Official Workbook overture source text
Overture: 4-50
Workbook page: 328-329
Source pages: 328, 329
Source status: source checked / public
Submitter: Montana District
Ov. 4-50
To Encourage Production of Sunday School Material for Very Small Congregations
WHEREAS, The Holy Scriptures command the Church to teach all nations, baptizing and instructing them in all that Christ has commanded (Matt. 28:19–20), and to train up children in the way they should go (Prov. 22:6); and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions, particularly the Small Catechism, affirm the duty of parents and the Church to catechize children in the Christian faith (SC Preface; LC Shorter Preface); and
WHEREAS, Very small congregations in the Synod, often with limited resources and including several age groups in one class, face challenges in providing consistent, high- quality Sunday s chool instruction; and
WHEREAS, A Lutheran, lectionary -based Sunday s chool curriculum, designed for flexibility and ease of use, would support small congregations in faithfully teaching the Word of God to children; and
WHEREAS, The Synod has a history of providing educational resources to support congregations in their catechetical responsibilities, as seen in the work of Concordia Publishing House (CPH) and the Synod’s Office of National Mission (ONM);
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Montana District memorializes the Synod in convention to direct the appropriate entities, such as the ONM or CPH, to produce a digital, Lutheran, lectionary-based Sunday school curriculum that can be easily applied to very small congregations; and be it further
Resolved, That this curriculum be designed to be doctrinally sound, rooted in the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, structured for flexibility to accommodate the very limited resources and the occasional attendees; and be it further
Resolved, That the curriculum include practical materials, such as lesson plans, activities, and resources that can be easily implemented by lay leaders or pastors of small congregations; and be it further
Resolved, That the curriculum be a cost-effective option for very small congregations; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS encourage its congregations to support and pray for this effort, that all children in the LCMS may grow in the knowledge and love of Christ through faithful catechesis (Eph.
4:12–13).
Montana District
