Q. I have been a baptized member of the LCMS since birth. I am now 50. Why are there so many changes in the church regarding women serving as ushers and other areas where it used to be predominantly men? My church is having conflict with members over these issues.

A. The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod believes that God's Word never changes, and that the church has no right to change anything clearly taught in or commanded by God's Word. At the same time, The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod believes that the church has no right to make absolute commands that are not contained in Scripture. Where Scripture does not clearly speak, there must be freedom and room for change. Other issues, of course (such as varying sensitivities to change within the congregation, appropriate decorum in worship, the desire to avoid either giving or taking offense unnecessarily) must always be taken into account when a congregation is considering changes that are in the realm of Christian freedom.

Since the Bible says nothing about "ushers" (male or female), the LCMS has never made any rules or requirements in this regard. Many congregational traditions have changed in the LCMS over the years for various reasons (such as women sitting on one side of the church and men on the other), but the LCMS is absolutely committed to changing nothing that is clearly taught in God's Word.