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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 458

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. 
WHEREAS, Article VII of t he Augsburg Confession (AC) 
declares, “it is enough to agree about the doctrine of the Gospel and 
the administration of the Sacraments. It is not necessary that human 
traditions, that is, rites or ceremonies instituted by men, should be 
the same everywhere. As Paul says, ‘One Lord, one faith, one 
baptism, one God and Father of all’ (Ephesians 4:5–6)” (2–4); and 
WHEREAS, According to A C XXVIII: “It is necessary that the 
doctrine of Christian freedom be preserved in the churches. In other 
words, the bondage of the Law is not necessary in order to be 
justified, as it is written in the Epistle to the Galatians, ‘ do not 
submit again to a yoke of slavery’ (5:1). It is necessary for the chief 
article of the Gospel to be preserved, namely that we obtain grace 
freely by faith in Christ, and not by certain observances or acts of 
worship devised by people. … It is proper to keep such ordinances 
just so long as consciences are not burdened to think that they are 
necessary to salvation, or to regard it as sin if they are changed 
without offending others” (51–52, 56); and 
W
HEREAS, According to Article X of the Formula of Concord, 
Solid Declaration: “As soon as Christian freedom is weakened and 
human traditions are forced on the Church with coercion, as though 
it were wrong and a sin to omit them, the way is already prepared 
for id olatry. In this way, human traditions are multiplied and 
regarded as divine worship, not only equal to God’s ordinances, but 
even placed above them” (15); and 
WHEREAS, There is great benefit in common traditions, rites, and 
ceremonies, as stated in AC XXIV, “Our churches are f alsely 
accused of abolishing the Mass . The Mass is held  among us and 
celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual 
ceremonies are also preserved, except  that the parts sung in Latin 
are interspersed here and there with German hymns. These have 
been added to teach the people” (1– 2), and stated in 2016 
Resolution 4 -04A, “To Appeal to the LCMS Congregations, 
Workers, and Institutions within Christian Freedom and for Love’s 
Sake to Retain a Common Order of Service for the Lord’s Supper,” 
although they do not form the basis of our unity or identity, but are 
useful for teaching the faith; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in c onvention reaffirm the definition 
of Lutheran identity as already listed in the Scriptures, the Lutheran 
Confessions, and the Synod Constitution, namely that: 
1. L utheran identity is found in the right teaching of the 
Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments, not in the 
uniformity of human rites, ceremonies, or traditions 
instituted by men. 
2. Lutheran identity is found in the acceptance of the 
Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written, 
inerrant Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith 
and of practice. 
3. Lutheran identity is found in the acceptance of all the 
Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a 
true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the 
Word of God; 
and be it further 
Resolved, That all policies and B ylaws of the Synod regarding 
Lutheran identity be examined and brought into conformity with the 
Scriptures and the Confessions mentioned above. 
Michigan District 
Ov. 7-06 
To Encourage University Worship Practices 
Faithful to Scriptures and Confessions and 
Reflecting Breadth of Worship in the Synod 
WHEREAS, The Synod holds worship as central to the life and 
faith of its congregations, universities, and seminaries, reflecting 
the church’s commitment to the Scriptures and the Lutheran 
Confessions; and 
WHEREAS, The Synod encourages congregations “to strive for 
uniformity in church practice, but also to develop an appreciation 
of a variety of responsible practices and customs which are in 
harmony with our common profession of faith” (Const. Art. III 7); 
and 
WHEREAS, Member congregations of the Synod are permitted to 
have a variety of worship practices, provided such practices are 
faithful to scriptural teachings and the Lutheran Confessions; and 
WHEREAS, The universities of the Synod play a crucial role in 
preparing graduates for membership and service within the Synod 
and, as such, should reflect the breadth of worship practices found 
in member congregations of the Synod; and 
WHEREAS, The Synod in convention (2023 Res. 7- 04B, “To 
revise Bylaws to Revisit and Renew relationship of colleges and 
Universities with the Synod”) revised Bylaw subsection 3.6.6 to 
direct the Concordia University System (CUS) Board of Directors 
to develop and adopt Lutheran Identity Mission Outcome Standards 
(LIMOS), which were adopted in February, 2024, including 
Identity Standard 2.1, that states, “The ecclesiastical mission and 
goals are clearly and consciously pursued in the design and delivery 
of campus worship;” and Item 2.1.5 of the LIMOS Evaluation Tool 
asks, “How is commitment to the church’s heritage and unity 
reflected in the use of liturgies, hymnals, and hymnody?” and 
“Describe the regular pattern of chapel services noting liturgies and 
hymnals used and those who serve as preacher and liturgists” (CUS, 
Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards with Evaluation 
Tool [adopted 2024], 1, 5); and 
W
HEREAS, Formal visitations were conducted with each of the 
universities of the Synod in 2025, during which the following 
observations were made regarding campus worship:  
• “Chapel services provide a range of Christian worship styles 
and liturgies” (CUS, 
Concordia University Irvine Formal 
Visitation Letter of Determination and Report, Mar. 9, 2025, 
p. 2). 
• “Documented examples and direct observation show the 
regular pattern of leadership by ordained clergy and regular 
use of LSB liturgies and hymnody. Vestments are regularly 
used,” and “Wednesday worship uses LBS [sic] Responsive 
Prayer combined with contemp
orary hymnody and 
instrumentation.” (CUS, Concordia University Wisconsin 
and Ann Arbor Formal Visitation Letter of Determination 
and Report, Feb. 9, 2026, p. 3) 
• “Chapel is offered daily Monday through Friday, and uses 
the church’s liturgy and hymnody” (CUS, Concordia 
University Chicago Formal Visitation Letter of 
Determination and Report, Jan. 30, 2026, p. 3). 
2026 Convention Workbook
423UNIVERSITY EDUCATION