| Most Recently Posted Ask a Question | |||||||
| Q: | As a former LCMS teacher, currently a WELS layman, I have struggled (and continue to do so) with the differences between the two synods. Regarding the role of women in the church, my experience is that there have been some women who are remarkable leaders in LCMS congregations (as board members, not elders or officers). Of course, this does not make it right, since they would be usurping the role God has given to men. My question is parallel (I think) to this. If women cannot have authority over men in the instance of church governing (as the head of the evangelism board, for example), would it not be proper to reserve all.htmlects of leading worship to men, even the roles of choir director and organist? If we can't have a non-WELS person play the organ at a WELS wedding because that would be leading worship, wouldn't the same rationale apply to a woman at the keyboard, even if she is WELS? Or am I off-base somewhere in my reasoning? | ||||||
| A: | In your second and third paragraphs you are confusing two things: fellowship and leadership. A person cannot be a leader for us without being in fellowship with us, but person in fellowship with us is not necessarily able to serve as a leader in a specific position. In the case of the non-WELS organist the issue is fellowship, not leadership. The person could not be a leader because he is not in fellowship, but he could not sing in the choir either. In the case of the woman choir director or organist the issue is leadership and authority not fellowship. The issue is solely whether these are authoritative offices or not. This is not a clear-cut, black-and-white issue. The role of the choir director is discussed in the book Church Fellowship: Working Together for the Truth in Man and Woman in God's World and in previous postings on this site. ___________ Women choir directors have been widely accepted among us, but this issue is not clear cut. A woman could certainly lead the choir in a way which was domineering or authoritative, but the office could also be understood and practiced as assisting in the musical performance of the congregation much as an organist does. In such circumstances the pastor retains responsibility for the doctrinal soundness and appropriateness of the music of the service. If a woman's conscience troubles her about serving as a choir director, she should not accept such a position since it is never right to act against our own conscience. | ||||||
| |||||||