Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 177

2026 Convention Workbook
142 
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
In concluding its work and submitting its report to the conven-
tion, the task force wishes to recommend several courses of action 
to the Synod and its entities to further address pressing issues of 
sexual orientation and gender identity and to help the members of 
our congregations understand those issues, respond to them, and 
care for and protect those struggling with them.
•	 To continue and expand Created Male and Female re-
treats: Members of the task force organized and led two re-
treats at Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat Center for families af-
fected by these issues. It is the recommendation of the task 
force that the ONM continue these retreats, and, additional-
ly, seek to recruit and train potential facilitators (specifically 
those with counseling experience, theological competence, 
and pastoral sensitivity) so that such retreats might be expand-
ed in number and to different locations.
•	 To cultivate lists of recommended counselors in every 
district: District presidents advised the task force that more 
personnel was needed to care for those struggling with sexual 
orientation and gender identity confusion and temptations. A 
request for theologically trustworthy counselors was express-
ly stated. To that end, it is recommended that the Council of 
Presidents ask each district (possibly in conjunction with oth-
er contiguous districts) to develop lists of LCMS counselors, 
psychologists, and psychiatrists who specialize in this area 
and whose understanding of marriage and sexuality reflects 
biblical positions. Relatedly, the task force also encourag-
es member colleges of the Concordia University System to 
develop and promote counseling programs to help meet the 
growing demand for biblically competent, theologically trust-
worthy Lutheran counselors who specialize in sexual orienta-
tion and gender identity.
•	 To encourage synodwide conversation: The survey data ref-
erenced in this report conducted by LCMS Research Services 
shows remarkable unity on matters of sexual orientation and 
gender identity within the Synod. Those findings should re-
ceive more attention and foster discussion within the Synod, 
particularly related to matters of pastoral care. The task force 
encourages the districts and circuits of the Synod to study the 
findings in their conferences and meetings over the course of 
the next triennium. It encourages the use of the recommended 
resources available on the Created Male and Female website. 
It also encourages the Synod to make use of the resources 
commissioned below, upon completion and publication.
•	 To commission resources: The task force commends the 
website it has developed, which will include a list of rec-
ommended resources with annotations. More resources are 
needed, however. It is the task force’s opinion that those 
needs exist on multiple levels, and we recommend that the 
Synod commission or continue this work, which includes:
o
 Practical r
esources: In light of the survey data, the 
task force identified a need for practical resources 
to support church workers in their vocations. It is 
recommended that the ONM in collaboration with 
the Office of Pastoral Education develop published 
resources and continuing education offerings to aid 
church workers in responding to individual situations 
pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity, 
especially in pastoral care and student/parent rela-
tions. It is also recommended that the ONM in col-
laboration with the CTCR and LCMS Communica -
tions develop a lexicon that provides definitions for 
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 Cat-
echism).” The resolution finally asked the task force to report on its 
work and make further recommendations to the 2026 convention.
The 2023–26 task force returned all regular members from the 
previous triennium, including the Rev. Christopher Esget (LCMS 
Fifth Vice-President, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Va.); 
Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor (ONM); Dr. Mark Rockenbach (fac-
ulty member, Concordia Seminary); the Rev. Kevin Robson (St. 
Louis, Mo.); Rev. Dr. Gifford Grobien (faculty member, Concor -
dia Theological Seminary); the Rev. Kevin Karner (Immanuel Lu-
theran Church, Bristol, Conn.); the Rev. Jonathan Lange (St. Paul 
Lutheran Church, Kemmerer, Wyo., and Our Saviour Lutheran 
Church, Evanston, Wyo.); the Rev. Brian Barlow (Grace Lutheran 
Church, Banning, Calif.); and the Rev. Jared Melius (Mt. Zion Lu-
theran Church, Denver, Colo.). In addition, at the direction of 2023 
Res. 1-04A, it added the following representatives of other Synod 
entities: the Rev. Roy S. Askins (Managing Director of Editorial, 
LCMS Communications); the Rev. Dr. Jacob Corzine (Vice-Pres-
ident of Publishing, Concordia Publishing House); the Rev. Dr. 
Richard J. Serina Jr. (Associate Executive Director, Commission 
on Theology and Church Relations [CTCR]); and the Rev. Dr. Scott 
Stiegemeyer (Associate Professor of Theology, Concordia Univer-
sity Irvine). Pastor Esget served as chair, Dr. Serina served as vice-
chair, and Pastor Karner served as secretary.
The task force met four times during the triennium: June 13–14, 
2024; Aug. 21–22, 2024; Aug. 6–7, 2025; and Nov. 4–5, 2025. In 
order to accomplish its work more effectively, the members divided 
themselves into two separate working groups that also met virtually 
to complete various projects. To fulfill the mandate to conduct field 
research, a research-focused working group developed multiple 
digital surveys concerning attitudes toward sexual orientation and 
gender identity, which it shared with LCMS commissioned min-
isters and ordained ministers, as well as further qualitative study 
of select individuals and families. The nearly 1,500 respondents 
showed a remarkable unity of doctrine regarding human sexuality 
and gender identity issues. Furthermore, almost all survey respon-
dents knew personal acquaintances or households in the school or 
church either struggling with sexual identity issues or family mem-
bers struggling with them (see the attached appendix to this report 
for particular areas where church workers felt less than prepared 
to respond to such situations). To fulfill the mandate related to the 
production of resources, a content-focused working group assessed 
existing publications and digital materials, identified specific mate-
rials to commend to the Synod, and identified other materials that 
are still needed. It compiled a list of recommended resources with 
annotations for distribution by ONM. In addition to its task force–
specific work, individual members collaborated with the ONM for 
Created Male and Female programming and resource creation, 
helped lead multiple retreats for families affected personally by ho-
mosexuality and transgenderism, offered educational opportunities 
at the LCMS Youth Gathering, and recorded videos and podcasts to 
address related topics. The ONM now hosts a website that will in-
clude recommendations of literature, links to online resources, and 
other pertinent information (createdmaleandfemale.org).