To Instruct CPH to Have Portals of Prayer and Other Devotionals Written by Men

Preamble In recent years Concordia Publishing House (CPH) has published Portals of Prayer and other devotions for congregational and home use, which are written by women. This overture seeks to bring CPH back to a biblical practice of only men carrying out the pastoral work of teaching.

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture forbids women from publicly preaching or teaching, exercising authority over a man or otherwise exercising the duties of the pastoral office (1 Tim. 2:11–12; 3:2; 1 Cor. 14:33b–35); and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has in faithfulness to Holy Scripture forbidden women from ordination into the pastoral office; and

WHEREAS, Devotionals for congregational and home use such as Portalsof Prayer are meant to teach men and women in the Church; and

WHEREAS, Writing devotionals and leading people in devotions has always been the task of a Seel so rger (one who cares for souls, pastor) and head of the household; and

WHEREAS, CPH in former days exclusively had men write Portals of Prayer and other devotionals for the Synod; and

WHEREAS, CPH has in recent years changed that practice and employed women to write Portals of Prayer and other devotionals for use in congregations and homes; and

WHEREAS, This change in practice was done without any explanation or defense from Holy Scripture, nor was the change even acknowledged; and

WHEREAS, This change to having women write devotions for congregational and home use violates St. Paul’s prohibition in Holy Scripture in 1 Tim. 2:11–12 and 1 Cor. 14:33b–35; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS has thousands of ordained and well- trained pastors and male theologians who are capable of writing devotions for every need; therefore be it

Resolved, That CPH cease to have women write devotions for Portals of Prayer and other devotions, except for those specifically intended for women and children; and be it further

Resolved, That CPH enlist the help of the district presidents of the Synod by giving them the specifications for needed devotions for Portals of Prayer and other devotionals; and be it further

Resolved, That the district presidents of the Synod work with the circuit visitors of their district in assigning the writing of Portals of Prayer devotions and other devotions for congregational and home use to pastors and male theologians(i.e., male, theologically-trained church workers) in their circuits; and be it finally

Resolved, That the pastors of our Synod be admonished to recognize the writing of devotions as an important task of the Seel so rger and these devotionals as a critical part of their people’s devotional lives, so that they eagerly devote themselves to writing quality devotions faithful to Holy Scripture, employing Law and Gospel, and applicable to the lives of their people and assist CPH in providing these devotionals to the people.