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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 261

2026 Convention Workbook
226 
THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS  —COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
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VI:10 Similarly, the Church at large has the 
liberty and authority from Christ to 
establish various ecclesiastical and 
administrative offices for the common 
prosecution of various undertakings in 
obedience to the Lord's command to 
make disciples of all nations. 1 Cor 
12:4–13, 26–28; Acts 11:21–23. This 
necessitates proper guidance and 
direction, spiritual and otherwise, 
1 Cor 14:40; 2 Cor 8:18–21; 9:5, 
because the Lord has commanded 
that everything be done decently 
and in order and in accordance with 
the law of love. Such arrangements 
may vary according to time and 
circumstances. All external 
arrangements in congregations and 
in church bodies and all ranking of 
the ministers are purely of human right 
and the efficacy of the ministry of the 
Gospel is not bound to any human 
institution.
Matt 23:8; 1 Cor 3:21–23; Augsburg 
Confession XV; XXVIII, 5–29; Smalc. Art. 
Tractatus:10, 11, 61–65.
No change
10.4.2 Constitution
The following changes to the LCA Constitution are proposed to address gender 
pronouns: 
Paragraph From To
1.2.11 ‘pastor’ or ‘member of the Ministry’ 
means any person ordained to the 
Holy Ministry according to the rites 
and practice of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church who has been 
received into the Ministry of the 
Church according to Article 5.1; 
Replace ‘person’ with ‘man or 
woman’: 
‘pastor’ or ‘member of the Ministry’ 
means any man or woman
ordained to the Holy Ministry 
according to the rites and 
practice of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church who has been 
received into the Ministry of the 
Church according to Article 5.1;
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5.1 The Church recognises and upholds 
the Office of the Ministry as the 
office divinely instituted for the 
public administration of the Means 
of Grace. For this purpose it shall 
receive into its Ministry, by 
ordination or by colloquy of ministers 
ordained elsewhere, men whose 
qualifications for the office have 
been established and who
5.1.1 accept and hold the 
Confession of the Church;
5.1.2 accept the Constitution and 
By-laws of the Church; and 
5.1.3 undertake to participate in 
the work of the Church and 
to promote its Objects.
Such members of the Ministry shall 
be recorded in the official Roll of 
Pastors
Add ‘or women’:
The Church recognises and 
upholds the Office of the Ministry 
as the office divinely instituted for 
the public administration of the 
Means of Grace. For this purpose it 
shall receive into its Ministry, by 
ordination or by colloquy of 
ministers ordained elsewhere, men 
or women whose qualifications for 
the office have been established 
and who
5.1.1 accept and hold the 
Confession of the Church;
5.1.2 accept the Constitution 
and By-laws of the Church; 
and 
5.1.3 undertake to participate in 
the work of the Church and 
to promote its Objects.
Such members of the Ministry shall 
be recorded in the official Roll of 
Pastors
The following changes to the By-Laws of the Church are proposed to address gender 
pronouns: 
Paragraph From To
5.4.1.2 every call and transfer rests upon a 
basis of mutual confidence and a 
sense of responsibility toward each 
other and before God, in which the 
Bishop and Church Council of the 
respective District and the 
responsible committees of the 
congregation or parish consider 
each case with due care before a 
recommendation is made, every 
parish gives earnest and serious 
consideration to the 
recommendations placed before it, 
and every pastor duly weighs the 
recommendations placed before 
him;
Add ‘or her’:
every call and transfer rests upon a 
basis of mutual confidence and a 
sense of responsibility toward each 
other and before God, in which 
the Bishop and Church Council of 
the respective District and the 
responsible committees of the 
congregation or parish consider 
each case with due care before a 
recommendation is made, every 
parish gives earnest and serious 
consideration to the 
recommendations placed before 
it, and every pastor duly weighs 
the recommendations placed 
before him or her;
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5.4.1.5 parishes which for many years have 
been blessed through the talents of 
their pastor do not selfishly seek to 
prevent him from rendering similar 
service in another field.
Add ‘or her’:
parishes which for many years 
have been blessed through the 
talents of their pastor do not 
selfishly seek to prevent him or her
from rendering similar service in 
another field.
5.4.4 The relationship between a pastor 
and the Church, District, parish, 
congregation or other body the call 
of which he has accepted is 
personal, spiritual and sacred and is 
not intended to create any legal 
relationship or any employment 
relationship between the pastor 
and any member of any part of the 
Church.
Add ‘or she’:
The relationship between a pastor 
and the Church, District, parish, 
congregation or other body the 
call of which he or she has 
accepted is personal, spiritual and 
sacred and is not intended to 
create any legal relationship or 
any employment relationship 
between the pastor and any 
member of any part of the 
Church.
5.4.16.2.3.1 the pastor has a serious physical or 
mental disability which substantially 
impedes the effectiveness of his 
ministry; or
Add ‘or her’:
the pastor has a serious physical or 
mental disability which 
substantially impedes the 
effectiveness of his or her ministry; 
or
5.4.16.3.1 A relevant Bishop shall arrange a 
fraternal discussion of the situation 
between the pastor, the governing 
committee, himself and any other 
person he considers appropriate in 
an endeavour to achieve a 
peaceable resolution of it.
Add ‘- or herself’ and ‘or she’:
A relevant Bishop shall arrange a 
fraternal discussion of the situation 
between the pastor, the governing 
committee, him- or herself and 
any other person he or she
considers appropriate in an 
endeavour to achieve a 
peaceable resolution of it.
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5.4.16.3.3 If the Bishop’s arrangements 
referred to in the preceding Section 
5.4.16.3.1 do not achieve a 
peaceable resolution of the 
situation, he shall make a report in 
respect of the situation, the 
arrangements he made for 
discussion and the outcome of the 
arrangements and discussions to 
the Church Council of the relevant 
District or of the Church (as the 
case may require). The report shall 
be deemed to be the submission to 
the Church Council of a 
Miscellaneous Issue pursuant to the 
following Section 10.3.5. 
Add ‘or she’:
If the Bishop’s arrangements 
referred to in the preceding 
Section 5.4.16.3.1 do not achieve 
a peaceable resolution of the 
situation, he or she shall make a 
report in respect of the situation, 
the arrangements he or she made 
for discussion and the outcome of 
the arrangements and discussions 
to the Church Council of the 
relevant District or of the Church 
(as the case may require). The 
report shall be deemed to be the 
submission to the Church Council 
of a Miscellaneous Issue pursuant 
to the following Section 10.3.5.
5.4.16.3.9 At all stages of the procedure, the 
Bishop may take such further steps 
as he considers pastorally 
appropriate.
Add ‘or she’:
At all stages of the procedure, the 
Bishop may take such further steps 
as he or she considers pastorally 
appropriate.
8.2.1.1.6.1 assure himself and thereby the 
Church that the teaching and 
practice of Australian Lutheran 
College is in accord with the public 
teaching and practice of the 
Church;
Add ‘- or herself’:
assure him- or herself and thereby 
the Church that the teaching and 
practice of Australian Lutheran 
College is in accord with the 
public teaching and practice of 
the Church;
8.2.1.1.6.3 satisfy himself that the appropriate 
pastoral care is available for the 
staff of Australian Lutheran College;
Add ‘- or herself’:
satisfy him- or herself that the 
appropriate pastoral care is 
available for the staff of Australian 
Lutheran College;