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2026 Convention Workbook

351THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

WHEREAS, Online or virtual worship is not a substitute for corporate worship (Heb. 10:24 –25; 2023 Res. 5 -08A, “To Affirm In-Person Communion”); and

WHEREAS, These responses taught God’s flock and the world atlarge that public, communal, in -person worship is nonessential (while allowing grocery stores, liquor stores, and cannabis dispensaries to remain open), that such public worship of God by those who wish to do so can be forbidden by the consciences of others who do not wish to gather in public worship, and that public opinion or government demand can forbid public worship; and

WHEREAS, Great societal distress over the COVID-19 pandemic ought to have instead compelled the Church to keep her doors open instead of closing them and to remain faithful in her vow to “intend to continue steadfast in this confession … and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it” (Rite of Confirmation, Lutheran Service Book, 273); therefore be it

Resolved, That we commend the desires of faithful pastors to care for their flocks in a time of pandemic, granting charity and a wide latitude of understanding to our brothers in the public exercise of the Office of the Holy Ministry due to the emergency nature of the situation at that time confronting us all; and be it further

Resolved, That pastors and congregations recognize that not offering public worship was sinful, even if done in ignorance, and repent where necessary; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod President and the Council of Presidents (COP) publicly encourage pastors, congregations, and educational institutions of the Synod to stay and do their duty by holding public worship services during any pandemic for those who wish to attend; and be it further

Resolved, That in the future, the Synod President and the COP should give proper concern and understanding to the doctrine of the two kingdoms, especially as it relates to resistance to government tyranny (Brief Statement); and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod President, the COP, and those who assist them be counseled and urged to instruct our pastors and congregations on the basis of Holy Scripture’s example and exhortation to gather and meet together and also celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:42; Heb. 10:25) on the basis of the examples found in the Augsburg Confession VII and XXIV; and be it finally

Resolved, That in the future the Church should stay and do her duty and not abandon her people in such a crisis and instead exhort pastors and congregations not to abandon the holy, faithful people of God even if it should bring persecution, but rather that the sheep be gathered together accompanied by their pastors and comforted by the Word of God, by the Sacraments, by fellowship, and by prayer.

Wyoming District

Ov. 5-25

To Publicly Acknowledge Theological and Ecclesial Errors in Church’s Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

WHEREAS, God commands, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8); and

WHEREAS, Our Lord and Savior proclaims, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4); and

WHEREAS, The apostle Peter declares, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29); and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures admonish Christians to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24–25); and

WHEREAS, One’s Christian liberty should not be determined by someone else’s conscience (1 Cor. 10:29); and

WHEREAS, Regarding the Sacrament of the Altar, the Large Catechism (LC) teaches that “some allow themselves to be hindered and held up by the excuse that we have taught that no one should approach the Sacrament except those who feel hunger and thirst, which drive them to it. Some pretend that it is a matter of liberty and not necessary. They pretend it is enough to believe without it.

For the most part, they go so far astray that they become quite brutish, and finally despise both the Sacrament and God’s Word.” (LC V 41); and

WHEREAS, During the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, responses to the COVID- 19 pandemic by congregations, pastors, Synod leadership, and affiliated educational institutions included the cancellation of communal, in -person worship, the erroneous administration of the Sacrament of the Altar virtually or online, the urging of experimental and controversially- sourced vaccinations, and submission to overreaching governmental mandates; and

WHEREAS, These responses inculcated in God’s flock and the world at large the ideas that communal, in -person worship is nonessential, that worship of God should give way to earthly fear, and that public opinion or government demand can supersede the command of God; and

WHEREAS, These responses undoubtedly led to a burdening of Christian consciences and false accusations of not loving one’s neighbor as oneself; and

WHEREAS, The alarming extent of closures was documented in the December 2020 issue of Reporter, stating, “Only 15% of LCMS congregations held in- person church services on Easter Sunday” (Stacy Eising, “BNM business includes church worker recruitment, COVID-19, race,” Reporter Online , December 3, 2020, reporter.lcms.org/2020/bnm-business-includes-church-workerrecruitment-covid-19-race); and

WHEREAS, The great societal distress over the COVID -19 pandemic ought to have compelled the Church to keep her doors open; and

WHEREAS, The examples of Daniel, Nehemiah, and the Ninevites (Dan. 9:1 –19; Neh. 1:4 –11; Jonah 3:6– 10) show corporate repentance to be God-pleasing and salutary; therefore be it

Resolved, That we commend the desires of faithful pastors to care for their flocks in a time of pandemic, granting charity due to the nature of the situation confronting the Church because “the blood of Jesus [God’s] Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7);

and be it further

Resolved, That in such future crises, the Church with her pastors would be encouraged to neither prohibit nor suspend the opportunity for communal, in-person worship, but allow the sheep who desire the comfort and strength of the G ospel to accompany their pastors; and be it further

Resolved, That those who are hindered from receiving the Sacrament be encouraged to reject the online or virtual