Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 3. pp. 325-326. Revised published proposal.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 5-09
Canonical number: 5-09
Committee: Theology and Church Relations
Source: Today's Business, Issue 1
Printed pages: pp. 105-106
PDF pages: 105-106
Version: original, superseded
Source reference: Issue 1, pp. 105-106
Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 1, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.
Page 105
- To Address the Public Reading of Scripture
- RESOLUTION 5-09
- Report R62.11 (CW, 269–70); Overtures 5-26–29 (CW, 352–54)
- WHEREAS, The public reading of Scripture is an integral part of Christian worship services, as seen in the New
- Testament (Acts, 1 Timothy 4) and throughout Christian history; and
- WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) advised the following concerning the public
- reading of lessons in its 1985 report, Women in the Church: Scriptural Principles and Ecclesial Practice ([adopted 1985],
- 45):
- All Christians have access to the Scriptures. They do not require the church as an institution or another person
- to read and interpret them on their behalf. The reading of the Scriptures belongs to the priesthood of all
- believers, men and women.
- Moreover, there is no ceremonial law in the New Testament regarding the reading of Scripture in the context
- of public worship. Nor is there explicit apostolic prohibition of such reading by women. Nevertheless, it is
- the opinion of the CTCR that the reading of the Scriptures is most properly the function of the pastoral office
- and should therefore not ordinarily be delegated to a lay person, woman or man. Pastors and congregations
- should therefore exercise great care in making decisions permitting the lay reading of the Scriptures or any
- other activity in the formal liturgical services which might be perceived as an assumption of the pastoral role
- or a disregard for the Scriptural principles concerning the service of women in the church (e.g., 1 Cor. 11:3–
- 16; 14:33b–35);
- and
- WHEREAS, The CTCR also advised that certain distinctive functions of the pastoral office should ordinarily be carried
- out only by clergy of the Synod, including “preaching in the services of the congregation, leading the formal public services
- of worship, the public administration of the sacraments, [and] the public administration of the office of the keys” (ibid.,
- 42), though this was not an exhaustive list; the referenced 1981 report, The Ministry: Offices, Procedures, and
- Nomenclature, stated, “No specific ‘checklist’ of functions of the office of the public ministry is presented in the Scriptures
- (15); and
- WHEREAS, The 1989 Synod convention cited these statements by the CTCR approvingly, yet did not endorse the
- opinion of the CTCR that “the reading of the Scriptures is most properly the function of the pastoral office and should
- therefore not ordinarily be delegated to a lay person, woman or man,” but instead advised that congregations “proceed
- with care and sensitivity in making decisions permitting the lay reading of the Scriptures, recognizing decisions in this
- regard lie in the area of Christian judgment” (1989 Res. 3-14, “To Address Appropriate Roles for Women and Men in
- Worship,” Proc., 118); and
- WHEREAS, Considerable tensions have since arisen over the lay reading of Scripture lessons in public worship,
- especially by women, with some arguing that the pastoral reading of lessons is mandated by Scripture (1 Tim. 4:13) or
- that women reading the lessons contradicts the admonition of St. Paul that a woman ought not “to teach or to exercise
- authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet” (1 Tim. 2:12); and
- WHEREAS, In response to these concerns, the CTCR has published numerous documents addressing the topic,
- including: Women in the Church: Scriptural Principles and Ecclesial Practice (1985), The Order of Creation: Theology,
- History, Definition (2022), and Unity in Doctrine, Uniformity and Variety in Practice (2025); and
- WHEREAS, It must be acknowledged that one cannot clearly dissociate the public reading of Scripture lessons from
- the distinctive pastoral function of “leading the formal public services of worship”; and
- WHEREAS, It must also be acknowledged that not all formal public worship services necessarily exclude laity from
- officiating or participation, especially the traditional prayer offices (Matins, Vespers, Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer)
- and other non-communion services (or when a pastor is not available due to extraordinary circumstances); therefore be it
- Resolved, That the Synod urge its congregations not to provoke or engage in needless controversy, but teach, reprove,
- correct, train, and ultimately persuade one another solely by the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16–17); and be it further
- Resolved, That, out of a desire for unity and in mutual love for fellow members of the Synod, the congregations of the
- Synod be encouraged to heed the counsel of the CTCR in 1985 and reserve the public reading of Scripture for pastors,
- especially in their observance of the settings of the Divine Service or other principle, weekly worship services at which
Page 106
- the congregation customarily gathers and at which visitors most often attend (as potential for confusion with the pastoral
- office or public offense is greater there); and be it further
- Resolved, That the above-mentioned documents of the CTCR be commended to the Synod for their instruction and
- guidance in discussing the matter of the lay reading of Scripture lessons in public worship; and be it further
- Resolved, That the exegetical faculties of each seminary, as appointed by their seminary president, be asked to offer
- a theological opinion on 1 Tim. 4:13 and how that passage relates to the public reading of Scripture in congregational
- worship services and who should attend to those readings, and that these opinions be submitted to, studied, and evaluated
- by the Council of Presidents (COP) with input by the CTCR at its discretion; and be it further
- Resolved, That the COP and seminary faculties discuss this topic in detail at their annual joint meeting; and be it
- further
- Resolved, That the COP report on its discussion, evaluation, and conclusions at the next Synod convention; and be it
- finally
- Resolved, That this encouragement not be understood as a denigration of the service of laity—men or women—in the
- church, but an expression of the desire to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3) and that “all
- things should be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40) in Synod congregations, giving due sensitivity to the precedent
- of that congregation’s worship and the consciences of its members, and that changes to existing practice be made with
- care and catechetical patience.
Published Proposed Amendments
This amendment is printed as a proposal and is not incorporated into the current resolution text unless official convention action confirms adoption. The printed amendment may reference an earlier version of the resolution.
Published Proposed Amendment to Resolution 5-09
Issue 3, p. 356, Issue 3, p. 356, lines 3-23, status: Proposed
Submitted by Daniel Fienen, Pastoral Delegate, Michigan District
This printed amendment cites an earlier resolution version and requires chair or floor clarification before application to the current text.
To Address the Public Reading of Scripture AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION 5-09 Resolution 5-09 (TB, 1:105–06) To insert at TB 1:105, at the end of the fifth whereas, the phrase “while others arguing that such public reading can properly be considered within the Priesthood of all Believers, is not to be considered public teaching, and therefore may properly be carried by lay people, men or women” To strike out, at TB 1:105, line 40, the word “must” and replace it with “should” and the words “one cannot” and replace with “some do not,” so as to make the seventh whereas to read: WHEREAS, It should be acknowledged that some do not clearly dissociate the public reading of Scripture lessons from the distinctive pastoral function of “leading the formal public services of worship”; and To strike out at TB 1:105, lines 48–49, and at TB 1:106, lines 1–2, beginning, “… the CTCR in 1985 …” and insert, at the end of the second resolved, the phrase “Synod in convention where they advised that congregations “proceed with care and sensitivity in making decisions permitting the lay reading of Scriptures, recognizing decisions in this regard lie in the area of Christian judgment” (1989 Res. 3-14, “To Address Appropriate Roles for Women and Men in Worship,” Proc., 118) To insert, at TB 1:106, at line 3, the words “and convention resolutions” after “…of the CTCR …” To insert at TB 1:106, at lines 7–8, the phrase “as well as passages relating to the role of men and women in worship (e.g., 1 Cor. 11:3–18, 14:33b–35),” after “… who should attend to those readings …” To insert, at TB 1:106, at the end of the sixth resolved, the phrase “with recommendation for further actions” Daniel Fienen Pastoral Delegate, Michigan District
Open Issue 3 Source PDFPublished Proposed Amendment to Resolution 5-09
Issue 4, p. 384, Issue 4, p. 384, lines 20-29, status: Proposed
Submitted by Brian L. Kachelmeier, Pastoral Delegate, Texas District
To Address the Public Reading of Scripture in Public Worship AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION 5-09A Resolution 5-09A (TB, 3:325–26) To insert at TB 3:326, line 13, the words “and make recommendations for action at the next Synod convention” so as to make the final resolved read: Resolved, That the COP and the appointed seminary committee report on their discussion, evaluation, and conclusions no later than six months prior to the next Synod convention and make recommendations for action at the next Synod convention. Brian L Kachelmeier Pastoral Delegate, Texas District
Open Issue 4 Source PDFPublished Proposed Amendment to Resolution 5-09
Issue 5, p. 412, Issue 5, p. 412, lines 22-33, status: Proposed
Submitted by Aaron Kangas, Pastoral Delegate, Pacific Southwest District
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 5. THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS To Address the Public Reading of Scripture in Public Worship AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION 5-09A Resolution 5-09A (TB, 3:325–26) To insert, at TB 3:325, after line 6, the additional whereas: WHEREAS, Pastors are called by congregations in order to serve the congregation in Christ’s stead by the public proclamation of God’s Word and distribution of the Sacraments so that the laity may hear and receive God’s Word in the Divine Service as their Sabbath rest in order to be strengthened in the Christian faith to respond in prayer, praise, and service to God’s glory in their various earthly vocations; and Aaron Kangas Pastoral Delegate, Pacific Southwest District
Open Issue 5 Source PDF