“When is
Dear Christian Friends,
Did
the question above catch your attention? It did mine! It was asked at the recent “Coffee &
Conversation” time hosted by our Ministry Directors. My answer? We haven’t ever considered doing so!
Since the topic arose, I have come to see that the question stems from a couple
of things which I want to address this month in my letter to you.
At the root of the concern expressed in
asking this question, as well as concern being voiced within the congregation,
is the recent adoption and implementation of our revised constitution and
bylaws. For my entire ministry here, the constitution has always been a topic
of much discussion. The topic was addressed by
some “housekeeping” matters in 1996; and then again a decade later, when
our Leadership Council approved a full
revision of our governing document from a “cultural church document” to a
“missional constitution and bylaws” (a process led by Dr. Alan Klaas in January
2007). The resulting document was
adopted by our Voters Assembly last May, and approved by the Kansas District of
the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod last summer. Since that time, we have been
gradually implementing its new directives.
One of those directives seems to have caused
more concern and confusion than any other. Only three positions in our new
document are gender-specific: three of our nine Ministry Directors must be male
to “supervise the ordained clergy in matters of preaching, administration of
the sacraments and church discipline.” Beyond that, any office or role is open
to either male or female. As solicitation began for members to fill the roles
left vacant by our former Board of Elders, it seems to have become apparent for
the first time to some that women would now be eligible to assist during the
distribution of the Lord’s Supper.
There was nothing to prohibit that service
in the former constitution. It was simply a role that we as a congregation
assigned to our Elders: it was not a constitutionally-assigned task. With the
Board of Elders no longer in existence, volunteers were needed to help with
their tasks: the Member Care Ministry Team came into being in January of 2008
(and will soon be followed by a Worship Ministry Team). These two teams take on
most of the historic roles our constitution had assigned to Elders. With the
Ushers aptly handling their roles at worship, there is no longer a need for an
“Elder on Duty” to oversee our services. For the most part, all that was left
was the role of assisting with communion distribution: I asked for volunteers,
and a dozen of our members, including one female, responded that they were
willing to serve. They have been doing so since the first of the year, rotating
services and filling in for one another as needed.
This change
in practice was seen by some as a doctrinal issue and even led to the
resignation of our lay deacon. While we must, in Christian love, respect one
another’s conscience in this matter, it must also be made clear that we are not
in violation of any mandate of scripture or decision of Synod. “Assisting” at
distribution is just that: assisting the pastor in the performance of his
duties. It is not a taking on of the pastoral office whether performed by a
male or a female. In the past, our Board of Elders was a gender-specific board,
which may have led to the assumption that this was a ‘male only’ task. The CTCR
(Commission on Theology and Church Relations) of the LCMS has been referenced
by some in this matter: please understand that the CTCR, who does “advise
against” utilizing the service of women in this role, serves only as an
advisory body to the Synod. They do not determine doctrine: that responsibility
is left only to the Synod in convention.
If I have
failed to clarify this distinction up to this point, I apologize. I know the
doctrinal stance of Synod in convention in 2004 and I know that “male only” has
no basis in scripture. It honestly was a non-issue to me as we worked through
the process of changing our governing document. What is more important to me –
and I pray, to you – is our purpose for existing as a congregation. I
quote our purpose from our constitution: a) manifesting the unity of our faith
in Jesus Christ as God and Savior; b) spreading the
I rejoice to
serve in a church body whose doctrine and practice is built upon the foundation
of scripture and its exposition as presented in our Lutheran confessions. It is
there, and there only, that we will ever experience true Christian fellowship,
allowing us to lovingly work for the spread of God’s kingdom by the sharing of
our faith in Jesus as our Savior. To Him
be the glory, both now and forever!
Blessings,
Pastor
Ed
If you have any remaining concerns or
questions, please let me hear from you:
stop by the Office, call
(758-7624, anytime), or e-mail me (pastor@splcs.org).