Workbook overture source text

5-34 
To Direct that the Synod and Its Commission on 
Theology and Church Relations Study and 
Reexamine Woman Suffrage in Light of Synod’s 
Historic Practice and Holy Scripture, so as to 
Address and Resolve Confusion and Disunity 
Preamble 
Over the last 56 years (since the 1969 Synod convention) there has 
been confusion in the Synod about the roles of men and women in 
the church. We see the disunity and confusion in our Synod because 
one congregation permits women to vote and to serve in offices such 
as chairman or vice chairman, while another congregation practices 
male-only suffrage and only permits men to serve in offices such as 
chairman or vice chairman. In 1969 , the Synod in convention said 
congregations may continue the practice of mal e-only suffrage or 
they may alter their constitutions to allow woman suffrage as long 
as it does not exercise authority over men. From 1847 until 1969, 
the Synod not only taught that women may not hold the office of 
pastor, but that women may not hold any public office in the church 
wherein they exercise authority over men. This also includes the 
voters assembling , which, per Synod’s “Guidelines for 
Constitutions and Bylaws of Lutheran Congregations ,” is “the 
governing body of this congregation and shall be  empowered to 
administer and manage all its affairs” (2013 Workbook, 327). The 
voters represent the congregation, act on her behalf, and make the 
final, binding decisions for the congregation. Thus, to be a voter is 
to hold public office in the church wherein one represents the 
congregation and exercises authority over the congre gation, which 
is also made up of men. God’s Word forbids women from 
exercising authority over men in 1 Cor inthians 14:34; Ephesians 
5:22; 1 Timothy 2:11–12; 1 Peter 3:1; and 1 Corinthians 11:3. 
WHEREAS, God forbids women to serve in public office wherein 
they supervise or exercise authority over men as noted in 1 Timothy 
2:11–12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34–35; these passages speak broadly 
and not only of the office of pastor; and 
WHEREAS, The voters assembly is the governing body of the 
congregation, which means the voters assembly exercises authority 
over men. The Synod’s 
“Guidelines for Constitutions and Bylaws 
of Lutheran Congregations” states: “The voters assembly shall be 
the governing body of this congregation and shall be empowered to 
administer and manage all its affairs” (ibid.). To be a voter is to hold 
public office, that is, to act and make decisions on behalf of the 
whole and exercise authority over the congregation, which includes 
things like church discipline, excommunication, calling a pastor, 
removing a pastor, appointin g church officers, doctrinal matters, 
spending, etc.; and 
WHEREAS, The Synod opposed woman suffrage for the first 122 
years of its history based on God’s Word and many pastors and 
congregations continue to strongly oppose it; and