# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S415
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CHURCH AND CULTURE
suffering from debilitation of age, those coming out of
incarceration, and many other challenges throughout the years; and
WHEREAS, We have not been perfect. In far too many ways we
have failed to embrace all of God’s children in Christ; therefore be
it
Resolved, That the members of the LCMS give God thanks for
the ways that God has used our hands to minister to such a diverse
group of people, especially in the ways that God has used us to serve
the weakest and most vulnerable among us; and be it further
Resolved, That we repent of the ways that we have been
unwelcoming or brought division with those who are different from
us in some way or turned our back on those in need; and be it further
Resolved, That we rejoice in the forgiveness of Christ and the
opportunities that God continues to give to us; and be it further
Resolved, That we encourage our congregations and entities to
be places where all Christians are honored as brothers and sisters in
Christ, no matter the outward differences; and be it further
Resolved, That we celebrate the variety of cultural expressions
of the Gospel among the congregations and ministries of our Synod;
and be it further
Resolved, That we support our ethnic and urban congregations
and ministries in their work; and be it further
Resolved, That we give our support to those specialized
ministries that support the vulnerable among us; and be it further
Resolved, That we diligently prepare both pastoral and lay
leaders for a variety of settings with our full support and
encouragement of the traditional, Ethnic Immigrant Institute of
Theology (EIIT), Center for Hispanic Studies, and Specific
Ministry Pastor seminary programs and the programs of our
universities; and be it further
Resolved, That we seek out every opportunity that God gives to
us to share the Gospel with people of every nation, tribe, people and
language among us; and be it further
Resolved, That we give thanks to God for His forgiveness in
Christ, and that He continues to use our weak, trembling hands in
His service (Psalm 90:17); and be it finally
Resolved, That this resolution be passed to the glory of God and
in loving tribute to the sainted professors Dr. Kou Seying, former
Associate Dean for Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry at Concordia
Seminary (CSL) and Dr. John Loum, former Director of the EIIT
program at CSL, whose vision was a diverse Synod, united in
Christ.
Benediction, Milwaukee, WI; Covenant, Milwaukee, WI
Ov. 11-15

To Foster Multiculturalism
in Exercise of Great Commission
WHEREAS, Our Lord commissions us to make disciples of all
nations; and
WHEREAS, Past and present racial injustices cause great suffering
to many Americans and harm to our entire nation; and
WHEREAS, Racial injustice remains an impediment to carrying
out the Great Commission of making disciples of all tribes,
languages, and nations; and
WHEREAS, Prior Synod convention resolutions on the issue of
race have asserted the clear biblical teaching that all humans,

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whatever the color of their skin, have been created in the image of
God and redeemed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus;
yet we continue to lag in mission outreach that crosses racial and
multicultural lines; and
WHEREAS, Our actions and attitudes have often created an
inhospitable environment that stands in contrast to the teaching of
the Great Commission; and
WHEREAS, We give thanks to God for courageous leaders among
us who over the years have overcome racial and multicultural
barriers; and
WHEREAS, We lament the widespread silence of Christians in the
face of racial and multicultural injustices; we still have much to
learn about how to be racially and culturally inclusive; and
WHEREAS, There is a perception that Christians have failed to
recognize past and present injustices which may have served as a
deterrent from joining our churches; therefore be it
Resolved, That we encourage one another in the hearing of God’s
Word and the reception of His gifts, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper,
truly the means of grace, which deliver to sinners such as us the
heart of contrition and repentance and the power of the forgiveness
of sins through Jesus Christ on the cross; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod will designate a specific Sunday as a
joyous, Spirit-filled day to help encourage us to reach and welcome
people across all racial and ethnic lines; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod call a Multicultural Task Force under
the Board for National Mission in its next triennium to assess
current efforts, highlight best practices, and develop materials
equipping congregations to engage in multicultural outreach at the
congregational level.
Florida-Georgia District
Ov. 11-16

To Provide Christian Resources
in Addressing Racism
WHEREAS, Racism remains an issue that is apparent in our
society; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther taught, and we confess, that the
Fifth Commandment, “You shall not murder,” means that we
should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our
neighbors, but help and defend them in every physical need, which
we have failed to do; and
WHEREAS, Racism is a sin, as well as an obstacle to the work of
the Church, it is incumbent upon us to examine our own human
failings in view of the Word of God; and
WHEREAS, We lament the silence of many Christians in the face
of racism; and
WHEREAS, Racism is manifested in discrimination in jobs,
housing, education—past and present—and causes great suffering
and harm to many people; and
WHEREAS, Many Synod convention resolutions on the issue of
race have asserted the clear teaching from the Holy Scriptures that
all human beings have been created in the image of God and
redeemed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
yet the challenges in mission outreach across cultures and dealing
with racism remain pronounced; and

2023 Convention Workbook