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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 324

2026 Convention Workbook
289NATIONAL WITNESS
Ov. 1-22 
To Affirm Atlantic District Commitment  
to Education and Formation 
WHEREAS, The 2022 Atlantic District convention passed 
Resolution 2022 -01-03, “To Explore Future Lutheran Higher 
Education Opportunities in the East Coast Region” (2022 Atlantic 
District Proc., 11, ad-lcms.org/now/district-
events/convention/convention-61); and 
WHEREAS, The  2022 district convention passed a resolution 
(2022-01-09, “Encouraging the Use of the Ancient Catechumenate 
Model”) to affirm the ancient catechumenate; and 
WHEREAS, In 2024, an education committee was formed by the 
district board of directors to consider current and future 
opportunities for Lutheran education and formation; and 
WHEREAS, The district has committed resources specifically to 
the mission and ministries of Martin Luther School in Queens and 
Our Saviour Lutheran School in The Bronx, among other schools; 
and 
WHEREAS, The district has a tradition of forming solid 
theological minds grounded in the evangelical, catholic, and 
reforming tradition of the Augsburg Confession in its congregations 
and schools; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the district in convention affirm the ongoing 
work of its education committee; and be it further 
Resolved, That the district in convention encourage her 
congregations to recommit themselves to the tradition of raising up 
and forming solid theological minds grounded in the evangelical, 
catholic, and reforming tradition of the Augsburg Confession; and 
be it finally 
Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize this 
resolution to the 2026 Synod convention. 
Atlantic District 
Ov. 1-23 
To Affirm and Encourage Parents  
as Primary Teachers of the Faith 
WHEREAS, In the Scriptures, we read: “Fathers, do not provoke 
your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and 
instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4); and 
W
HEREAS, Luther writes in the Small Catechism, “Fathers, do 
not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the 
discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4)” (SC Table of 
Duties, For Parents); and 
WHEREAS, Luther, in his Large Catechism explanation to the 
Fourth Commandment states, “But [parents] should consider that 
they are obligated to obey God. First of all, they should seriously 
and faithfully fulfill their office, not only to support and provide for 
the bodily necessities of their children, … but, most of all, they 
should train them to honor and praise God [Proverbs 22:6]” (LC I 
168–69); and 
W
HEREAS, Luther further declares, “let everyone know that it is 
his duty, on peril of losing the divine favor, to bring up his children 
in the fear and knowledge of God above all things [Proverbs 1:7]” 
(LC I 174); and 
WHEREAS, Parents are, therefore, entrusted with the ultimate 
responsibility of teaching the faith and catechizing their children ; 
and 
WHEREAS, Contrary to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, 
parents may neglect their role as the primary teacher of the faith in 
the lives of their children or be given the impression that faith 
formation in their children is a primary work of the pastor, teacher, 
or other called minister of the congregation, rather than the father 
and mother; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention clearly and 
unequivocally reassert and affirm the scriptural truth that God has 
given to parents to be the primary teachers of the faith in their 
children; and be it further 
Resolved, That parents within the church be regularly 
encouraged to undertake and fulfill the duty God has given them to 
bring up their children in the fear and knowledge of God; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That the pastors, teachers, and other commissioned 
ministers of the church be encouraged to affirm parents in their 
God-given duty and to support, equip, and encourage them, through 
prayer and other means, to fulfill the duty God has given them; and 
be it finally 
Resolved, That the Synod use its resources and influence to 
encourage parents in their God- given role as the primary teachers 
of the faith for their children. 
St. John 
Seward, NE 
Ov. 1-24 
To State Religious Objection to Government 
Interference with Parents’ Duty 
WHEREAS, The Small Catechism confesses that God has created 
and given to each person “my body” (SC II, Second Article); and 
WHEREAS, The body of the baptized is the temple of the Holy 
Spirit and belongs not to government or its institutions (such as 
schools [public or private]), but to God (1 Cor. 6:19); and 
WHEREAS, The Fourth Commandment, as explained in the Large 
Catechism, places all authority over a child on the parents of that 
child, so that we confess, “For all authority flows and is born from 
the authority of parents. Where a father is unable alone to educate  
his … child, he uses a schoolmaster to teach the child . 
… So all 
whom we call ‘masters’ are in a place of parents and must get their 
power and authority to govern from them” (LC I  [Fourth 
Commandment] 141–142); and 
W
HEREAS, The Scriptures and the Catechism do not limit 
parental authority to a particular age, but state that God has given 
authority to parents over all children who live under their roof; and 
WHEREAS, The doctrine of the two kingdoms affirms 
prescriptively that while the government bears the sword for civil 
order (Rom. 13:4), it allows the kingdom of the left no jurisdiction 
relative to the responsibilities God has given to parents in the 
spiritual and moral upbringing of their children; and 
WHEREAS, Government in our society— at federal, state, and 
local levels—has attempted or may attempt to step between children 
and their parents (impeding the parents' duty to raise their children 
in the faith and life of the Christian confession) in various ways, 
including but not limited to: