It is not a new question, but one the Church has dealt with since the temptation of Adam and Eve. The Church is not from below, but from above; begotten by water and Spirit (Jn 3:5, 8). She has values and ethics that differ from the world and the culture around her.
This is delicate issue; one that requires us to speak the truth in love. As catechized Lutherans we know that the Christian Church may not ordain women, but we have questions. What does God have to say about women serving in the pastoral office? Men and women are created in the God’s image, why can’t women serve as pastors? What about those churches that ordain women? How can faithful Lutherans respond to this issue? The following is meant to serve as a brief catechism on the Office of the Ministry and the issue of women’s ordination.
What is the Office of the Ministry?
The Office of the Ministry is that specific vocation instituted by Christ for the preaching of the Word and the administration of His Sacraments, for through these, as through instruments [means], the Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith in those who hear the Gospel, where and when it pleases Him.
Where is this written? St John writes, Jesus said to His disciples, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you. And when He had said this He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any it is withheld” (20:21-22). And, Then Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus is it written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of My Father upon you” (Lk 24:45-49). And again, Jesus said, “I will give you [plural] the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:18-19). And still again, [Jesus said]:” The one who hears you hears Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me, and the one who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Lk 10:16).
What is Ordination? Ordination is the visual and physical confirmation (usually with the laying on of hands) of a man’s call by Christ through His Church into the Office of the Holy Ministry.
Where is this written? St Paul writes to Titus, This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained in order and appoint elders [that is, pastors] in every town as I directed you. (1:5) And also to Timothy, Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders [pastors] laid their hands on you (1 Tim 4:13-14).
What does Holy Scripture have to say concerning the qualifications for this Office? St Paul writes in the Pastoral Epistles, The saying is trustworthy: if anyone desires the office of overseer [pastoral office], he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, able to teach, not a drunkard, nor violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for it someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not e a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit an fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil (1 Tim 3:1-7). And also, If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also rebuke those who contradict it (Titus 1:6-9).
If the Gospel makes us One in Christ, why can’t women be ordained? The Gospel affirms the unique vocations God has assigned to men and women at creation. Our sinful nature may at times bristle at the roles and responsibilities God has given us, causing us to fail to see that our Lord has given us His divine design for male and female because He loves us. Holy Scripture grounds the ordination of men to the Office of the Ministry not in a patriarchal worldview, nor a misogynistic dominance, nor an arbitrary “law.” Rather, it is grounded in God’s own creative order: Let a woman learn quietly, with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. (1 Tim 2:11-14)
What about Galatians 3:28?
Some believe this text mandates women pastors. This text says, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:28). Spoken in the context of restoration and redemption, this text does not eradicate distinction between these groups. Rather it teaches the equality of salvation to all Christians by faith in Christ Jesus. Creative distinctions still remain; men and women are both created in the image of God. However, equality in redemption does not mean interchangeability in function. Women are gifted by God to be wives and mothers. Men are gifted by God to be husbands and fathers. God has gifted men and women with different, yet complimentary opportunities.
Why do some churches ordain women?
The reason for our differences with other church bodies is based on their improper attitude toward the Scriptures. We affirm the truth that God’s Word is His perfect and errorless revelation to us. We receive all that He has given us in His Word. Even if we do not prefer something, or wish that it were not present in His Word, we do not ignore, disregard, or minimize His revelation.
Churches that ordain women have chosen to disregard God’s Word. They falsely assert that St Paul’s writings are his own personal opinions. This positions is untenable and dangerous. The Apostle clearly maintains, The things that I am writing to you are a command of the Lord (1 Cor 14:37).
How can faithful Lutherans respond to the ordination of women?
First, never become defensive or antagonistic. Speak the truth in love, with gentleness. Our issue is not with the individuals of church bodies that ordain women. Rather, the disagreement lies with their false doctrine that if let loose may lead to false belief. Do not be ashamed to maintain the proper Biblical roles of men and women. To permit ourselves to become ensnared in self-centered demands for “rights” or “passions” removes our eyes from what our Lord has given. Demanding what God has not given is contrary to what it means to be a child of God. Serve one another in love, not one’s self in lust.
God has given His Church many gifts – forgiveness of sins, love, joy, peace, Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, the Holy Eucharist, fellowship with Him and one another. Among these is the gift of the Office of the Holy Ministry, and the prohibitions against women pastors rests in a prior, deeper understanding of the incarnation (Christ could not have been born a woman) and the divine reality of God Himself. We receive what our Lord gives in the way that He has given it and in the form He has given it. We do not tell Him that His gift is not good enough for us, or that we don’t care for the form in which He has given this gift. We receive our Lord’s gifts as He gives them, with thanks and praise. We receive in the opportunities Christ has given us as His redeemed people, to serve Him in His Church and in our vocations.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mierow
Feast of St James, the Elder
Painting: “Ordination of St Timothy,” by Ludwig Glötzle
This is delicate issue; one that requires us to speak the truth in love. As catechized Lutherans we know that the Christian Church may not ordain women, but we have questions. What does God have to say about women serving in the pastoral office? Men and women are created in the God’s image, why can’t women serve as pastors? What about those churches that ordain women? How can faithful Lutherans respond to this issue? The following is meant to serve as a brief catechism on the Office of the Ministry and the issue of women’s ordination.
What is the Office of the Ministry?
The Office of the Ministry is that specific vocation instituted by Christ for the preaching of the Word and the administration of His Sacraments, for through these, as through instruments [means], the Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith in those who hear the Gospel, where and when it pleases Him.
Where is this written? St John writes, Jesus said to His disciples, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you. And when He had said this He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any it is withheld” (20:21-22). And, Then Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus is it written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of My Father upon you” (Lk 24:45-49). And again, Jesus said, “I will give you [plural] the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:18-19). And still again, [Jesus said]:” The one who hears you hears Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me, and the one who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Lk 10:16).
What is Ordination? Ordination is the visual and physical confirmation (usually with the laying on of hands) of a man’s call by Christ through His Church into the Office of the Holy Ministry.
Where is this written? St Paul writes to Titus, This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained in order and appoint elders [that is, pastors] in every town as I directed you. (1:5) And also to Timothy, Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders [pastors] laid their hands on you (1 Tim 4:13-14).
What does Holy Scripture have to say concerning the qualifications for this Office? St Paul writes in the Pastoral Epistles, The saying is trustworthy: if anyone desires the office of overseer [pastoral office], he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, able to teach, not a drunkard, nor violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for it someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not e a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit an fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil (1 Tim 3:1-7). And also, If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also rebuke those who contradict it (Titus 1:6-9).
If the Gospel makes us One in Christ, why can’t women be ordained? The Gospel affirms the unique vocations God has assigned to men and women at creation. Our sinful nature may at times bristle at the roles and responsibilities God has given us, causing us to fail to see that our Lord has given us His divine design for male and female because He loves us. Holy Scripture grounds the ordination of men to the Office of the Ministry not in a patriarchal worldview, nor a misogynistic dominance, nor an arbitrary “law.” Rather, it is grounded in God’s own creative order: Let a woman learn quietly, with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. (1 Tim 2:11-14)
What about Galatians 3:28?
Some believe this text mandates women pastors. This text says, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:28). Spoken in the context of restoration and redemption, this text does not eradicate distinction between these groups. Rather it teaches the equality of salvation to all Christians by faith in Christ Jesus. Creative distinctions still remain; men and women are both created in the image of God. However, equality in redemption does not mean interchangeability in function. Women are gifted by God to be wives and mothers. Men are gifted by God to be husbands and fathers. God has gifted men and women with different, yet complimentary opportunities.
Why do some churches ordain women?
The reason for our differences with other church bodies is based on their improper attitude toward the Scriptures. We affirm the truth that God’s Word is His perfect and errorless revelation to us. We receive all that He has given us in His Word. Even if we do not prefer something, or wish that it were not present in His Word, we do not ignore, disregard, or minimize His revelation.
Churches that ordain women have chosen to disregard God’s Word. They falsely assert that St Paul’s writings are his own personal opinions. This positions is untenable and dangerous. The Apostle clearly maintains, The things that I am writing to you are a command of the Lord (1 Cor 14:37).
How can faithful Lutherans respond to the ordination of women?
First, never become defensive or antagonistic. Speak the truth in love, with gentleness. Our issue is not with the individuals of church bodies that ordain women. Rather, the disagreement lies with their false doctrine that if let loose may lead to false belief. Do not be ashamed to maintain the proper Biblical roles of men and women. To permit ourselves to become ensnared in self-centered demands for “rights” or “passions” removes our eyes from what our Lord has given. Demanding what God has not given is contrary to what it means to be a child of God. Serve one another in love, not one’s self in lust.
God has given His Church many gifts – forgiveness of sins, love, joy, peace, Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, the Holy Eucharist, fellowship with Him and one another. Among these is the gift of the Office of the Holy Ministry, and the prohibitions against women pastors rests in a prior, deeper understanding of the incarnation (Christ could not have been born a woman) and the divine reality of God Himself. We receive what our Lord gives in the way that He has given it and in the form He has given it. We do not tell Him that His gift is not good enough for us, or that we don’t care for the form in which He has given this gift. We receive our Lord’s gifts as He gives them, with thanks and praise. We receive in the opportunities Christ has given us as His redeemed people, to serve Him in His Church and in our vocations.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mierow
Feast of St James, the Elder
Painting: “Ordination of St Timothy,” by Ludwig Glötzle
RSS Feed