Despite the fact that a majority of those registered with voting rights at the synod of the Lutheran Church of Australia (401), i.e. 240 persons or 59.8%, voted in favour of women’s ordination, the required 2/3 of the votes was not reached.
On Friday, 5 October, the bishop of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA), John Henderson, announced the results of the secret ballot. Of all the registered delegates, 161 voted against the resolution that provided for ordaining both men and women; 240 supported it. The LCA Constitution stipulates that a two-thirds majority of registered delegates is required to introduce changes on matters of a theological or confessional nature.
The vote followed a series of sessions and debate presentations among the delegates, supported by prayer. More than 50 delegates spoke on this issue.
The General Synod has already voted on the issue of women’s ordination three times (in 2000, 2006 and 2015). On each occasion the proposal to ordain women was rejected.
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Source and photo: Lutheran Church of Australia