Gender & Women's Ordination in the LWF

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Ordination Sally Azar

22. Januar 2023: Sally Azar wird als erste palästinensische Frau in der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche in Jordanien und im Heiligen Land ordiniert. Sie verlässt in einer Prozession zusammen mit Bischof Sani Ibrahim „Barhoum“ Azar die Kirche. Foto: LWB/Albin Hillert

The LWF has affirmed the participation of women in the ordained ministry since 1984. Over 85 percent of LWF churches ordain women to the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and this number continues to grow. Thus, the vast majority of LWF member churches are committed to ensuring that all who are called and trained are ordained, regardless of gender. Together with the LWF, we as the German National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (GNC/LWF) once again expressly emphasize that the ordination of women can also be derived from central baptismal, ministerial and vocational theological insights of the Reformation. 

Women play an equal role to men in the biblical traditions of creation as well as in the process of justification, redemption and salvation. The Lutheran doctrine of the priesthood of all baptized persons, the indivisibility of baptism, the body of Christ and table fellowship at the Lord's Supper, as well as the spiritual gifting equally assigned to women, the task of proclaiming the Gospel and prophecy, only allow us to conclude that the equal participation of women in church life is in accordance with Christ and that existing reservations against it cannot be theologically justified and upheld.

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