Family Catechesis—Summary Teaching on Upholding Created Orders in the Governing Body of a Christian Congregation
To Reaffirm Male Suffrage in the Voters’ Assembly of St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church (UAC)
WHEREAS, Holy Scripture teaches that God ordered His creation with distinct yet complementary vocations for men and women, beginning with the Order of Creation, in which man was created first and woman as a helper corresponding to him (Genesis 2:18–25), an order that was distorted but not abolished by the Fall (Genesis 3:1–19) and therefore continues to inform the ordering of life within the Church; and
WHEREAS, throughout Holy Scripture God ordinarily entrusts offices of ecclesial oversight and governing authority to men, including the priesthood (Exodus 28:1), kingship (1 Samuel 2:10), and public leadership in Israel (Numbers 1:1–4), while extraordinary cases such as Deborah are presented as exceptions that underscore disorder rather than establish a normative pattern (Judges 4:9; 5:7; cf. Isaiah 3:11–12); and
WHEREAS, the New Testament instructs that within the assemblies of the Church women are not to teach or exercise authority over men (1 Corinthians 14:33–35; 1 Timothy 2:11–12), grounding these instructions explicitly in the Order of Creation and the events of the Fall (1 Timothy 2:13–14), for the sake of good order in the household of God; and
WHEREAS, Holy Scripture also clearly testifies that women faithfully served and supported the ministry of our Lord and His apostles, including Mary Magdalene and other women who accompanied Jesus and provided for Him and the Twelve out of their means (Luke 8:1–3), women who bore witness to His resurrection (Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–10; John 20:1–18), and women such as Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae (Romans 16:1–2), Priscilla, who together with her husband Aquila instructed Apollos privately (Acts 18:26), Huldah the prophetess who spoke the Word of the Lord when consulted (2 Kings 22:14–20), and older women who are instructed to teach and train younger women in faithful Christian living (Titus 2:3–5); and
WHEREAS, the Congregation desires to confess and practice the full teaching of Holy Scripture by maintaining clear distinctions regarding ecclesial authority and oversight, while at the same time encouraging and honoring the faithful service, counsel, and labor of women and men alike according to their God-given vocations and gifts (1 Peter 4:10); and
WHEREAS, the exercise of suffrage in the Voters’ Assembly constitutes an act of ecclesial authority, by which binding decisions are made concerning doctrine and conscience, governance, the calling of pastors and other church workers, the use of congregational resources, and the ordering of the Congregation’s life together; and
WHEREAS, Holy Scripture calls the Church not only to right ordering of authority but also to diligent care for the vulnerable, especially widows and those without earthly protectors (James 1:27), and this Congregation has entrusted the Lay Elder Board with the duty to provide avenues for the care and representation of the Congregation’s widows and single women; and
WHEREAS, the Constitution and Bylaws of this Congregation are adopted as an earnest attempt to order the life of the Congregation faithfully according to Holy Scripture, and must themselves always be read, interpreted, and applied in submission to the clear Word of God; therefore be it
Resolved, That St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church (UAC) hereby reaffirms the biblical distinction between man and woman as taught in Holy Scripture, particularly as this distinction pertains to the exercise of ecclesial authority within the assembled Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the Congregation reaffirms the practice of male-only suffrage in the Voters’ Assembly, not as an expression of constitutional preference, but as an application of the teaching of Holy Scripture regarding authority and order in the Church; and be it further
Resolved, that this reaffirmation is not intended to diminish, restrict, or disparage the faithful service of women within the Congregation, but rather to uphold good order in the Church while encouraging and honoring the many ways in which women participate in the life of the Congregation through their God-given vocations, including prayer, works of mercy, counsel, support of the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, and the faithful exercise of feminine virtues within the household of God; and be it further
Resolved, That the Lay Elder Board is reminded and encouraged to exercise proactive spiritual care on behalf of the Congregation, in keeping with Holy Scripture and the responsibilities entrusted to them, attending especially to those members who may be vulnerable or without direct representation; and be it further
Resolved, That the Lay Elder Board is to seek out, receive, and thoughtfully consider feedback from parishioners regarding their personal well-being and their concerns related to matters under deliberation or action by the Pastor, Voters’ Assembly, Church Council, Lay Elder Board, or other congregational leaders, giving particular attention to the Congregation’s widows and single women; and be it further
Resolved, That the Lay Elder Board is to accurately and faithfully communicate such feedback, concerns, and insights to the Church Council and/or the Voters’ Assembly, as appropriate, so that the governing bodies of the Congregation may act with informed judgment, pastoral sensitivity, and due care for all members; and be it finally
Resolved, That this resolution is adopted in order to promote faithfulness to Holy Scripture, strengthen the Church’s spiritual care for all her members, and preserve unity, peace, and good order within the Congregation as she carries out the Mission entrusted to her by our Lord.
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