I have fond memories of presentations by Dr. Dawn at several synod assemblies and also, I believe, at an ELCA Churchwide ( or it could have been an ELCW Convention, I am old), and I have found value in her writings. I really enjoyed “Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down,” as well as “The Sabbath.”
This thread is a great reminder of why I don’t read or post much here anymore.
Mother’s Day blessings to those who celebrate.
Donna
Thanks for the Mother's Day blessing. I eagerly look forward to two new great-grandchild this summer. From my perspective as an LCMS woman I understand why the "sniping at each other over gender issues" turns you and others off.
Sadly, it is not possible for an LCMS woman to ask that we
not discuss the ordination of woman. I, and other woman who were educated in the LCMS before Genesis two was interpreted to reveal God's will for a pre-fall order of creation legal structure where woman is subordinate to man, are asking to redefine the issue of woman in the church in terms of
God's rightful place in the life of woman and man. Beginning in 1955 the LCMS adopted the concept of two orders in the Church, the order of creation and the order of redemption. Since then layer upon layer of studies and reports were added to the claim that Genesis two reveals that God, for the sake of order in creation, designated the man as "the more responsible party" (see The Lutheran Study Bible, p.17). Since the man had no means of procreation God created woman as man's helper. According to TLSB (p.17) the designation of woman as "helper" implies no inferiority, "but it does reinforce the order of creation."
TLSB note on Gen. 2:20 states, "
the man gave names. Sign that Adam exercised authority over animals as God's steward of creation."
TLSB note on Gen. 2:23
she shall be called Woman. "First name Adam gave to his wife. Like the name of Adam ('
adam), the name of his wife
ishshah is a classification. In his role as God's steward,
Adam gives a name to this category of beings, just as he has given names to the rest of God's creation."
Here, Genesis 2 is used to claim that
woman and man belong to two different categories of being. Previously, LCMS writings limited the order of creation to man and woman having different God given purposes, man being the primary steward of creation and woman being the one to help man accomplish his God given purpose. Today, the Bible is used to claim the difference between man and woman is ontological.
Thus, the questions, "Does God relate to man and woman according to their common human nature or is does God relate to man and woman as two distinct categories of being? Is there a difference in how God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are a living presence in the life of baptized men and women. What does it mean to "
Let God be God" in the life of man and woman. according their male and female sexuality?'
Marie Meyer