To Address Release and Use of Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications

Official Workbook overture source text

5-40 
To Address Release and Use of Luther’s Large 
Catechism with Annotations  
and Contemporary Applications 
WHEREAS, 2013 Resolution 3-13A, “To Update the Synod’s 
Catechetical Materials,” asked the Commission on Theology and 
Church Relations (CTCR), in collaboration with the Office of the 
President and Concordia Publishing House (CPH), to produce a 
catechetical compendium that would be “more comprehensive and 
apologetic in scope”; and 
WHEREAS, 2016 Res. 5 -12, “To Commend and Encourage Use 
of Luther’s Catechisms,” requested that the CTCR, in collaboration 
with the O ffice of the President and the faculties of Concordia 
Seminary and Concordia Theological Seminary , “explore the 
creation of an annotated and expanded edition of the Large 
Catechism for widespread use and study in the church”; and 
W
HEREAS, The volume underwent review by the CTCR and was 
certified by the Synod doctrinal review process; and 
WHEREAS, The text of the Large Catechism to which we 
subscribe remains entirely unchanged in this volume while the 
essays attempt to engage contemporary questions concerning 
challenging and complex issues; and 
WHEREAS, This volume is a significant and important project for 
one of the treasures of the Church and those who worked with 
faithfulness to produce it are to be commended; and 
W
HEREAS, President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, the author  
of the foreword to this volume, acknowledged in writing on 
February 2, 2023, that portions of the publication, which has caused 
controversy due to some of its authorship and content, “might have 
been expressed more clearly” (Matthew Harrison, “Update from 
President Harrison on Large Catechism,” Reporter Online, Feb. 2, 
2023, reporter.lcms.org/2023/update-from-president-harrison-on-
large-catechism); and 
WHEREAS, On February 25, 2023, President Harrison spoke at a 
circuit forum in Hamel, Ill., to the volume’s address of pedophilia 
and hidden sins of the flesh through the lens of Matthew 7:3–5 (John 
T. Pless and Larry M. Vogel, eds., Luther’s Large Catechism with 
Annotations and Contemporary Applications  [Concordia 
Publishing House, 202 2], 242) required a careful reading , which 
was “unclear” and “could have been worded better,” and then went 
on to say “there were numerous ones of those cases”; and 
W
HEREAS, Currently active theologians from heterodox church 
bodies who have not unconditionally subscribed to the Lutheran 
Confessions contributed to the volume; and 
WHEREAS, Bringing clarity to this matter will do much for the 
sake of unity amid significant discord surrounding this volume; 
therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention be memorialized to 
instruct CPH to cease distribution of the volume Luther ’s Large 
Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications ; and 
be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct CPH to divide 
Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary 
Applications into two volumes: the first volume to contain Luther’s 
Large Catechism with Annotations  and the second volume to 
contain the Essays on Contemporary Applications ; and to include 
with the second volume a statement to indicate the Synod or church 
body affiliation of each author and that not all authors are in 
doctrinal agreement with The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod; 
and be it finally 
Resolved, That pastors be encouraged to use the first volume 
containing Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations  for study 
and discussion; and pastors be encouraged to use the second volume 
containing Essays on Contemporary Applications as they see fit for 
study and discussion. 
North Dakota District 
Ov.