Always the back door. . .

In February 2023, the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA)1 convened its Twentieth Convention of General Synod in Melbourne, Victoria, and approved a motion that could allow for women’s ordination as early as 2024. An update of information from one in the know suggests that this motion, while not changing the 2/3 majority required to change the constitution and adopt the practice of women's ordination, confuses the whole issue by appearing to approve this change.  The resolution that passed expressed the expectation of such ordination.  Under a “one doctrine, two practices” construct, some districts would ordain men and women to the pastoral ministry, while other districts would ordain only men. In response, over 500 clergy and laity in Australia signed a “Letter of Confession” on April 18, 2023, the 502nd anniversary of Martin Luther’s “Here I Stand” speech at Worms, Germany, in 1521. The letter states:

This vision of an LCA with two, not just different, but mutually contradictory teachings and practices on the office of the ministry will result in the breaking of fellowship around altar and pulpit, striking at the very heart of the church’s true unity. ... We reject any attempt to bring about a false sense of “church unity” by imposing upon the LCA two mutually contradictory doctrines and practices of ministry by political and procedural means, when we are called by God and our own confessions to judge all teachings in the church by the standard of the Scriptures, ... the “only infallible source and norm for all matters of faith, doctrine and life” (Article 2 of the [LCA] constitution). ... The question of who is permitted to fill the office of public ministry is a doctrinal matter according to the Lutheran confessions. Those in the LCA who have been promoting the ordination of women have not been able to offer a clear and convincing Scriptural argument for the practice that would override the biblical foundations (1 COR. 14:34–35; 1 TIM. 2:11–14) for a male-only pastorate in the LCA.

No matter what side of the debate you are on with respect to the ordination of women, the sad truth is that the choice of end justifies the means is a betrayal of the integrity of any church body.  The LCA is not alone in finding such changes through the back door.  We struggle with such practices entering the life of the church in the Missouri Synod.  If there is going to be a change, let it be upfront and honest and not through the back door as the pro-ordination of women group in the LCA seeks to do it.  But heresy and unfaithfulness always tends to like the back door and the departure from orthodox teaching, church tradition, and the voice of Scripture seldom happens in the living room in full view of everyone.  It generally always happens in the kitchen by the back door.  Shame on those who propose this change in the LCA.  If you think yourselves people of integrity, then stop trying to sneak in what you purport to be good and salutary. 

The strategy of those who are in favor of the change has been dialogue.  That is code for talk about and keep on voting on it until it passes.  When they grew weary of dialogue, they decided that there could be two voices within one church body, two jurisdictions with contradictory practice, and two confessions within one.  It is untenable and they know it.  But they count on the fact that people are slow to act and even slower to depart from their historic home.  They presume that as long as some say "not in my back yard" and it appears that will be true for a while, they will not vote with their feet.  I hope our brothers and sisters among the orthodox confessors in Australia will continue to put up the fight and, if they lose, to depart with their feet.  The back door is where those who cannot gain approval foist their changes upon an unsuspecting church.  Let us commend those who stood up and said "no."