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====Gender politics====
One of the issues currently before the [[synod]] is that of the [[ordination of women]] as [[pastor]]s, which it now permits.<ref
The church also rejects new translations of the Bible and liturgy that use inclusive language in reference to God. Rather, the church feels that (with regard to calling God "the Father"), "The language which we use for God is not merely metaphorical or picture language. Our language for God involves the actual nature of God as revealed to us in Christ. The God who is revealed to humanity in the holy Scriptures is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons in the one Godhead... [However]... When the writers of the holy Scriptures speak of God, they use a wide range of images, metaphors, and symbols to describe what God is like or how God regards and deals with Israel and the human race. Included in these various images and symbols is the use of maternal imagery."<ref>{{cite web|title=God and Inclusive Language|url=https://lca.box.net/shared/static/g0f7ism1o0dcr1otc4xh.pdf|publisher=Lutheran Church of Australia|access-date=25 November 2013|author=General Synod in Convention|year=1993}}</ref>
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The Church has voted on five occasions on the question of the ordination of women. On the first four occasions, it did not succeed even though a majority of representatives have voted for the ordination of women. This is because a change to the doctrine of the Church requires a two-thirds majority support.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Synod says 'no' to ordination of women|url=https://www.lca.org.au/synod-says-no-to-ordination-of-women/ |date=5 October 2018 |publisher=Lutheran Church of Australia |access-date=2021-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref> Church leaders have recognised the divisiveness of this issue and the capacity for it to cause a schism which could result in the church becoming non-viable.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LCANZ leaders report on ordination deliberations|url=https://www.lca.org.au/lcanz-leaders-report-on-ordination-deliberations/|date=18 August 2020 |publisher=Lutheran Church of Australia |access-date=2021-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref>
On 5 October 2024, the General Synod voted to remove the clause banning ordination of women from their "Theses of Agreement", thus opening the possibility of women's ordination.<ref
===Church and state===
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