Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 1. pp. 107-108. Original floor committee resolution.
No later published versions have been added.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 5-12
Canonical number: 5-12
Committee: Theology and Church Relations
Source: Today's Business, Issue 1
Printed pages: pp. 107-108
PDF pages: 107-108
Version: original, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 1, pp. 107-108
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 107
- To Conclude Created Male and Female Task Force and Receive Its Recommendations
- RESOLUTION 5-12
- Overtures 4-36, 5-41 (CW, 322–23, 360–61)
- WHEREAS, Holy Scripture teaches the following truths concerning humanity: God created humanity to be male and
- female (Gen. 1:27; Matt. 19:4); God instituted marriage between one man and one woman as a lifelong union for
- companionship and procreation (Gen. 1:28; 2:18–24); and God commands chastity for those who are married and those
- who are single (Ex. 20:14; Num. 5:11–31; Deut. 5:18; Matt. 5:27–30); and
- WHEREAS, Holy Scripture prohibits adultery, fornication, homosexuality, and other forms of sexual immorality as sin
- and as deviations from this created order (Ex. 20:15; Num. 5:11–31; Deut. 5:18; Rom. 1:18–32; 13:13; 1 Cor. 6:9–11);
- and
- WHEREAS, Cultural attitudes in recent decades have increasingly advocated for views of sexual orientation and gender
- identity that are at odds with Scriptural truth; and
- WHEREAS, In fulfillment of 2019 Resolution 11-03A, “To Encourage Synod to Develop Resources to Aid
- Congregations and Schools regarding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues,” the Office of National Mission
- (ONM) created the ad hoc “Created Male and Female Task Force” to aid in identifying and producing resources that might
- “confess the truth boldly and minister compassionately both to those who experience sexual orientation and gender identity
- issues and those who care for them” (Proc., 216); and
Page 108
- WHEREAS, 2023 Res. 1-04A, “To Continue to Address Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues,” continued the
- task force with mandates to consider conducting field research; to “recommend and advocate for strategies and structural
- approaches to serve the Church better and address the challenges posed by contemporary sexual ethics, recommend and
- coordinate implementation with Synod entities and organizations that will best deliver resources to the Church, and
- encourage congregations to raise awareness of media propaganda, cultural intimidation, and mounting pressures upon all
- people to affirm viewpoints contrary to clear teaching in Holy Scripture, responding to those influences by the study of
- Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions (particularly the Small Catechism)” (Proc., 118); and finally to report on its
- work and make further recommendations to the 2026 Synod convention; therefore be it
- Resolved, That the final report of the task force be commended to the Synod for consideration and guidance; and be
- it further
- Resolved, That the Synod in convention take up the recommendations proposed therein, including the following:
- • that the ONM continue facilitating retreats for families affected by sexual orientation and gender identity confusion
- in the coming triennium and begin to recruit and train potential facilitators so these retreats might be expanded
- nationally;
- • that the Council of Presidents (COP), in conjunction with the ONM, develop lists of theologically trustworthy
- counselors to whom they might refer those struggling with sexual orientation, gender identity, and related issues, as
- well as criteria for evaluating and recommending those counselors;
- • that the COP, in conjunction with the seminaries and administrators of the Concordia University System and its
- colleges, consult with one another regarding the development of counseling programs specifically designed to train
- counselors to deal theologically and ethically with such issues, as well as further training for clergy in addressing
- them at the congregational level;
- • that the ONM, in collaboration with the staff of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) and
- Concordia Publishing House, continue developing specific countercultural and apologetic resources critiquing
- LGBTQIA+ positions and continue promoting biblically faithful resources on these topics through the website
- hosted by the ONM (createdmaleandfemale.org); and
- • that the CTCR, in consultation with the ONM and the seminaries, consider if and how studies might be produced
- on the family as a unit and the foundation for a healthy society (man and woman, husband and wife, parents and
- children, procreation and chastity, vocation and the three estates), biblical anthropology, same-sex attraction, and
- gender dysphoria;
- and be it finally
- Resolved, That the Synod in convention receive the Created Male and Female Task Force report and these
- recommendations as a conclusion to its work, give thanks to the individual task force members for their labors, and pray
- that God might heal individuals, families, congregations, and communities from the ills and consequences of these sinful
- behaviors and ideas.
- The Chief Financial Officer and LCMS Accounting and Financial Services staff, in consultation with the Finance
- Committee, anticipate no significant incremental costs as resources commended are understood to be presently in
- existence (estimate required by Bylaw 3.1.7 [g]).
