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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 457

WHEREAS, 2023 Resolution 7- 04B, “To Revise Bylaws to 
Revisit and Renew Relationship of Colleges and Universities with 
the Synod” (Proc., 170–90), narrowed the role of CUS by relieving 
it of operational responsibilities, allowing it to focus on our 
universities’ Lutheran identity and mission; and 
WHEREAS, CUS, under the leadership of its Board of Directors 
(BOD) and new staff, has taken up the challenge of this mission and 
made great strides toward an established, lasting approach that 
implements the Synod’s convention decisions while honoring the 
necessary academic freedom and autonomy of our institutions; and 
W
HEREAS, CUS, a synodwide corporate entity, serves as a buffer 
between corporate Synod and its five universities, implementing the 
directions of the Synod’s conventions while maintaining the degree 
of separation required by national accrediting boards for our 
institutions; and 
W
HEREAS, CUS provides a legal buffer between corporate Synod 
and our universities, as attested by its not being involved in any 
legal disputes; and 
W
HEREAS, The presence of CUS staff and visitation teams on our 
campuses has produced significant positive results in relationship 
building and the growth of trust; and 
W
HEREAS, CUS, as a synodwide corporate entity, through the 
visitation process has produced positive improvements in the focus 
on Lutheran identity and mission on our campuses as attested to by 
the formal visitation team reports and letters of determination; and 
W
HEREAS, The Concordia University System Education 
Network (CUEnet) provides the online program for teacher 
colloquy, the first six courses for colloquy for the other 
commissioned ministry categories, and other resources as a 
common enterprise of the several universities through the CUS as a 
synodwide corporate entity; and 
WHEREAS, CUS has been endowed by private donors with a 
substantial foundation consisting of many restricted funds for 
student scholarships and institutional support that is the sole 
property of CUS; and 
W
HEREAS, The floor committee overseeing the drafting and 
adoption of 2023 Res. 7-04B never considered changing the status 
of CUS as a synodwide corporate entity; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm and sustain CUS 
as a synodwide corporate entity in perpetuity; and be it further 
Resolved, That the endowments entrusted to CUS remain solely 
under its ownership and stewardship; and be it further 
Resolved, That the implementation of 2023 Res. 7-04B continue 
unabated; and be it further 
Resolved, That the effective implementation of 2023 Res. 7-04B 
by CUS be evaluated by an independent task force to be formed by 
the 2032 Synod convention to bring recommendations and/or 
resolutions for consideration to the 2035 Synod convention; and be 
it further 
Resolved, That the CUS BOD and staff be commended for their 
work so far; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for the work of the 
CUS and our universities in carrying out their mission, pledging 
continued prayer, financial support, and encouragement. 
St. John 
Springfield, PA 
Ov. 7-04 
To Define and Affirm Lutheran Identity 
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod states in 
Article II of its Constitution: 
The Synod, and every member of the Synod, accepts without 
reservation: 
1. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written 
Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice; 
2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as 
a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of 
God, to wit: the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed, 
the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered 
Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, 
the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small 
Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord. 
therefore be it 
Resolved, That the term Lutheran identity  be defined solely by 
the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions; and be it further 
Resolved, That the term Lutheran identity  be defined first and 
foremost according to Article IV of the Augsburg Confession: “Our 
churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their 
own strength, merits, or words. People are freely justified for 
Christ’s sake, through faith, when th ey believe that they are 
received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. 
By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this 
faith for righteousness in His sight (Romans 3 an d 4 [3:21– 26; 
4:5]),” and not in a manner that adds moral, ethical, cultural, legal, 
or political requirements or preferences to the Evangelical Lutheran 
confession; and be it further 
Resolved, That the term Lutheran identity  
be affirmed as 
adherence to the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions alone, 
understanding that “the churches will not condemn one another 
because of differences in ceremonies when, in Christian liberty, one 
has less or more of them” (FC SD X 31), and rejoi cing in the 
Evangelical Lutheran foundation of grace alone, faith alone, 
Scripture alone, and Christ alone as the foundation of the Lutheran 
Confessions; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the Pacific Southwest District in convention 
memorialize the Synod in convention to ensure the existing 
“Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards” (LIMOS) 
(cus.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/LIMOS-Evaluation-
Tool.pdf) used in the visitation of our Concordia Universities are in 
alignment with this definition of Lutheran identity. 
Pacific Southwest District 
Ov. 7-05 
To Define and Affirm Lutheran Identity 
WHEREAS, The term Lutheran identity is used without having a 
clear definition, nor having s criptural or c onfessional references; 
and 
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod states in 
Article II of its Constitution: 
The Synod, and every member of the Synod, accepts without 
reservation: 
1. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written 
Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice; 
2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as 
a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of 
2026 Convention Workbook
422 UNIVERSITY EDUCA TION