Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 1. pp. 58-59. Original floor committee resolution.
No later published versions have been added.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 1-02
Canonical number: 1-02
Committee: National Witness
Source: Today's Business, Issue 1
Printed pages: pp. 58-59
PDF pages: 58-59
Version: original, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 1, pp. 58-59
Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 1, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.
Page 58
- To Proclaim 2029 the 500th Year of Luther’s Catechisms
- RESOLUTION 1-02
- Reports R1, R1.1, R1.2.2, R33, R35, R58 (CW, 1–15, 19–28, 117, 119–20, 141–43); Overtures 1-22–23, 29–30 (CW,
- 289, 291–92)
- WHEREAS, The year 2029 marks the 500th anniversary of the publication of Martin Luther’s Small and Large
- Catechisms; and
- WHEREAS, Luther’s catechisms remain among the most significant and enduring treasures of the Evangelical Lutheran
- Church, faithfully summarizing and teaching the doctrine of Holy Scripture for Christians of every age; and
- WHEREAS, Luther’s catechisms have served for five centuries as foundational resources for evangelism, discipleship,
- Christian vocation, prayer, mercy, and instruction in the Christian faith; and
- WHEREAS, The Small Catechism continues to serve as a valuable resource for pastors, congregations, schools, and
- heads of households in teaching the faith to children and adults; and
- WHEREAS, Concordia Publishing House (CPH) has already made Luther’s Small Catechism available through digital
- resources, including the online catechism platform at catechism.cph.org (funded through the offering from the 2023 Synod
- convention), translations in multiple languages, and a mobile application available through major digital platforms, thereby
- extending access to Luther’s catechisms for individuals, families, congregations, and mission settings throughout the
- world; and
- WHEREAS, The 500th anniversary of Luther’s catechisms provides a unique opportunity for renewed emphasis upon
- catechesis throughout the Synod in a manner consistent with the spirit of the ancient catechumenate and the Church’s
- historic commitment to forming disciples through the teaching of God’s Word and the Christian faith and doctrine within
- congregations, schools, seminaries, universities, and homes; therefore be it
- Resolved, That the Synod in convention proclaim 2029 the 500th Anniversary Year of Luther’s Small and Large
- Catechisms; and be it further
- Resolved, That the President of the Synod be encouraged to establish a Catechism500 initiative and invite CPH, the
- seminaries, the universities, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Lutheran Heritage Foundation, LCMS Communications, the Office
- of National Mission, the Office of International Mission, districts, congregations, schools, and other appropriate entities
- to participate in planning and promoting a coordinated synodwide observance of this anniversary; and be it further
Page 59
- Resolved, That the Catechism500 initiative be encouraged to promote renewed catechesis throughout the Synod and
- develop resources and opportunities that highlight the enduring value of Luther’s catechisms for the Church’s mission of
- making disciples; and be it further
- Resolved, That congregations, schools, districts, campus ministries, recognized service organizations, and other
- entities of the Synod be encouraged to celebrate this anniversary and participate in Catechism500 activities and initiatives;
- and be it finally
- Resolved, That the Synod in convention rise and sing “Lord, Help Us Ever to Retain” (LSB 865) in thanksgiving to
- God for the gift of Luther’s catechisms and in prayer that He would use them to strengthen the faith of future generations:
- Lord, help us ever to retain
- The Catechism’s doctrine plain
- As Luther taught the Word of truth
- In simple style to tender youth.
- Help us Your holy Law to learn,
- To mourn our sin and from it turn
- In faith to You and to Your Son
- And Holy Spirit, Three in One.
- Hear us, dear Father, when we pray
- For needed help from day to day
- That as Your children we may live,
- Whom You baptized and so received.
- Lord, when we fall or go astray,
- Absolve and lift us up, we pray;
- And through the Sacrament increase
- Our faith till we depart in peace.
- The Chief Financial Officer and LCMS Accounting and Financial Services staff, in consultation with the Finance
- Committee, anticipate the cost to corporate Synod to be $750,000 for the development of resources and promotional
- materials, gatherings, surveys, and generation of programmatic materials and events in conjunction with this initiative.
- It is anticipated that much of this program will be funded through gifts restricted for this purpose (estimate required by
- Bylaw 3.1.7 [g]).
