GERMANY – The Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche – SELK) in Germany held its 15th General Pastoral Convention in Hofgeismar from June 23-27, 2025, during which time the clergy of SELK rejected the possibility of introducing women’s ordination as a parallel practice for a portion of congregations.
Discussion of women’s ordination has been ongoing in the German church for some time, and this year’s pastoral convention dedicated significant time to addressing the issue. As part of the discussion, delegates were offered a choice: to request “further work” on this issue in the wider church or instead to “provide clarity” to the church. The convention overwhelmingly chose to provide clarity (with just 3 votes against and 1 abstention).
“The direction of our further deliberations is now clear,” said SELK Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigtin response to the vote. “The convention is striving for clarity on the [women’s ordination] issue.”
A secret ballot subsequently gauged the positions of delegates on the issue. This survey revealed that a strong majority of SELK pastors (53 to 28) do not consider viable any structure that would introduce women’s ordination as a parallel option for a portion of SELK congregations. The survey also revealed that a majority of voting delegates (42 to 37) do not consider it theologically possible for the SELK to have some members who practice women’s ordination while others reject it.
On the basis of these discussions, the convention went on to adopt the following resolutions by a strong majority:
“The 15th General Pastoral Convention of the SELK… concludes, as a result of its deliberations, that currently viable structures for the introduction of the ordination of women are not conceivable if this service is only possible in a portion of SELK congregations. The General Pastoral Convention assures those who advocate for the ordination of women of brotherly cooperation, respect for their position, and a willingness to listen to their concerns.” (66 to 16, with 1 abstention).
“The 15th General Pastoral Convention ascertains that, for theological reasons, a majority of its members currently consider it impossible for the practice of the ordination of women and the rejection of this practice to coexist on equal terms in the SELK. The General Pastoral Convention assures those who advocate for the ordination of women of brotherly cooperation, respect for their position, and a willingness to listen to their concerns.” (62 to 19, with 2 abstentions).
After further discussion, the convention also adopted a third resolution:
“The members of the 15th General Pastoral Convention of the SELK commit themselves to continuing to promote the services of women in the SELK as provided for in the church regulations: pastoral assistants, lectors, church council members, church councilors, deacons, catechists, lecturers at the Lutherischen Theologischen Hochschule, etc.” (67 to 9, with 7 abstentions).
Following these decisions, SELK issued a release, stating “that, in the opinion of the General Pastoral Convention, church unity can best be maintained through the path now chosen.” It further noted that “the results of the three votes underscore this strong desire for unanimity.”
The resolutions of the SELK’s General Pastoral Convention have been welcomed by other confessional Lutherans worldwide. “We are grateful that SELK’s pastors have decided in convention to reject the introduction of an alternate, parallel practice on ordination,” said Rev. Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz, General Secretary of the International Lutheran Council (ILC). “We offer our continued prayers and support for the German church, asking God to grant them clarity and unity on this issue.”
SELK is a member church of the ILC, a global association of confessional Lutheran churches which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. The ILC recognizes only male ordination as legitimate, in keeping with the clear teaching of Scripture and the historic witness of the church.
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