At the 12th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation, which was held this year in Namibia, a resolution was adopted calling for a study of women’s experiences in ordained ministry.
1. The Assembly asks the LWF Department for Communion Service to organise a study process on women’s experiences in ordained ministry, in order to remove obstacles and to affirm the intention to move forward, as was proclaimed at the 2016 Council in Wittenberg:
Acknowledging that not all member congregations are at one and the same point in their journey towards women in ordained ministry, namely that some member congregations are still on the way to the full inclusion of women and their participation, we are convinced that the witness of the Scriptures in all its depth and breadth honours the equality of those persons created in the image of God, and recognises the gifts of one and the same Holy Spirit in all persons baptised into new creations…
In the congregation, the equality of women and men appears and is lived out as a sign of the kingdom of God on earth. Therefore no discrimination of women and men is permissible in the congregation. Any discrimination with regard to the participation of women in the ministry of the congregation (including ordination) harms the fulfilment of the congregation’s mission in the world, since it is contrary to the nature of the kingdom of God…
We recall the resolution adopted at the most recent Assembly in Stuttgart, by which it was recommended to the congregations to “.. implement, in a genuine, practical and effective manner, the LWF documents and decisions concerning the full participation of women in the life of the congregation, in the LWF communion, as well as in society”.
2. The study process envisages and proposes the following timeframe:
- By the end of 2018, to establish an initial consultative group to meet and discuss these issues.
- By 2019, to establish a functional working group to operate.
- For the working group to develop and issue an initial report by 2020.
Source: Lutheran World Federation