Engage with the question

'I probably should think about whether the Bible permits the ordination of women as well as men, but where do I start?' One option is to ask ourselves how we read the Bible. Are we up to date on Bible scholarship in the past 50-100 years? There have been numerous developments in our understanding of Biblical languages, types and purposes of narratives, authorship and dates of authorship and cultural considerations.

Here are some ways to get involved in discussion about ordination:
  • The LCA has developed a resource collection and discussion forum at owl.lca.org.au.
  • subscribe to The Lutheran magazine and write to the editor about what the ordination of women as well as men would mean for you. The Lutheran is doing great work at discussing real-world issues, as well as showcasing the work of the LCA's various departments in bringing love to life. This wider perspective is important: a lot of energy and time has been expended in discussing women's ordination, but it is also important to remember that we are not a one-issue church;
  • subscribe to LCA eNews so that you will be up to date on dialogue opportunities;
  • Volunteer to represent your congregation as a delegate to the LCANZ General Convention of Synod. While those qualified in theology do the ground-work, the people in the pews (ref LCA website: 'Our structure') are essential to the consideration and decision-making. That is why LCA synodical decisions are made by two thirds lay-people and one third pastors.
  • engage in conversation with friends and family, seeking to hear and understand viewpoints that may differ from your own.​​

Useful Blog and websites

The following sites offer food for thought about how we read the Bible, particularly with regard to the roles of women and men. These resources are ecumenical. Weigh them against the Book of Concord or the LCA Theses of Agreement and keep following your questions. ​Martin Luther asserted the importance of us each reading and understanding the Bible for ourselves. Let's continue to dig into the living word as we respond to the questions of each new generation.
​Congregational Resources
If you've produced information in your congregation that might be useful for others please email us and we'll collate it here. Publication here indicates the authors' permission to use this material in your context:For more up-to-date resources, contact [email protected]
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If you're after a sense of the history of the LCA journey, from the perspective of supporters of the ordination of women and men, please see our Archived Resources

If you'd like to go deeper into theological of study at any level, contact Australian Lutheran College.