To Recognize and Honor the Pastor’s Wife

WHEREAS, Genesis 1 and 2 along with many Old Testament references (particularly in Prov. 31:1–31), Jesus in Matt. 19:4–6 and blessing the wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11), as well as 1 Cor. 7:2, 9 and Heb. 13:4, substantiate the God-given institution of marriage between a man and a woman; and

WHEREAS, We confess the divine and natural right of all people, including our pastors, to the marriage of a man and woman in Augsburg Confession and Apology Article XXIII and Smalcald Articles III XI, where the defense of the marriage of pastors has become a defense and confession of God’s gift and institution of our humanity as male or female and of marriage; and

WHEREAS, The year 2025 will mark the 500th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther’s marriage to Katherine von Bora, June 13, 1525, helping to reestablish within the Reformation movement the sanctity of marriage among the Christian clergy in the West; and

WHEREAS, The wonderful blessing of marriage is underlined by both Martin and Katie, even establishing the role model of the pastor’s family and the parsonage for generations to follow; and

WHEREAS, Pastors are to be “examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3), that the flock may imitate their Christian life (Titus 2:7), also in respect to the marital, domestic estate, that they be husband to only one wife and have believing children in subordination (Titus 1:6); and

WHEREAS, Married pastors are to love their wives by providing for them (Eph. 5:25–33), and congregations are to love their pastors by providing for them and their families (1 Cor. 9:4–5), as they are asked in the Installation Rite: Will you honor and uphold your pastor as he serves Christ in all his God-pleasing responsibilities? Will you aid him as he cares for his family? Will you be diligent to “put the best construction on everything,” recognizing that “love covers a multitude of sins”? If so, then answer: We will, with the help of God. (Concordia Publishing House [CPH], Lutheran Service Book: Agenda, 169, 180);

therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in its 2023 convention recognize the upcoming 500th anniversary of the Luther marriage in the year 2025; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS encourage its districts holding pastoral conferences and/or conventions in 2025 to help celebrate this anniversary milestone by recognizing the wedding anniversaries of their pastors and their wives in whatever manner or custom might be deemed best; and be it further

Resolved, That district presidents and the congregations under their care be urged to give careful attention and commitment to their congregation’s moral obligation not only to love their pastor, his wife, and family, but also to provide the salary, housing, and benefits needed by the pastor to care for his wife and household; and be it finally

Resolved, That in the long standing tradition of Reformation numismatics over six centuries commemorating milestone anniversaries such as the centennials of 1517, the Augsburg Confession, Luther’s birth, and many others, (i.e., a medal featuring Luther and Katherine as early as 1717 followed by other examples), CPH and Concordia Historical Institute consider partnering to commission and produce a worthy commemorative medallion celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Luthers, and made available to districts, institutions, congregations, libraries, and individuals