Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 320

2026 Convention Workbook
285NATIONAL WITNESS
Whereas, Many Synod schools currently lack trained, armed 
security personnel and thereby remain vulnerable to attack; and 
Whereas, It is the responsibility of the Synod, in Christian love, 
to safeguard the lives of those entrusted to our care in our 
educational institutions; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the Board of 
Directors and those working in LCMS School Ministry, in 
consultation with Concordia Plan Services and legal experts, to 
establish a synodwide standard encouraging all Synod educational 
institutions to provide trained, armed security personnel during 
school hours and at major school events; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod encourage and assist congregations, 
schools, and districts with securing the funding and the training 
necessary to implement such armed security, recognizing the 
diversity of school sizes and settings; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod commend congregations and schools 
that have already taken measures to ensure armed protection of 
students and staff; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for those who serve 
as law enforcement officers, security personnel, and guardians of 
the innocent, and implore the Lord’s continued protection over our 
schools, children, and teachers. 
Circuit 6 (Merrill) 
North Wisconsin District 
Ov. 1-15 
To Appeal to Lutheran Schools  
to Use Only Biblically Sound Curricula and Books 
WHEREAS, When the disciples asked Jesus Christ, “Who is the 
greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matt. 18:1), He called a little 
child to Him and said, 
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, 
it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his 
neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the 
world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to 
that man by whom the offense comes! (Matt. 18:6–7 NKJV) 
and Luke records the same warning from Jesus in Luke 17:1–2; and 
W
HEREAS, Luther’s Small Catechism (SC) is a tool for teaching 
the Bible to children to make us “wise unto salvation through faith 
which is in Christ Jesus,” (SC Preface 6) and to train us in holy 
living: 
From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are 
able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in 
Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is 
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction 
in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, 
thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:15– 17 
NKJV) 
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he 
will not depart from it. (Prov. 22:6 NKJV) 
and 
W
HEREAS, The 1973 Synod convention adopted Resolution 2-
04, “To Declare Homophile Behavior Sinful” ( Proceedings, 110), 
recognizing homophile behavior as intrinsically sinful, and the 
Synod adopted 2004 Res. 3-05A, “To Affirm Marriage as Union of 
One Man and One Woman,” acknowledging that “Homosexual 
behavior is prohibited in the Old and New Testaments … as 
contrary to the Creator’s design” ( Proc., 130), and the Synod 
adopted 2019 Res. 11- 03A, “To Encourage Synod to Develop 
Resources to Aid Congregations and School s regarding Sexual 
Orientation and Gender Identity Issues,” affirming that “All sexual 
corruption and confusion result from humanity’s fall into sin and 
often lead to rebellious and sinful acts against God’s will (James 
1:14–15)” and “Gender is now considered by many in our culture 
as a social construct rather than a physical reality created by God” 
(Proc., 215–16); and 
WHEREAS, Article II of Synod’s Constitution confesses, “The 
Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written Word 
of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice” and “All 
the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true 
and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God, to 
wit: the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene 
Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, 
the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the 
Large Catechism of Luther, the Small Catechism of Luther, and the 
Formula of Concord”; and 
W
HEREAS, Events in 2025 have demonstrated that some 
administrators, school boards, advisors, teachers, pastors, and 
district presidents overseeing parochial schools of the Synod may 
be confused about relations between men and women, equality 
among God’s people, non -Christian religions, and harmful 
philosophies; therefore be it 
Resolved, That all daycares, parochial schools, and high schools 
of the Synod use only the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions, 
particularly Luther’s Small Catechism and Luther’s Large 
Catechism, when teaching about relations between males and 
females and God’s design for males and females; that progressive 
social movements that have arisen during the past few years should 
not be taught or advocated in Synod schools; that there should not 
be any books in schools of the Synod promoting any of these 
deviant mo vements; and that particularly harmful philosophies 
include but are not limited to the following: 
• “Wokeism”— A worldview that America’s institutions and 
traditional moral and social values marginalize and oppress 
minorities who oppose or live contrary to them (Adam S. 
Francisco, “Awake or Woke,” The Lutheran Witness , May 
11, 2023; witness.lcms.org/2023/awake-or-woke). 
• Critical Race Theory (CRT) — An academic and 
philosophical discipline that desires to fundamentally alter 
the control of power between majority and minority groups 
(Lucas V. Woodford, “Responding to Social Justice & 
Critical Race Theory,” Seelsorger, Vol. 6 (2021): 12, 17, 24–
26; doxology.us/wp-
content/uploads/2021/05/dox_2021_woodford_crt_final2.p
df). CRT holds to the view that white people must admit their 
social privilege, their fragility in discussing issues of race, 
and that the United States of America itself was created by 
white supremacists who were intent on upholding white 
supremacy. CRT must be rejected because it subverts 
biblical views of justice by considering whole systems 
(including the nation, churches, and schools) to be racist 
(i.e., sinful) and in need of dismantling (See also Woodford 
at 15–16; Micah 6:8; Gal 2:20; 3:26–28). 
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) — While in the 
common biblical sense, the church includes diverse peoples 
and talents (1 Cor. 12:12–
14; Rev. 7:9), modern emphases