Lutheran Panel Backs Laywomen’s Ministries

Though not challenging the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s stance that the Bible prohibits women from being pastors, a commission in the conservative church body has recommended that more ministries by laywomen be encouraged and that more value be placed on their service.

Nearly two-thirds of the women surveyed by the President’s Commission on Women said they believe that the Bible limits the pastoral office to men. Another 16% said either that the Bible imposes no limits or that it treats men and women equally in that regard. Also, most women also indicated that there should be no limitations on laywomen’s service that do not exist for men.

The Rev. Ralph A. Bohlmann, president of the 2.7-million-member church body based in St. Louis, appointed the commission in 1984 to assess the impact of the “women’s movement” and the involvement of women in church life.

He said he welcomed the 91-page report, which was mailed this month to the denomination’s 6,000 churches nationwide.