Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 459

• “Worship life is central to CSP’s identity, offering a variety 
of services—morning and evening, diverse in style —tailored 
to the developmental needs of undergraduates yet always 
grounded in God’s Word,” and “Lutheran Service Book is 
utilized in most worship settings, as well as other worship 
resources which have gone through LCMS doctrinal 
review.” (CUS, Concordia University St. Paul Formal 
Visitation Letter of Determination and Report , Nov. 21, 
2025, p. 3–4) 
• “[CUNE] has woven its ecclesiastical mission and goals into 
the fabric of campus life. It examines how faith is expressed 
and nurtured through campus worship, ensuring alignment 
with Lutheran theology and practice. This includes assessing 
the content of chapel services, the use of hymns and liturgy, 
and the approach to sacraments like communion. After 
discussion with the visitation team, CUNE will continue to 
evaluate and connect daily chapel services to the 
expectations of the LCMS and the LIMOS.” (CUS, 
Concordia University Nebraska Formal Visitation Letter of 
Determination and Report, Apr. 25, 2025, p. 3) 
and 
W
HEREAS, Fostering a consistent approach to worship practices 
across the congregations, universities, and seminaries of the Synod 
strengthens the unity of the Synod and provides a coherent witness 
to students, congregations, and the broader community; therefore be 
it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm that the 
universities of the Synod should uphold worship practices that 
reflect the breadth of practices permitted and practiced in member 
congregations of the Synod, preparing their graduates to serve and 
participate faithfully in various worship settings; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage its 
universities to foster worship practices that are scripturally faithful, 
reflective of the confessional unity of the Synod, and support the 
variety of worship practices and customs within the Synod in order 
to b est prepare graduates for service within all member 
congregations of the Synod; and be it further 
Resolved, That all visitations and Synod reports regarding 
worship practices in universities of the Synod shall not advocate for 
any particular worship practice on the basis of heritage or custom 
as preferred within the Synod, ensuring that the universities remain 
committed and prepared to serve and support all member 
congregations of the Synod; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the Synod provide guidance and support to assist 
the universities of the Synod in implementing on their campuses 
worship practices that align with Const. Art. III 7, promoting mutual 
respect and understanding for the breadth of worship practices used 
by member congregations within the Synod. 
St. John 
Seward, NE 
Ov. 7-07 
To Pause and Correct Deficiencies in Lutheran 
Identity and Mission Outcomes Standards 
WHEREAS, The purpose of the Lutheran Identity and Mission 
Outcomes Standards (“Standards”) was to find Lutheran identity for 
accreditation in mission and outreach; and 
WHEREAS, Those involved diligently and with great expenditure 
of their time developed the Standards to improve the mission and 
outreach of our universities; and 
WHEREAS, We do not want those efforts to go to waste and have 
the Standards fall short of reaching its purpose; and 
WHEREAS, There are deficiencies with various questions, which 
result in the following problems: 
• Lutheran identity is presented as a doctrinal category but not 
defined, allowing the interviewer and interviewee to define 
it subjectively and how they believe it should be applied. 
• The absence of a definition of Lutheran identity could lead 
our congregations, our schools, and our associations to be 
confused about what it means to be Lutheran. 
• An unclear definition of Lutheran identity could be used 
inappropriately, unethically, unjustly, and unlovingly. 
• The use of technical language without definition (e.g., high 
Christology; Lutheran values). 
• The use of yes-or-no questions and the overuse of the word 
explain as a catch-all. 
and 
WHEREAS, These problems and deficiencies have caused a lack 
of trust in how the Standards have been used; therefore be it 
Resolved, That, because of the problems in the Standards, their 
use should be paused until these issues are addressed; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That the 2026 Synod convention adopt this resolution 
and form a new task force, which includes but is not limited to 
Concordia University System representatives and all Concordia 
University presidents, to improve and remedy the issues in the 
Standards stated above; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the review and corrections be made fully 
transparent to the members of the Synod. 
Michigan District 
Ov. 7-08 
To Encourage Congregations to Include in Annual 
Mission Budgets Support for Regional University 
of Concordia University System 
WHEREAS, Congregations of The L utheran Church— Missouri 
Synod are Synod, and together pray to the Lord for our Synod and 
that it would be supported nationally, regionally, and locally; and 
WHEREAS, Our Synod is blessed with the “jewels” of two fine 
seminaries and several regional universities; and 
WHEREAS, Many congregations of our Synod give at least some 
financial support for our seminaries; and 
WHEREAS, The well -being of the Synod’s schools of higher 
learning, particularly our regional universities of the Concordia 
University System (CUS ), is the concern of each congregation, 
pastor, professional church worker, and parochial school; and 
WHEREAS, Over a half century ago the Synod recognized the 
need for districts, regional Concordias , seminaries, and other 
entities of the Synod to develop their own advancement 
departments for fundraising, and encouraged them to do so, even 
though this did not always translate into financial support for our 
colleges and universities in particular until long after some of them 
2026 Convention Workbook
424 UNIVERSITY EDUCA TION