# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S412
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

412

CHURCH AND CULTURE

and to each other (Gen. 1:26–28, Genesis 10, Rom. 5:12–21, 1 Cor.
15:20–23); and
WHEREAS, God desires that all people of every nation and
ethnicity be baptized, believe in Him, and be saved (Matt. 28:18–
20, Mark 16:16–17, John 3:16–17, 1 Tim. 2:3–6); and
WHEREAS, God’s Word says, “If you really fulfill the royal law
according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as
yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are
committing sin and are convicted by the law of the transgressors”
(James 2:8–9); and
WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has passed resolutions in
past conventions repudiating all racism, for example, 1992
Resolution 3-03, “To Combat All Racism” (Proceedings, 113–114),
and 2019 Res. 11-04A, “To Affirm the Common Humanity of All
People and Ethnicities” (Proceedings, 216–218); and
WHEREAS, Critical Race Theory (CRT) has become a common,
multifaceted, and controversial theory for discussion of
contemporary race relations; therefore be it
Resolved, that the Southern Illinois District confess that there is
one human family, descended from Adam and Noah, and that God’s
desire is for all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of
the truth; and be it further
Resolved, That the district call upon all her members to love their
neighbors as themselves, and to seek to live in peace and harmony
with all people by proclaiming that Jesus is Lord, and bringing forth
the fruits of faith in serving the neighbor; and be it further
Resolved, That the district reject the worldview of CRT, as it is
contrary to Scripture and counterproductive to true racial
conversation and reconciliation, for it pursues equality of outcome
(“equity”) between racial groups, which requires treating
individuals unequally based on race; and be it further
Resolved, That the district reject all organizations, movements,
petitions, and theological language that support the worldview of
CRT in a positive manner; and be it further
Resolved, That the district reject any doctrine, such as that
proposed by CRT, that teaches that an individual is inherently racist,
or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously, because of his
or her race, ancestry, or nationality; and be it finally
Resolved, That the district submit this resolution as an overture
to the 2023 Synod convention.
Southern Illinois District
Ov. 11-10

To Exhort Those in Authority to Identify
and Eliminate Social Justice (Woke) Ideology
WHEREAS, Social justice (woke) ideology has become pervasive
in American culture, particularly at institutions of higher education;
and
WHEREAS, Social justice (woke) ideology is premised upon and
seeks solutions to racial or social discrimination and injustice that
are shaped by a communistic or Marxist worldview, such as critical
race theory, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, and
other social justice activism (Rev. Dr. Lucas C. Woodford,
Doxology What Does this Mean?: Responding to Social Justice and
Critical Race Theory, October 2020 [Minnesota South District]);
and

2023 Convention Workbook

WHEREAS, Social justice (woke) ideology has been observed to
be promoted within the Concordia University System (CUS) (see
Synod President Mathew Harrison’s “Letter to the members of the
CUWAA Board of Regents,” May 2022 [Office of the President,
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod]); and
WHEREAS, The CUS has been a great blessing to the Synod and
is a treasure that ought to be protected and preserved for our
posterity; therefore be it
Resolved, That the President of the Synod and district presidents
whose oversight involves a Concordia, and the CUS Board identify
and eliminate the promotion of social justice (woke) ideology from
the CUS; and be it further
Resolved, That the South Wisconsin District in convention refer
this matter to the 2023 Synod convention for consideration and
adoption.
South Wisconsin District
Ov. 11-11

To Prevent Harmful Philosophies, Ideologies,
and Contemporary Movements Contrary to the
Christian Faith from Damaging Our
Congregations, Schools, Colleges, and Seminaries
WHEREAS, God created all people equal, but not interchangeable
(Gen. 1:26–27); and
WHEREAS, God created male and female, and no other gender
(Gen. 1:27); and
WHEREAS, The fall into sin ruined and perverted the creation
(Gen. 3:14–19), which was once very good (Gen. 1:31), hence an
order was instituted by God for the relationship between man and
woman (Gen. 3:16); and
WHEREAS, After the fall into sin, man and woman remained
equal but not interchangeable (Gen. 3:20); and
WHEREAS, All people are subject to the stain of original sin, but
now also have been equally redeemed by the blood of Christ as the
only way to be reconciled to God and to each other (Rom. 3:23–26);
and
WHEREAS, Because of sin, racism—the sinful notion that some
races are inherently superior or inferior to others—
misunderstanding, and strife are present in the world and
experienced in our congregations and communities; and
WHEREAS, Christ teaches us to love all peoples and nations, and
consequently the Synod abhors racism, and in convention has
passed resolutions repudiating all racism, (1992 Resolution 3-03;
2019 Res. 11-04A); and
WHEREAS, Contemporary ideologies and movements such as
Black Lives Matter (BLM), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI),
and Critical Race Theory (CRT) have become common,
multifaceted, and controversial theories, based in non-Christian and
anti-Christian tenets, which divide people based solely on the basis
of sexual orientation or race; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod reject any doctrine that teaches:
• that one’s race, ancestry, or nationality are inherently
superior to the race, ancestry, or nationality of another;
• that any individual is inherently racist, or oppressive,
whether consciously or unconsciously, based solely on his or
her race, ancestry, or nationality;