To Request Action and Closer Examination of Recognized Service Organization Status regarding Matters of Human Sexuality, and To Amend Bylaws 6.2.3–4

Official Workbook overture source text

4-35 
To Request Action and Closer Examination of 
Recognized Service Organization Status  
regarding Matters of Human Sexuality,  
and To Amend Bylaws 6.2.3–4 
WHEREAS, Since before the fall into sin, God created human 
beings male and female (Gen. 1:27); and 
WHEREAS, Since before the fall into sin, God gave man and 
woman to be husband and wife (Gen. 2:24); and 
WHEREAS, After the fall into sin, God reiterates that he still gives 
man and woman to be husband and wife in marriage (Mat t. 19:5; 
Mark 10:7; Eph. 5:31); and 
WHEREAS, Sin is anything that goes contrary to God’s purpose 
and design (1 John 5:17); and 
WHEREAS, Our country has adopted policies and practices that 
uphold, promote, and uplift LGBTQIA+ positions on gender, 
sexuality, and marriage that are contrary to God’s design and are 
therefore sinful according to God’s Word (e.g. ruling that marriage 
is no long er exclusively the lifelong union of one man and one 
woman); and 
WHEREAS, The LGBTQIA+ community is supported, uplifted, 
and celebrated at many times and places (e.g. Pride month, Pride 
parades, etc.); and 
WHEREAS, The Christian is called to not follow in the deeds of 
darkness, but rather, is to lead a holy and God-pleasing life (Eph . 
5:11; 1 Peter 2:9); and 
WHEREAS, Such a God-pleasing life does not seek to remain in 
sin nor to celebrate it, but repents of it, receives forgiveness for it, 
and strives to sin no more (Rom. 6:1–2; Psalm 32:5; John 8:11); and 
WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations 
(CTCR) published a report on marriage and sexuality entitled, A 
Chaste and Decent Life: An Update to Human Sexuality 1981 , 
which concludes that, “attitudes towards gender identity and 
dysphoria, homosexuality and homosexual marriage, and societal 
pressures regarding sexuality, among others, have changed 
markedly in the last four decades,” yet still maintaining that “God’s 
intention for human sexuality does not change” ( LCMS CTCR, 
[adopted 2022], 37); and 
WHEREAS, The Synod has upheld and reaffirmed such positions 
regarding marriage and s exuality, as recently as the 2023 Synod 
convention (Resolution 5- 11, “To Reaffirm Synod’s Biblical 
Positions on Marriage and Sexuality”); and 
WHEREAS, The granting of recognized service organization 
(RSO) status by the Synod “signifies that a service organization, 
while independent of the Synod, fosters the mission and ministry of 
the church, engages in program activity that extends the mission and 
ministry of the Synod
, is in harmony with the programs of the 
Synod, and respects and does not act contrary to the doctrine and 
practice of the Synod” (Bylaw 6.2.1); and 
WHEREAS, Many resources from the Synod and its partners 
(Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Concordia Plan  Services, etc.) 
are made available to the RSOs of the Synod to support their work; 
and 
WHEREAS, The Office of the Secretary of the Synod is tasked 
with receiving and facilitating applications for RSO status (Bylaw 
6.2.4 [a]); and