Donald Fehlauer posted on October 06, 2005 00:00
Scripture teaches that there is no difference between males and females in the forgiveness of sins and eternal life through faith in Christ (Gal. 3:26-29). However, God made distinctions among people and between males and females in the worship of the Church.
God established headship, making Christ the head of man and man the head of woman (1 Corinthians 11:2-16). We worship God under this headship so that male pastors speak and act under Christ's authority and females are "silent" and "not to teach or have authority over a man" (1 Corinthians 14:26-40, 1 Timothy 2:1-14).
Denominations disagree about the application of this subordination of women to men and all to Christ (Ephesians 5:21-6:9). However, we must not ignore God's Word or replace it with the opinions of society.
Scripture assigns the Office of the Pastoral Ministry only to qualified males. We reject those who allow women to be Pastors. Scripture does not allow women to perform the functions of the Office of Pastor, specifically the public reading and preaching of the Word, the Absolution, the public Baptism, and the consecration and distribution of the Lord's Supper. We teach that women may not hold the offices of Congregation President, Vice President, or Elder, because the congregation may delegate to these offices some of the functions of the Pastoral Ministry.
We recognize the freedom of the congregation to establish varying practices in circumstances not specifically commanded or forbidden in Holy Scripture. We teach that Scripture does not specifically limit voting in congregation meetings to males. Congregations may allow women members to vote on organizational matters.