To Study, and To Make Recommendations to Stop and Reverse, Long Decline in Synod Membership

Official Workbook overture source text

1-07 
To Study, and To Make Recommendations to Stop 
and Reverse, Long Decline in Synod Membership 
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod, founded in 
1847, has historically been one of the largest Lutheran bodies in the 
United States; and 
WHEREAS, The Synod has always placed a strong emphasis on 
confessional fidelity, education, and mission work; and 
WHEREAS, The Synod has experienced periods of remarkable 
growth, especially after World War II, leading to a peak in 
membership in the latter half of 20th century; and 
W
HEREAS, In 1980, the Synod reported 2,719,319 baptized 
members; 6,048 congregations; 1,453 elementary schools; 59 high 
schools; 11 colleges in the United States; and three seminaries (one 
in Canada); and 
WHEREAS, In 2024, the Synod reported 1,635,076 baptized 
members; 5,794 congregations; 660 elementary schools; and 114 
high schools; 5 colleges; and two seminaries; and 
W
HEREAS, This decline reflects the aging of our membership, 
lower birth rates, fewer young families joining our congregations, 
rural depopulation, and the increasing secularization of our culture; 
and 
WHEREAS, The faithfulness of the Synod to Holy Scripture, the 
Lutheran Confessions, the proper distinction between Law and 
Gospel, and the Great Commission, along with our traditional forms 
of worship, are still our greatest strengths and the means through 
which the Holy Spirit grows Christ’s Church; therefore be it 
Resolved, That a synodwide conversation be encouraged to take 
place over the next triennium involving all our congregations, 
circuit forums, districts, schools, colleges, seminaries, and all other 
agencies of our church regarding this long trending decline, how to 
slow it, and ultimately reverse it; and be it further 
Resolved, That  this synodwide conversation include wherever 
possible essayists, trained speakers and facilitators with knowledge 
of the subject, panel discussions, informative videos, and printed 
material; and be it further 
Resolved, That appropriate agencies of the Synod, such as our 
seminaries and/or the Board for  National Mission along with 
Concordia Publishing House , prepare conversation and study 
materials to facilitate this synodwide conversation, as well as 
develop formats by which results and recommendations of these 
conversations can be submitted to the appropriate agencies for 
compilation, editing, summarization, recommendations, proposals, 
and synodwide publication before the 2029 Synod convention; and 
be it finally 
Resolved, That every baptized member of our congregations be 
encouraged to continue steadfastly in prayer for the success of the 
Gospel and the prospering of the Synod, that the decline would be 
stopped, and that a great harvest of souls would be brought in and 
continue to be added to the church to the end that “at the name of 
Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the 
earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the 
glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10–11). 
Christ the King 
Los Lunas, NM 
Ov.