Resolution
To the Archbishop and Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (LELB), the Archbishop of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad (LELBāL), the LELB Central Board, the LELBāL Presidium, LELB pastors, congregation chairmen and chairwomen, LELBāL pastors (men and women), the Association of Latvian Lutheran Women Theologians (LLSTA), the society “Christian Support Association”, and “Svētdienas Rīts”
“Women’s Ordination — For and Against“
In Liepāja, 6 May 2016
On 6 May 2016, at the Liepāja Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church, a conference “Women’s Ordination — For and Against” organized by the Liepāja Cross Evangelical Lutheran congregation took place. The conference was attended by representatives from LELB, LELBāL, the United Methodist Church, the Association of Latvian Lutheran Women Theologians (LLSTA), the Faculty of Theology of the University of Latvia, as well as pastors, evangelists, and members of the Cross congregation. The aim of the conference was to bring together people with differing views on women’s ordination, to encourage an exchange of ideas and to reflect on possibilities for continuing the dialogue on this topic.
At the upcoming LELB Synod, which will take place on 3 and 4 June 2016, it is intended to adopt amendments to point 133 of the LELB constitution, providing that only men may be pastors. The planned changes have caused deep concern in LELBāL, in the German partner churches, in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and also in individual LELB congregations and the Association of Latvian Lutheran Women Theologians. The conference participants wish to share their reflections on women’s ordination, calling on the participants of the LELB Synod not to make hasty decisions and to be aware of the seriousness of this matter.
Unfortunately, the LELB bishops did not find an opportunity to participate in the conference, although they were invited in good time. Withdrawing into oneself only fosters prejudices against one another and fear. We call on the LELB leadership and pastors not to be afraid of open conversations, and to explain their position on the question of women’s ordination not only to pastors, but also to congregations and to society.
In their ordination vow, LELB pastors, among other things, promise that “in words and deeds they will strengthen the unity of their Church, …” We hold that the envisaged amendments to point 133 of the LELB Constitution do not foster the unity of the Church. They estrange not only men and women, but also the supporters and opponents of women’s ordination, LELB and LELBāL, the LWF and the German churches, and so on.
The Church’s rejecting attitude toward women’s ordination can be used to justify discrimination against women. If it is linked with other Bible verses that hold that wives must submit to their husbands, that Eve is to blame for the fall into sin, and so on, then all the ideological preconditions are created to silence, support or carry out discrimination and violence against women. For Latvian society, this is a dangerous signal. The results of the European Union (EU) Fundamental Rights Agency study “Violence against women: an EU-wide survey” show that in Latvia more than 100 women suffer from domestic violence every day. The data obtained in the study show that, on average across the EU member states, 22% of women experienced physical and/or sexual violence from a current or former partner during their lifetime, whereas in Latvia it was 32% of women, which corresponds to 270 thousand women aged between 15 and 75.
During His life, Jesus, unlike His contemporaries, was very open toward women. Among His followers were many women. Before His cross all privileges and any sense of superiority vanish — including between the sexes. His resurrection gives us the opportunity to begin a new life, based on God’s love for every human being. It is not in His Spirit if we build new fences, raise ourselves above one another, and restrict the preaching of the Gospel.
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In the name of the unity of our Church, we call on you
= to pray to God that the question of women’s ordination not divide our Church,
= to resolve all disagreements through dialogue,
= for the participants of the LELB Synod to abstain or to vote against in the vote on point 133 of the LELB Constitution.
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The conference resolution is supported by:
Dean of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Latvia, Dace Balode
LELBāL pastor Varis Bitenieks
evangelist Rudīte Losāne
evangelist Kristīne Vanaga
LELB pastor Mārtiņš Urdze
LELBāL pastor Kārlis Žols and members of the Cross congregation