To Affirm and Encourage Parents as Primary Teachers of the Faith

Official Workbook overture source text

1-23 
To Affirm and Encourage Parents  
as Primary Teachers of the Faith 
WHEREAS, In the Scriptures, we read: “Fathers, do not provoke 
your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and 
instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4); and 
W
HEREAS, Luther writes in the Small Catechism, “Fathers, do 
not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the 
discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4)” (SC Table of 
Duties, For Parents); and 
WHEREAS, Luther, in his Large Catechism explanation to the 
Fourth Commandment states, “But [parents] should consider that 
they are obligated to obey God. First of all, they should seriously 
and faithfully fulfill their office, not only to support and provide for 
the bodily necessities of their children, … but, most of all, they 
should train them to honor and praise God [Proverbs 22:6]” (LC I 
168–69); and 
W
HEREAS, Luther further declares, “let everyone know that it is 
his duty, on peril of losing the divine favor, to bring up his children 
in the fear and knowledge of God above all things [Proverbs 1:7]” 
(LC I 174); and 
WHEREAS, Parents are, therefore, entrusted with the ultimate 
responsibility of teaching the faith and catechizing their children ; 
and 
WHEREAS, Contrary to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, 
parents may neglect their role as the primary teacher of the faith in 
the lives of their children or be given the impression that faith 
formation in their children is a primary work of the pastor, teacher, 
or other called minister of the congregation, rather than the father 
and mother; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention clearly and 
unequivocally reassert and affirm the scriptural truth that God has 
given to parents to be the primary teachers of the faith in their 
children; and be it further 
Resolved, That parents within the church be regularly 
encouraged to undertake and fulfill the duty God has given them to 
bring up their children in the fear and knowledge of God; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That the pastors, teachers, and other commissioned 
ministers of the church be encouraged to affirm parents in their 
God-given duty and to support, equip, and encourage them, through 
prayer and other means, to fulfill the duty God has given them; and 
be it finally 
Resolved, That the Synod use its resources and influence to 
encourage parents in their God- given role as the primary teachers 
of the faith for their children. 
St. John 
Seward, NE 
Ov.