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

Ov. 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

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