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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 254

2026 Convention Workbook
219
THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS  —COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
Way Forward
Detailed Framework
Page 2 of 50
1. Table of contents
1. Table of contents ........................................................................................................................ 2
2. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3
3. Background ................................................................................................................................. 4
3.1. The impasse on ordination .................................................................................................... 4
3.2. Towards a way forward – the General Synod resolution  ................................................... 5
3.3. Development of the framework ........................................................................................... 5
3.4. Biblical and theological references ..................................................................................... 6
3.5. Reasons for hope .................................................................................................................... 7
4. Framework overview .................................................................................................................. 8
5. Framework Part A: Commitment to continuity of identity and form .................................... 9
6. Framework Part B: Changing the teaching to allow for ordination of women and men 10
7. Framework Part C: Commitments to pastors and pastoral ministry candidates  .............. 14
8. Framework Part D: Commitments to congregations and parishes .................................... 16
9. Framework Part E: Tenure- based provision for nomination for bishop ............................... 21
10. Other considerations ................................................................................................................ 22
10.1. Oversight of bishops ............................................................................................................. 22
10.2. Synods and Pastors Conferences ....................................................................................... 22
10.3. District considerations .......................................................................................................... 22
10.4. Churchwide considerations ................................................................................................ 24
11. Framework implementation .................................................................................................... 38
12. Matters for proposals ................................................................................................................ 39
12.1. Theses of Agreement ........................................................................................................... 39
12.2. LCA constitution and by-laws ............................................................................................. 40
12.3. District constitutions and by-laws (if any) .......................................................................... 44
12.4. Model constitutions and by-laws for a congregation and parish  (if any) .................... 45
Appendix 1. DSTO 1A Theses of Agreement, The status of the Theses of Agreement and other 
doctrinal statements, CTICR, 1975 ............................................................................. 47
Appendix 2. DSTO 1A Theses of Agreement, The permanent status of Theses of Agreement, 
CTICR, 1976 ................................................................................................................... 48
Appendix 3. DSTO 1A Theses of Agreement, I:  Principles governing church fellowship........... 49
Way Forward
Detailed Framework
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2. Introduction
1. Impasse: Despite more than three decades of theological study and debate within the 
Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ)1, we remain divided on whether 
or not the Scriptures permit the ordination of women. There remain two widely held views on 
ordination within the Church. 
2. Towards a way forward: At the 2023 in-person sessions of the 2021-23 Convention of General 
Synod, delegates voted by a strong majority to direct General Church Board and College of 
Bishops (GCB-CoB) to find a way for us to operate as ‘one church with two different practices 
of ordination’ and to report back with a detailed framework to the 2024 General Pastors 
Conference and General Synod. The Way Forward project appointed by GCB-CoB has 
diligently worked through the theological, constitutional and governance requirements to 
allow this directive to be accomplished.
3. The framework: The Way Forward Detailed Framework (Framework) 
offers an approach whereby 
both practices of ordination can exist within the LCA. The Framework has five key parts: 
Part A: The Church makes the commitment to maintain its identity and form. 
Part B: The Church changes its teaching to allow for the ordination of women and men.  
Part C: The Church makes a commitment to pastors and pastoral ministry candidates that 
they will continue to be received and welcomed by the whole church in a respectful 
environment.
Part D: The Church makes a commitment to congregations and parishes that they may call 
a pastor who best aligns with their ministry plans. 
Part E: The Church introduces a tenure-based provision for nomination for the roles of 
bishop and assistant bishop.
4. I mplementation: The Framework offers practical solutions and steps to implement the 
changes 
required to introduce the ordination of women in the LCA. Attention is given to what changes 
might be required by congregations, parishes and District and Churchwide agencies. The 
Framework also articulates the many areas of church life in which no changes are required . 
Fundamental principles of the implementation processes include respect for all pastors and 
people of the Church, and a churchwide program of pastoral care.
5. P roposals: The Framework includes the proposals to be put to General Synod 2024 developed in 
response to the resolution of the 2021-23 General Synod. 
6. C ommitments of the Church: In working through all these issues, the Church commits to 
respectful dialogue and pastoral care in the gatherings of the Church. In particular, the Church 
commits to continued study of the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, acknowledging that 
the divergent views of the role and service of women in the Church are upheld by faithful sisters 
and brothers in Christ. Moreover, the Church will always provide for concerns of conscience 
when providing for the official public worship gatherings in the life of the Church.
1 The Lutheran Church of Australia and the Lutheran Church of New Zealand are commonly referred to as the Lutheran Church of Au stralia and 
New Zealand (‘LCANZ’ or ‘Church’). To align with the Constitution, however, further references to the Church in this do cument will be ‘LCA’. 
Way Forward
Detailed Framework
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3. Background
3.1. The impasse on ordination 
At the foundation of the Lutheran Church of Australia (‘LCA’ or ‘Church’) in 1966, the 
newly formed LCA contended that 1 Corinthians 14:34,35 and 1 Timothy 2:11–14 speak 
about the leadership of women in public worship and that these passages prohibit a 
woman from being called into the office of the public ministry for the proclamation of 
the Word and administration of the Sacraments (Theses of Agreement [TA] VI:11).
Since then, despite more than three decades of thorough scriptural, confessional and
prayerful examination, and theological debate regarding these passages, we remain 
divided on the questions of whether: (a) the command for the silence of women and the 
prohibition of them speaking/teaching in 1 Corinthians 14:33b-38 and 1 Timothy 2:11-15 
applies to all churches at all times; and (b) Paul’s declaration about the Lord’s 
command in 1 Corinthians 14:37 refers to the one same prohibition in 1 Corinthians 14:34, 
and whether Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 14:38 applies to those who advocate the 
ordination of women.  
Some among us maintain that these Scriptures clearly support the LCA’s public teaching 
that prohibits a woman from being called into the office of the public ministry. Others 
believe that these passages cannot be used this way and that ordination of women to 
the office of the public ministry is consistent with the teaching of the Scriptures and with 
the doctrine of the ministry as articulated in the Lutheran Confessions. 
At all five Conventions of General Synod at which a proposal on this matter has been 
put, more than 50 per cent of delegates have voted in favour of the ordination of 
women, reaching 63.5 per cent of the vote in 2015. For proposals requiring a change to 
the teaching of the Church, a two-thirds majority is required.
Overall, since the first vote in 2000, the votes for and against the ordination of women 
have shown little movement one way or the other. There remain two widely held 
positions on ordination within the LCA, that of: (1) men only, and (2) both men and 
women. We are at an impasse. It is clear that resolution of the ordination issue requires a 
different approach to any taken previously. 
In its advice to General Synod, General Pastors Conference (GPC) 2022 said it ‘supports 
the advice of the College of Bishops that the agenda of General Synod 2023 must 
include proposals on the matter of ordination which do not continue debate which 
leaves us divided’. GPC further advised that General Synod consider a proposal that 
anticipates the ordination of women to the office of public ministry and also the 
continuity of the ordination of men-only in communities of the LCA. 
Subsequently, at the in-person sessions of the 2021-23 Convention of General Synod, a 
strong majority (73.5 per cent) of delegates directed GCB -CoB to find a way for the LCA
to operate as one church with two practices of ordination.
Way Forward
Detailed Framework
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3.2. Towards a way forward – the General Synod resolution 
The resolution of the 2021-23 General Synod reads: 
RESOLVED: That General Synod direct the LCANZ General Church Board and the 
College of Bishops to:
a) Work through the theological, constitutional, and governance requirements to 
operate as one church with two different practices of ordination and establish a 
detailed framework through which this could be accomplished, such as one or 
more existing LCANZ Districts becoming Districts that teach and practice the 
ordination of both women and men to the office of the public ministry or by 
establishing a non-geographical LCANZ ‘District’ that does so.
b) Submit the fruit of this work in the form of a proposal that should be discussed by 
the LCANZ General Pastors Conference for Convention of General Synod 2024.
c) It is the expectation of this General Convention of Synod that both women and 
men will be ordained in a District of the LCANZ during the 2024-2027 synodical 
period.
3.3. Development of the framework 
3.3.1 Initial three frameworks
 In June 2023 the Way Forward project issued a churchwide call for models that might 
meet the requirements of the General Synod resolution. More than 60 models, as well as 
general comments, were submitted for evaluation by the working groups. 
A key criterion for evaluation was the extent to which the submissions met the intent of 
the General Synod resolution for ‘one church with two different practices of ordination’. 
Three frameworks (Confessional Communities, Congregations Decide, District Alignment) 
were shortlisted by a process drawing on input from the chairpersons of the project 
working groups. 
The three frameworks were developed for release to the church for feedback. Members 
of the church were invited to submit comments and questions via the Way Forward 
website. More than 460 comments and questions were received, including 270 
submissions. Around 20 per cent of the submissions were provided by congregations that 
gathered especially to consider and pray about the frameworks. All submissions from the 
church were passed on to the working groups. An extensive set of questions and answers 
was developed for the information of members and to assist the working groups to 
shape the final framework. 
Some key points in the feedback included:
• A strong call to maintain the unity of the church was the primary theme of the 
submissions, with responders overwhelmingly naming Congregations Decide as