LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 258

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258

NATIONAL WITNESS

conflict between their biological sex and their perceived gender
identity through prayer, the proclamation of Law and Gospel, the
Sacrament of Holy Baptism, corporate and individual confession
and absolution, the proper administration of the Lord’s Supper,
the mutual conversation and consolation of the brothers and
sisters, and pastoral care; and be it further
Resolved, That church workers and congregations in the Synod
be encouraged to utilize the following CTCR reports: Human
Sexuality: A Theological Perspective; Response to Human
Sexuality: Gift and Trust; The Creator’s Tapestry: Scriptural
Perspectives on Man-Woman Relationships in Marriage and the
Church; and Gender Identity Disorder or Gender Dysphoria in
Christian Perspective; as well as the treatment of these matters
in Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation (Concordia
Publishing House, 2017); and be it further
Resolved, That the CTCR be directed to prioritize the updating
of the 1981 study, Human Sexuality; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the Office of
National Mission, Concordia Publishing House, the seminaries,
and the Concordia University System to continue to provide
resources that enable the church to confess the truth boldly and
minister compassionately both to those who experience sexual
orientation and gender identity issues and those who care for
them.
The ONM eventually determined to establish an ad hoc task force
to undertake further study, immediately feasible actions and the
development of recommendations aimed at future Synod actions,
and initiatives to address sexual orientation and gender identity
issues. The ONM is grateful for the direct participation of the
following individuals on the ad hoc task force, chaired by Rev.
Christopher Esget (Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Va.);
Rev. Kevin Robson (Chief Mission Officer); Deac. Dr. Tiffany
Manor (ONM); Dr. Mark Rockenbach (faculty member, Concordia
Seminary); Ms. Nicole Chappell (ONM); Dr. Gifford Grobien
(faculty member, Concordia Theological Seminary); Rev. Kevin
Karner (Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bristol, Conn.); Rev Jonathan
Lange (St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kemmerer, Wyo. and Our
Saviour Lutheran Church, Evanston, Wyo.); Rev Brian Barlow
(Resurrection Lutheran Church, Quartz Hill, Calif.); and Rev Jared
Melius (Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Denver, Colo.).
The ad-hoc task force sought to: study, summarize and articulate the
current state of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity resources
available to Synod’s people and institutions; determine the
preferred means of elevating awareness and increasing the use of
such resources in the mission and ministry of our congregations,
schools, and families; identify and prioritize additional resource
development according to current, and future needs; and to outline
learnings, recommendations, and future planned work emerging
from these outcomes. Pandemic constraints did not allow the task
force to complete all of the objectives during the quadrennium.
In view of the still-applicable whereas statements of 2019 Res. 1103A (Proceedings, 215–16), which are entrusted to delegates to
2023 Synod convention for additional reflection, and the ongoing
criticality of the work described above, this ad hoc task force is
hereby commending, through the LCMS Board for National
Mission, the following overture to the 2023 Synod convention.
WHEREAS, In the beginning God created man in his own image,
“male and female, he created them” (Gen. 1:27); and

2023 Convention Workbook

WHEREAS, As the Small Catechism (SC) teaches, “I believe that
God has made me and all creatures. He has given me my body and
soul, eyes, ears, and all my members” (SC II, First Article); and
WHEREAS, After humanity’s fall into sin, Jesus again affirmed
God’s continuing work: that from the beginning he created them
“male and female” (Matt. 19:4); and
WHEREAS, All sexual corruption and confusion result from
humanity’s fall into sin and often lead to rebellious and sinful acts
against God’s will (James 1:14–15); and
WHEREAS, All sexual acts outside of faithful, biblical marriage,
which is between one man and one woman, are sinful and contrary
to God’s will (Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 6:9–11); and
WHEREAS, Sex, a physical reality created by God, is now
considered by many in our culture to be a social construct; and
WHEREAS, The Federal Government of the United States has
ruled that marriages may be contracted between two persons of the
same sex; and
WHEREAS, The Body of Christ has been called to proclaim His
saving Gospel to all the world, including those who are uncertain
whether they are “truly” male or female (this does not include
intersex individuals, see excursus in LCMS Commission on
Theology and Church Relations [CTCR], Gender Identity Disorder
or Gender Dysphoria in Christian Perspective), those who present
themselves as members of the opposite sex in dress and physical
appearance, and those who participate in hormonal and/or surgical
procedures in an attempt to modify their anatomy from male to
female or from female to male; and
WHEREAS, We are called to preach repentance and forgiveness
of sins with clarity and compassion to all; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS parochial schools, congregations,
seminaries, the Concordia University System (CUS), and
individuals in our Synod are experiencing mounting pressure as a
result of cultural and legal changes; and
WHEREAS, LCMS church workers and laity have asked for
guidance in pastoral care for individuals and families struggling
with matters of same-sex attraction and sexual identity issues; and
WHEREAS, The Church is called to support and proclaim the
Gospel to all those who struggle with the corrupting power of
concupiscence, including those with the propensity toward a myriad
of sexual sins and identity confusion; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS has produced resources such as the
following CTCR reports: Gender Identity Disorder or Gender
Dysphoria in Christian Perspective (adopted Sept. 2014); Human
Sexuality: A Theological Perspective (adopted Sept. 1981);
Response to Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust (adopted April 2012);
and The Creator’s Tapestry: Scriptural Perspectives on ManWoman Relationships in Marriage and the Church (adopted Dec.
2009); as well as the treatment of these matters in Luther’s Small
Catechism with Explanation (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House [CPH], 2017); and
WHEREAS, The ONM has already established an ad hoc Created
Male and Female task force in response to 2019 Res. 11-03A which
has begun work on these and related issues; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod direct the continuance of said task
force for the new triennium, consisting of the current ad-hoc task
force members (which includes parish pastors, commissioned
church workers, representation from the Council of Presidents,
ONM, and the seminaries), and also add to the existing membership