Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 383

2026 Convention Workbook
348 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
WHEREAS, Christ sanctified and redeemed all human beings, 
including human embryos, in His incarnation and conception by the 
Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, His shed blood upon the cross, 
His resurrection, and His ascension to the right hand of the Father 
(Luke 1:35; Matt. 1:20–23); and 
WHEREAS, The tradition of the Christian Church, in accordance 
with the creation order revealed in Holy Scripture, has consistently 
upheld the sanctity of human life and the dignity of procreation as 
an act that belongs within the marital union between a man and a 
woman (Gen. 1:27–28; Heb. 13:4; Matt. 19:4–6); and 
W
HEREAS, The practice of  In vitro fertilization (IVF) involves 
the creation of human embryos outside the womb, which can result 
in the destruction or indefinite freezing of embryos, which 
contradicts the biblical teaching on the sanctity of human life; and 
WHEREAS, IVF can commodify human life by treating  embryos 
as objects to be purchased, stored, or discarded, instead of 
recognizing them as persons created in the image of God; and 
W
HEREAS, The desire for procreation of children is good, right, 
and godly in the context of marriage; and 
WHEREAS, The Synod recognizes the pain of childlessness and 
that some people, desiring to have children, may have used IVF 
without a full understanding of any potential theological 
implications; and 
WHEREAS, Every child, regardless of how he or she is conceived, 
is created by God the Father, redeemed by God the Son, and called 
by God the Holy Spirit to be in an eternal relationship with Him by 
faith; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod condemn the needless loss of life that 
can occur through the use of IVF; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod support married couples who have 
troubled consciences with respect to prior use of IVF, and 
encourage ministry to them and to all people such that they may 
receive the comfort of Christ and His redeeming love; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That all our congregations faithfully and 
compassionately speak to the God- given value and worth of all 
human beings; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod urge its members to uphold the biblical 
understanding of procreation as a sacred act within the marital 
union; and be it finally 
Resolved, That this matter be referred to the Commission on 
Theology and Church Relations in order to provide theological 
clarity. 
Ohio District 
Ov. 5-20 
To Oppose Practice of In Vitro Fertilization 
WHEREAS, God is the Creator of life and the Author of marriage 
and family, having instituted the procreative union of husband and 
wife in marriage as the proper context for the generation of children 
(Gen. 1:28; 2:24); and 
W
HEREAS, Holy Scripture teaches that children are a gift from 
the Lord and that He alone opens and closes the womb (Gen. 29:31; 
Psalm 127:3); and 
WHEREAS, The practice of in vitro fertilization (IVF) removes 
the procreation of children from the one-flesh union of husband and 
wife and subjects human life to technological manipulation, at times 
with commodification; and 
WHEREAS, IVF routinely results in the creation of multiple 
embryos, many of whom  are frozen  indefinitely, discarded, or 
subjected to destructive research, thereby violating the sanctity of  
human life created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27; Psalm 139:13–
16); and 
WHEREAS, The Sixth Commandment teaches that the gift of 
procreation belongs within the marital union, and reproductive 
technologies that bypass this union undermine God’s design for 
marriage and family (Ex. 20:14; Heb.13:4); and 
WHEREAS, The Synod, in its official doctrinal statements, affirms 
the sanctity of all human life from conception and opposes all 
practices that devalue or destroy that life; and 
WHEREAS, Compassion must be shown to couples struggling 
with infertility, offering them pastoral care, prayer, and ethical 
alternatives that uphold the dignity of life and the order of creation; 
therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod 
affirm that all children, regardless of 
the circumstances of their conception, are gifts of God and bearers 
of His image, fully deserving of love, care, and dignity; 
and be it 
further 
Resolved, That the Synod oppose the practice of IVF on biblical 
and theological grounds, especially insofar as it leads to the 
destruction, freezing, or instrumentalization of human embryos; and 
be it further 
Resolved, That pastors and congregations be encouraged to teach 
and counsel the faithful concerning God’s design for marriage and 
procreation, including the moral and theological problems 
surrounding IVF; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the  Synod promote and support pastoral care, 
ethical medical consultation, and adoption as loving alternatives for 
couples suffering infertility, in accordance with our confession of 
faith and biblical witness. 
Circuit 25 (Kenosha), South Wisconsin District;  
Circuit 26 (Racine), South Wisconsin District 
Ov. 5-21 
To Address the Practice of In Vitro Fertilization 
WHEREAS, Holy Scripture teaches that human life is a sacred gift 
from God, who is the Creator of all life (Gen . 1:26–28; Ps alm 
139:13–16); and 
WHEREAS, Scripture affirms that man is made in the image of 
God and that this image is bestowed upon each person at conception 
(Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:41–44; Gen. 9:6); and 
W
HEREAS, Christ sanctified and redeemed even human embryos 
in His incarnation and conception by the Holy Spirit and of the 
Virgin Mary, His shed blood upon the cross, His resurrection, and 
His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Luke 1:35; Matt. 1:20–
23); and 
WHEREAS, The tradition of the Christian Church, in accordance 
with the creation order revealed in Holy Scripture, has consistently 
upheld the sanctity of human life and the dignity of procreation as 
an act that belongs within the marital union between a man and a 
woman (Gen. 1:27–28; Heb. 13:4; Matt. 19:4–6; also found in the 
early Christian document Didache 2.2 “You shall not murder a child 
by abortion, nor kill a child at birth”); and