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​Neither Male nor Female; The Bible, Women and the Ministry of the Church - Book by Noel C. Schultz

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.  Galatians 3:28
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In the 1950s Rev Dr Noel Schultz heard the distress of women (and men) after an ELCA official had taught that women were subordinate to men. After a lifetime of commitment to equality within the church (including completing a doctorate on the issue), in December 2020 his book was published by Coventry Press to help further the conversation that is still not resolved; this book is his encouragement to the LCA to recognise that both women and men are called to serve ordained ministry. 

Available through Coventry Press

"Since women have continued to be discriminated against in the LCA, I wrote the book "Neither Male nor Female - the Bible, Women and the Ministry in the Church" which was published by Coventry Press in December 2020. It exposes the misuse of the Creation and Fall narratives, 1 Cor. 14:34-35 and 1 Tim. 2:8-15, since the final paragraph of Article VI of Thesis of Agreement was written in 1950. But it does more - it highlights the powerful declaration of Paul in Gal.3:26-29 and the social and religious implications for Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, since they are baptised in Christ. 'One's sexuality is not the basis on which a person can claim a position of superiority or advantage to which another is not entitled - neither in that person's relationship with God, nor in respect to another human being' (p.31).
It is my hope and prayer that this publication will be a factor in moving the LCA in 2021(after decades of debate and divisision) to grant women equality with men in the church by inviting qualified and trained women to share with men in the ministry of word and sacraments."
Rev Dr Noel C Schultz

The final report of the LCA Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations on the ordination of women

The 1997 General Convention of the LCA gave the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations (CTICR) the task of studying the issue of the ordination of women, reporting to pastors conferences and congregations, and presenting a Final Report with recommendations to the 2000 synod. This involved the CTICR working through four stages.
Read more

Historical document on women's ordination, from Argentina

The December 2009 edition of the Journal of Lutheran Ethics includes an article on the Ordination of Women and the Confessions, written in 1980 as part of the deliberations of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentine, which voted to ordain women in 1981.
Go to article (external link)
Peter F. Lockwood:
1 Timothy 2:11,12: Total Ban or Local Restriction?
Wendy Mayer:
The Leadership Role of Women in the Early Eastern Church
Mark W. Worthing:
The Concept of the Development of Doctrine and its Implications for the Debate on the Ordination of Women
Roger W. Whittall: 
Authority and Leadership in the Early Western Church
Victor C. Pfitzner:
Paul, the Mission to Jews, and Women in the Churches
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  • Home
    • About the WMN
    • History of the WMN
  • Resources
    • Theology >
      • Final Report - The LCA's CTICR on Women's Ordination
      • 1 Timothy 2:11,12: Total Ban or Local Restriction?
      • Paul, the Misson to Jews, and Women in the Churches
      • The Development of Doctrine and the Ordination of Women
      • The Leadership Role of Women in the Early Eastern Church
      • Authority and Leadership in the early Western church
    • Academic
    • History of Women's Ordination in the LCA >
      • LCA General Synod 2006
      • Ordination of Women in the LCA
    • Study Guides >
      • Women in Ministry
      • Church Fathers, Women and Ordination
  • Experiences
    • Then - Biblical Women In Ministry
    • Now - Women in Ministry Today
    • Rhythms of Grace 2019 - Conference
    • Time to Soar - Conference
    • All Saints Conference - Sally Chandler, Keynote Address
  • Gallery
    • LCA Synod 2013
    • Time to Soar
    • Courageous Voices, 2002
  • News
    • Rhythms of Grace
  • WMN Blog
  • Contact