# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S119
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

1. NATIONAL WITNESS
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In marriage we see a picture of the communion of
Christ and His bride the Church
Marriage and family are to be confessed and
taught in the church in accordance with the
purposes for which it was instituted by God for the
benefit of both church and society
The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and
mind is intended by God for mutual
companionship, help, and support that each
person ought to receive from the other, both in
prosperity and adversity
Marriage was also ordained by God so that man
and woman may find delight in one another and
thus avoid sexual immorality
God also established marriage for the procreation
of children, where and when He wills;

and
WHEREAS, Marriage is the foundation for family and the
care and nurture of children; and
WHEREAS, Marriage, life, and family are inextricably
linked, as Dr. Martin Luther emphasized and taught on the
household estate, and the family vocations of husband and
wife, father, mother, and child were a key insight of the
Reformation; and
WHEREAS, The Synod in the 2016 convention resolved
(Res. 16-02A, Proceedings, 253–54) to add a seventh Synod
mission priority, “Strengthen and support the Lutheran
family in living out God’s design,” effectively launching the
Office of National Mission’s (ONM) Lutheran Family
Initiative; and
WHEREAS, The Synod has commended the essay entitled,
“Marriage, Life and Family: Reflecting the Holy Trinity,” by
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the booklet, A
Small Catechism on Human Life, by John Pless, as well as
other excellent resources further demonstrating these
three—marriage, life and family—should be treated and
defended together; and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s publishing arm, Concordia
Publishing House (CPH), has produced a wealth of
materials in this area, e.g.: Your Marriage by God’s Design;
Grounded in God’s Word: Commentaries on Life Issues; The
Lutheran Difference: Marriage and Family; Five Things You
Can Do to Make Your Marriage Stronger; Made for Each Other:
Newlywed Resource; Ethics of Sex: From Taboo to Delight;
United in Christ: Preparation for Christian Marriage; Devoted
to God and Each Other; Together is Better: Marriage Devotions
and Activities; Hello My Name is Single; Commitment: God’s
Plan for Engagement and Marriage (high school curriculum);
Without This Ring: Surviving Divorce; Changing Currents: The
Bible and Same-Sex Marriage; Five Things You Can Do to Have
a Stronger Family; Family Trees and Olive Branches: Creating a
Culture of Grace in Your Family; Renewing the Family Spirit;
Blessings and Prayers for Parents; Faithfully Parenting PreResolutions

Schoolers; Faithfully Parenting Tweens; Faithfully Parenting
Teens; Sexuality Mentality: Creating a Culture of Biblical
Integrity; Learning About Sex (sex education curriculum);
Sexual Morality in a Christless World; In the Image of God:
Gender and Sexual Identity; and many others; and
WHEREAS, Sin, the world, and Satan are clearly attacking
marriage and the family by seeking to sever the bond
between husbands and wives, and also between parents
and children; and
WHEREAS, Murder is condemned by the Fifth
Commandment
(including
abortion,
infanticide,
physician-assisted suicide, and euthanasia); and
WHEREAS, There are moral and ethical implications
surrounding contraception, assistive reproductive technologies, and related research; and
WHEREAS, There is increased cultural acceptance of
gender confusion leading to a denial of one’s own Godgiven sexuality and ever-new anti-Scriptural categories for
“gender identity,” further eroding God’s design for
marriage; and
WHEREAS, These assaults against marriage and life are
undermining the family and causing harm to society;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod rejoice in the truth that the Lord
Jesus Christ has promised to be with His Church until the
end of the age, not simply to sustain us, but through the
means of grace to bless us; as we call on His name to help
marriage, life, and the family (John 14:14); and be it further
Resolved, That the ONM implement the seventh mission
priority by boldly promoting the biblical and crucial
relationship between marriage, life, and family by
generating resources and strategies which counter the
cultural assaults against these while also encouraging,
uplifting, and equipping the Body of Christ in all three
areas; and be it further
Resolved, That the ONM offer resources to districts for the
development and equipping of district marriage, life, and
family coordinators; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod direct the ONM to work
diligently with our recognized service organizations, the
Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty, Lutherans For Life,
and other appropriate entities to coordinate in upholding
and defending the link between marriage, life, and family;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod direct the ONM, CPH, the
seminaries and universities, and the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations to provide resources that
help the families of our Synod and enable the church to
confess the biblical teaching on marriage, life, and family.
Action: Adopted (9)
Without objection, the chair put the resolution to an immediate
voice vote, by which the resolution was adopted.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 119