# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S420
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

420

CHURCH AND CULTURE

WHEREAS, In order for the Atlantic District to better engage acts
of reconciliation and equality it should be informed of its history
within communities of color to understand its successes and its
failures; therefore be it
Resolved, That the district president commission a task force to
study the district’s history of mission, ministry, and education
within communities of color, seeking regional input to be completed
prior to the next regular district convention, so that we might better
recognize and give thanks to God for our successes and make
confession of any failures; and be it further
Resolved, That the results of this task force’s study would also
provide us with tangible ways to move forward in our present and
future outreach efforts within communities of color; and be it
further
Resolved, That the study be shared through various means
including in person forums as feasible; and be it finally
Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize the Synod
in convention to call on the faculty of our seminaries, universities,
and Concordia Historical Institute to do a similar study of our
national mission, ministry, and education efforts to be completed
within 24 months after district proceedings and made available on
the Synod website.
Atlantic District
Ov. 11-22

To Recognize the Synod’s Successes, Failures,
and Opportunities in Ministry
with Communities of Color
WHEREAS, The 2019 Synod in convention (Resolution 11-04A,
“To Affirm the Common Humanity of All People and Ethnicities”)
resolved, “That the members of the congregations of the Synod be
encouraged to work toward racial reconciliation and equality within
the Church and within society-at-large…”; and
WHEREAS, The legacy of racism enacted through prejudice and
discrimination has negatively impacted the needs, well-being,
income, and property of people based solely on the color of their
skin; and
WHEREAS, The people of God are striving to live faithfully, but
still participate in sinful thoughts, words, and deeds in what they do
and leave undone (1 John 1:8–10), which can and has included the
sin of racism; and
WHEREAS, Jesus tells us that the greatest commandments are to
love God and love your neighbor (Mark 12:30–31); and
WHEREAS, Jesus illustrates for his disciples that they are to treat
all persons as neighbor (Luke 10:29–37); and
WHEREAS, Paul exhorts us to show the love of Christ as we “bear
one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2); and
WHEREAS, Martin Luther extolls us to show that love as we care
for our neighbors as we support them in their needs, well-being,
income, and property in his explanations of the Fifth and Seventh
Commandments; and
WHEREAS, In order for the Synod to better engage acts of
reconciliation and equality it should be informed of its history
within communities of color to understand its successes and its
failures; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod President commission a task force to
study the Synod’s history of mission, ministry, and education within
2023 Convention Workbook

communities of color, to be completed before the end of this
triennium, so that we better recognize and give thanks to God for
our successes and make confession of our failures; and be it further
Resolved, That the results of this task force’s study would also
provide us with tangible ways to move forward in our present and
future outreach efforts in communities of color; and be it finally
Resolved, That the study will be distributed to all congregations
and church workers in the LCMS and made available on the Synod
website.
Bethel, Gurnee, IL; First, Culver City-Palms Los Angeles, CA;
Martin Luther Chapel, East Lansing, MI
Ov. 11-23

To Recognize the Synod’s Successes, Failures,
and Opportunities in Ministry
with Communities of Color
WHEREAS, The 2019 Synod convention (Resolution 11-04A, “To
Affirm the Common Humanity of All People and Ethnicities”)
resolved, “That the members of the congregations of the Synod be
encouraged to work toward racial reconciliation and equality within
the Church and within society-at large …”; and
WHEREAS, The legacy of racism enacted through prejudice and
discrimination has negatively impacted the needs, well-being,
income, and property of people, based solely on the color of their
skin; and
WHEREAS, The people of God are striving to live faithfully, but
still participate in sinful thoughts, words, and deeds in what they do
and leave undone (1 John 1:8–10), which can and has included the
sin of racism; and
WHEREAS, Jesus tells us that the greatest commandments are to
love God and love your neighbor (Mark 12:30–31); and
WHEREAS, Jesus illustrates for His disciples that they are to treat
all persons as neighbor (Luke 10:29–37); and
WHEREAS, Paul exhorts us to show the love of Christ as we “bear
one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2); and
WHEREAS, Martin Luther extolls us to show that love as we care
for our neighbors as we support them in their needs, well-being,
income, and property, in his explanations of the Fifth and Seventh
Commandments; and
WHEREAS, In order for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) to better engage acts of reconciliation and equality it
should be informed of its history within communities of color to
understand its successes and its failures; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod President commission a task force to
study the LCMS’s history of mission, ministry, and education,
within communities of color, to be completed before the end of this
triennium, so that we better recognize and give thanks to God for
our successes and make confession of our failures; and be it further
Resolved, That the results of this task force’s study would also
provide us with tangible ways to move forward in our present and
future outreach efforts in communities of color; and be it finally
Resolved, That the study will be distributed to all congregations
and church workers in the LCMS and made available on the Synod
website.
Prince of Peace
Springfield, VA