Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 366

2026 Convention Workbook
331LIFE TOGETHER
confessors in every age, thereby strengthening the unity of the 
Church across time; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention acknowledge Charlie 
Kirk as a modern Christian witness whose death on Sept. 10, 2025, 
serves as a testimony to the enduring power of the Gospel; and be 
it further 
Resolved, That LCMS Worship establish Sept. 10 as a Day of 
Prayer for Faithful Witnesses in Our Time, with reference to Charlie 
Kirk as one such example, providing resources for congregations 
including suggested readings (e.g., Acts 7:54 –60 on
 Stephen’s 
martyrdom) and hymns (e.g., “A Mighty Fortress”), that the Church 
may be strengthened in boldness and consolation; and be it further 
Resolved, That Synod districts and congregations be encouraged 
to observe this day annually with prayers for the persecuted Church, 
sermons on faithful suffering, and educational materials drawing 
from the Confessions to explain martyrdom and faithful witness as 
an example of God’s grace, not human achievement; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That this commemoration remind the Synod of our 
baptismal calling to bear the cross, imitating the saints in faith while 
relying solely on Christ’s merits for salvation (Ap IV); and be it 
finally 
Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its rejection of violence and 
incendiary rhetoric within our churches, schools, and 
communications. 
Circuit 12 (Western Michigan) 
English District 
Ov. 4-54 
To Recognize Charles James Kirk  
as Christian Martyr 
Preamble 
Charles (Charlie) James Kirk was publicly murdered on Sept. 10, 
2025, moments after giving a defense for the historical resurrection 
of Jesus Christ and confessing the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Charlie Kirk, one of the most outspoken Christians of  his 
generation, encouraged young people to go to a Bible -believing 
church and frequently gave a defense for the reason for the hope 
that was in him with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15b). Many 
young people were led to go to church and confess their C hristian 
faith on account of Charlie Kirk’s confession. 
W
HEREAS, Charlie Kirk frequently and vocally confessed his 
Christian faith around the country, through public events, podcasts, 
and interviews; and 
W
HEREAS, Charlie Kirk went to college campuses where so 
many young people abandon the Christian faith and encouraged 
them to go to a Bible-believing church; and 
W
HEREAS, Charlie Kirk encouraged young people to lead a 
chaste and decent life (SC I, Sixth Commandment), to get married 
and have children according to God’s holy will (Gen. 1:28; 2:24; 
9:1; Psalm 127:3; Matt. 19:5; Eph. 5:31), and to raise children to be 
Christians (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:1–4); and 
W
HEREAS, Charlie Kirk, in faithfulness to God’s Word , spoke 
truthfully in defense of the unborn against the murder of abortion, 
against transgender ideology as an affront to God’s Word and Truth, 
and defended biblical marriage as the lifelong union between one 
man and one woman; and 
WHEREAS, Charlie Kirk set a Christian example of defending the 
reason for the hope that is in him with gentleness and respect, 
confessing Jesus as our risen Lord who grants salvation to all who 
believe in Him (1 Peter 3:15b); and 
WHEREAS, Charlie Kirk was murdered publicly before the world 
because of his Christian witness; and 
WHEREAS, The murder of Charlie Kirk resulted in his defense of 
the Christian faith being shared in numerous videos across the 
internet, resulting in many being encouraged to seek out a Bible -
believing church; and 
WHEREAS, Charlie Kirk’s widow, in her Sept. 12, 2025, address 
to the nation, used her platform to confess Jesus Christ as the Savior 
of sinners and urged everyone who was moved by Charlie’s death 
to join a Bible-believing church; and 
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is a 
Bible-believing church body; and 
WHEREAS, The LCMS receives and embraces “the prophetic and 
apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments  as the pure, 
clear fountain of Israel,” which is “the only true standard or norm 
by which all teachers and doctrines are to be judged” (FC SD, 
Comprehensive Summary, 3); and 
WHEREAS, A Christian martyr is a Christian who bears witness 
for Christ through his confession and life and dies on account of that 
witness; and 
W
HEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church acknowledges 
Christian martyrs who were murdered for their confession of Christ; 
therefore be it 
Resolved, 
That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for 
Charlie Kirk’s public confession of Christ Jesus as the only Savior 
of sinners; and be it further 
Resolved, 
That the Synod recognize Charles James Kirk as a 
Christian martyr. 
Circuit 1 (Metro-South Shore), South Wisconsin District; Circuit 
18 (Montevideo), Minnesota North District; Circuit 8 (Hastings), 
Nebraska District; Circuit 8 (Mount Pleasant), Iowa East District 
Ov. 4-55 
To Commend Confession That Charles James Kirk 
Died a Christian Martyr 
Preamble 
Charles (Charlie) James Kirk was publicly murdered on Sept . 10, 
2025, moments after giving a defense for the historical resurrection 
of Jesus Christ and confessing the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Charlie Kirk, one of the most outspoken Christians of his 
generation, encouraged young people to go to a Bible -believing 
church and frequently gave a defense for the reason for the hope 
that was in him with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15b) . Many 
young people were led to go to church and confess their C hristian 
faith on account of Charlie Kirk’s confession. 
WHEREAS, Charlie Kirk frequently and vocally confessed his 
Christian faith around the country, through public events, podcasts, 
and interviews; and 
WHEREAS, Charlie Kirk went to college campuses where so 
many young people abandon the Christian faith and encouraged 
them to go to a Bible-believing church; and