Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 356

2026 Convention Workbook
321LIFE TOGETHER
Resolved, That the Synod direct the ONM and OIM to not grant 
or renew RSO status to any organization supporting, uplifting, 
celebrating, or otherwise promoting LGBTQIA+ groups, agendas, 
thoughts, ideas, ideals, etc., including organizations seeking RSO 
status that are partnered with an organization supporting, uplifting, 
celebrating, or otherwise promoting LGBTQIA+ groups, agendas, 
thoughts, ideas, ideals, etc.; and be it further 
Resolved, That Bylaw 6.2.3 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
6.2.3 Program administration shall be carried out by the Offices 
of National and International Mission according to these bylaws, and 
according to policies and criteria developed by the Synod Board of 
Directors, mission boards, and mission offices. 
(a) The Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church —Missouri 
Synod shall adopt common policies and criteria for granting of 
recognized service organization status by Synod’s mission 
offices, such polices relating to expectations for the corporate 
structure and g overnance of the organizations, statements 
regarding their legal and corporate independence from the Synod, 
and the necessary relation of their work to the mission and 
ministry of the Synod as generally expressed in its Constitution 
and Bylaws. These policies shall include an agreement with the 
recognized service organization stating that they adopt and will 
uphold the biblical definition of manhood, womanhood, and 
marriage, as adopted by the Synod and that they will not endorse, 
support the work of, nor enter into partnerships with other 
organizations who either undermine or do not uphold the same.  
The Board of Directors shall approve the standard form of 
agreement to be entered into by the Synod and each recognized 
service organization. 
… 
and be it finally 
Resolved, That Bylaw 6.2.4 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
6.2.4 Subject to policies adopted by the Synod’s Board of 
Directors and the respective mission board, recognized service 
organization status may be granted and revoked by the Office of 
National Mission or the Office of International Mission to a service 
organization (other than an auxiliary) that extends the mission and 
ministry of the Synod but is not part of the Synod as defined by its 
Constitution and Bylaws. 
(a) Applications for recognized service organization status shall 
be made to the Office of the Secretary of the Synod, which will 
facilitate the application as follows: 
… 
(4) To be decline d are all  applications for RSO status from 
organizations currently supporting, uplifting, celebrating, or 
otherwise promoting groups, agendas, thoughts, ideas, ideals, 
etc., contrary to God’s design for man and woman as well as 
applications from organizations seeking RSO status that are 
partnered with the same. 
(b) Within the area of its responsibility and in accordance with 
policies and criteria developed by the Synod Board of Directors, 
the respective mission board and office, each mission office shall 
determine to which organizations recognized service 
organization status will be granted and revoked. 
… 
Mid-South District 
Ov. 4-35 
To Request Action and Closer Examination of 
Recognized Service Organization Status  
regarding Matters of Human Sexuality,  
and To Amend Bylaws 6.2.3–4 
WHEREAS, Since before the fall into sin, God created human 
beings male and female (Gen. 1:27); and 
WHEREAS, Since before the fall into sin, God gave man and 
woman to be husband and wife (Gen. 2:24); and 
WHEREAS, After the fall into sin, God reiterates that he still gives 
man and woman to be husband and wife in marriage (Mat t. 19:5; 
Mark 10:7; Eph. 5:31); and 
WHEREAS, Sin is anything that goes contrary to God’s purpose 
and design (1 John 5:17); and 
WHEREAS, Our country has adopted policies and practices that 
uphold, promote, and uplift LGBTQIA+ positions on gender, 
sexuality, and marriage that are contrary to God’s design and are 
therefore sinful according to God’s Word (e.g. ruling that marriage 
is no long er exclusively the lifelong union of one man and one 
woman); and 
WHEREAS, The LGBTQIA+ community is supported, uplifted, 
and celebrated at many times and places (e.g. Pride month, Pride 
parades, etc.); and 
WHEREAS, The Christian is called to not follow in the deeds of 
darkness, but rather, is to lead a holy and God-pleasing life (Eph . 
5:11; 1 Peter 2:9); and 
WHEREAS, Such a God-pleasing life does not seek to remain in 
sin nor to celebrate it, but repents of it, receives forgiveness for it, 
and strives to sin no more (Rom. 6:1–2; Psalm 32:5; John 8:11); and 
WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations 
(CTCR) published a report on marriage and sexuality entitled, A 
Chaste and Decent Life: An Update to Human Sexuality 1981 , 
which concludes that, “attitudes towards gender identity and 
dysphoria, homosexuality and homosexual marriage, and societal 
pressures regarding sexuality, among others, have changed 
markedly in the last four decades,” yet still maintaining that “God’s 
intention for human sexuality does not change” ( LCMS CTCR, 
[adopted 2022], 37); and 
WHEREAS, The Synod has upheld and reaffirmed such positions 
regarding marriage and s exuality, as recently as the 2023 Synod 
convention (Resolution 5- 11, “To Reaffirm Synod’s Biblical 
Positions on Marriage and Sexuality”); and 
WHEREAS, The granting of recognized service organization 
(RSO) status by the Synod “signifies that a service organization, 
while independent of the Synod, fosters the mission and ministry of 
the church, engages in program activity that extends the mission and 
ministry of the Synod
, is in harmony with the programs of the 
Synod, and respects and does not act contrary to the doctrine and 
practice of the Synod” (Bylaw 6.2.1); and 
WHEREAS, Many resources from the Synod and its partners 
(Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Concordia Plan  Services, etc.) 
are made available to the RSOs of the Synod to support their work; 
and 
WHEREAS, The Office of the Secretary of the Synod is tasked 
with receiving and facilitating applications for RSO status (Bylaw 
6.2.4 [a]); and