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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 256

2026 Convention Workbook
221
THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS  —COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
Way Forward
Detailed Framework
Page 10 of 50
6. Framework Part B: Changing the teaching to allow for 
ordination of women and men
The Church in Synod changes its public teaching, amending the wording of TA VI:11 to 
allow both men and women to be ordained, acknowledging the change under Clause 
3 of the Document of Union and continuing as one church with one teaching on 
ordination.   
The Framework acknowledges the different theological positions on the gender (male 
and female) of pastors in the Church but considers them non-divisive of church 
fellowship, enabling the LCA to remain as one Church.   
6.1 Proposed amendment to TAVI:11
A baptised person who is duly called (Luke 10:16; AC Apology 7 and 8,28; TA VI:7,8) 
thereby enters the office of the public ministry for the proclamation of the Word and 
administration of the Sacraments. Scripture that underpins the Church’s teaching on th e 
office of the ministry and the rite of ordination (John 20:21-23; Matt 28:18-20;  
1 Cor 11:23-26) applies to duly qualified called baptised persons although some 
understand that 1 Corinthians 14:34,35 and 1 Timothy 2:11–14 prohibit baptised women 
from being called into the office of the public ministry.
6.2 Background to the proposed amendment to TAVI:11
1. The resolution of General Synod (2021-23) directed the GCB-CoB to develop a 
framework for the LCA to ‘operate as one church with two different practices of 
ordination’. Subsequently, the Way Forward Theological Working Group 2 consulted 
the CTICR to examine and either confirm or amend guidance to be given to the 
Way Forward project on some key theological matters. Included in this consultation 
was the question: ‘How would the Church properly proceed with changing its 
teaching with respect to TA VI:11 in the light of the Church’s statements on “The 
status of the Theses of Agreement and other doctrinal statements” (1975), and 
“The permanent status of Theses of Agreement” (1976)?’
2. This document and selected attachments provide theological and procedural 
advice relating to proposed changes to the Theses of Agreement and LCA public 
teaching on ordination as outlined in the Framework. This advice includes 
information about both the necessity for these changes and how discussion on 
change to the Church’s teaching might be treated in an orderly manner by the 
LCA. 
3. Selected documents have been identified by the Theological Working Group to be 
included with this advice. This material serves as a summary and evidence of long, 
thorough theological discussion and debate in the LCA, including controverted 
matters of the Church’s teaching on ordination (see Section 3.4 above)
2  The Theological Working Group, appointed by GCB-CoB, consisted of seven members. Five of these members were 
current members of CTICR, including the Churchwide bishop, who was appointed as chair.
Way Forward
Detailed Framework
Page 11 of 50
6.3 One church – two practices
The question of the ordination of women to the office of the public ministry has been 
regarded as a doctrinal matter in the life of the LCA. It is a doctrinal issue for the LCA
because our public teaching on ordination claims to clearly represent the position of 
Scripture and the Confessions. Therefore, all arguments either to maintain the teaching 
of the Church or to change it, need to work within the LCA’s own attitude towards the 
Theses of Agreement and the process outlined for changing the public teaching of the 
church (The Status of the Theses of Agreement [1975] and The Permanent Status of the 
Theses of Agreement [1976]). 
The LCA doctrinal statement on the Status of the Theses of Agreement and other 
Doctrinal Statements, adopted by General Synod (1975) affirms as follows: ‘It is clearly 
the right and the duty of the Church, in the face of current challenges, to define how it 
understands the Scriptures and the Confessions. Therefore, explanations and 
amendments of the Theses, as well as any other statements of a doctrinal nat ure, 
submitted to the entire Church after thorough theological examination and discussion 
and adopted by it, must be accorded the same authority in the Church as the Theses 
themselves.’ 
The current public teaching of the LCA does not permit two practices of ordination 
(TA VI:11). In carrying out the resolution of General Synod (2021-23) to develop a 
framework for the LCA to ‘operate as one church with two different practices of 
ordination’, the Convention of General Synod is advised that any proposal put forward 
to meet this synodical resolution requires a change to the teaching of the Church with 
regards to male-only ordination. 
A change to public teaching in the LCA regarding ordination will require more than a 
simple rescinding or removal of TA VI:11. Any such decision would result in the Church 
having no clear public teaching on the eligibility of duly qualified women to be regularly 
called by a congregation or the Church, and publicly acknowledged through the rite of 
ordination (TA VI:7,8). On the other hand, if a proposed amendment of TA VI:11 to permit 
the ordination of women and men were to meet the necessary constitutional
requirement to change the public doctrine of the church, then it would become the 
credible teaching of the LCA and would be afforded the same authority as any other 
part of the Theses of Agreement3. 
What could follow from such a scenario is that TA 1:4e might then be applied to the Way 
Forward Framework proposal to operate as one church with divergent views on the 
practice of ordination. Some congregations, bishops, pastors, and Individual members 
may still feel conscience bound to uphold an interpretation of the scriptural texts 
currently cited in TA VI.11, and regularly call qualified men to serve as pastors. According 
to the Theses of Agreement (I:4e), such divergent views and practices arising from 
differences of interpretation are not divisive of church fellowship, providing that:
(i) there be the readiness in principle to submit to the authority of the Word of God
(ii) thereby no clear Word of Scripture is denied, contradicted, or ignored
3  DSTO 1A: Status of the Theses of Agreement and other doctrinal statements A25
Way Forward
Detailed Framework
Page 12 of 50
(iii) such divergent views in no wise impair, infringe upon, or violate the central 
doctrine of Holy Scripture, justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ
(iv) nothing be taught contrary to the publica doctrina of the Lutheran Church as laid 
down in its Confessions
(v) such divergent views are not propagated as the publica doctrina of the Church 
and in no wise impair the doctrine of Holy Writ.
The Way Forward Framework proposal to amend TA VI:11 that then would permit the 
ordination of women and men, cites both scripture and confession — including 
‘Principles governing church fellowship’ detailed in the Document of Union and Theses of 
Agreement (DU 1-7; TA 1:1-7) — in support of its conclusion that divergent views on the 
practice of ordination, arising from differences of interpretation regarding scriptural texts, 
such as 1 Cor 14:33b-38 and 1 Tim 2:11-15, can be held in the LCA without dividing the 
whole Church (TA 1:4c; 1:4e).  
Following a General Synod 2024 vote on the Way Forward Framework proposal to 
amend TA VI:11, that meets the constitutional requirements to change the teaching of 
the church, those who in good conscience wish to uphold an interpretation of the 
scriptural texts currently cited in TA VI:11, and maintain the option for congregations to 
call and ordain only men into the office of the public ministry, would be free to remain in 
fellowship with those who practice the call and ordination of both women and men. 
6.4 Church fellowship
6.4.1 Theses of Agreement 1.4E
 At its February 2024 meeting the CTICR considered the application of Theses of 
Agreement TA1.4e to any proposed amending of TA VI:11. The meeting 
determined that one part of the Theses of Agreement (TA) cannot be used to 
amend another part of the TA. 
 In the same way, an amendment of TA VI:11 adopted by the Church, will become 
the credible teaching of the LCA and is afforded the same authority as any other 
part
4. TA 1.4e cannot be applied to refute a newly introduced amendment of 
TA VI:11.  
The principles of church fellowship articulated in the Theses, guide the approach to 
determining doctrinal matters in the Church. These principles have guided the 
Church’s consideration of this matter of ordination in the same way that they have 
guided previous considerations in the Church (for example, the debate on 
Scripture and Inerrancy at the 1984 Convention of General Synod). 
6.4.2 Church-divisive?
 In 2018, the Convention of General Synod received a report from the CTICR which 
gave a theological basis for why the ordination of both women and men need not 
be divisive. The rationale included the following:4 See Appendix for DSTO Vol 1 A30 ‘The status of the Theses of Agreement and other doctrinal statements’ 
Way Forward
Detailed Framework
Page 13 of 50
1. Divergent views should not affect a foundational teaching of the Christian 
faith, such as the teaching of the Trinity, the person and work of Christ, or 
justification by grace through faith in Christ, as these teachings are 
articulated in the Book of Concord. Division may occur only when teachings 
that contradict such foundational teachings are held and openly taught. 
2. The ongoing disagreement about the interpretation and application of the 
two texts that have been at the centre of the LCA debate (1 Cor 14:33b–36; 
1 Tim 2:11–15) is a matter of exegetical opinion, does not affect such a key 
church teaching and is therefore not church divisive. 
3. The Lutheran doctrine of the ministry, clearly spelt out in Augsburg Confession 
5 and 14, contains nothing that excludes women from entering the ranks of 
the ministry. On the contrary, the Lutheran teaching on the ministry 
undergirds and reaffirms the central teaching of the Scriptures, that we are 
justified by God’s grace for Christ’s sake by faith alone, the very teaching by 
which the Church lives and breathes.
4. The Theses of Agreement themselves make it clear that, as new issues and 
new questions arise, the Church has the liberty to examine its teachings 
afresh in the light of the Scriptures and the Confessions, ‘and accordingly 
confirm them, or amend or repudiate them when further study of God’s 
Word shows them to be inadequate or in error’.
5. Pastors and lay members uphold the official teachings and practices of the 
LCA as a matter of good order and church discipline, including those 
teachings with which they disagree. Their consciences are not bound to 
confess those teachings that they believe are at variance with the biblical 
witness.
6. There are implications in a church which practises the ordination of ‘both 
women and men’ and the ordination of ‘men only’ for church polity and for 
people's reception of the means of grace within the worship life of the 
Church. The Church has a responsibility to engage in the ongoing task of 
addressing this in such a way that the ministry of the gospel is not hindered, 
Christian love is upheld, and every effort is made ‘to maintain the unity of the 
Sprit in the bond of peace’ (Eph 4:3).