LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 413

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CHURCH AND CULTURE
and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod reject any doctrine that assumes or
allows for any categories of gender other than those intrinsic to
God’s created order, viz., “male and female” (Gen. 1:27); and be it
further
Resolved, That the English District in convention reject BLM,
DEI, CRT, and similar ideologies and world views, as they are
contrary to Scripture and counterproductive to true racial
conversation and reconciliation, for they pursue equality of
outcome—equity—between racial groups, which requires treating
individuals unequally based on race; and be it further
Resolved, That the district, together with all our congregations,
schools, universities, and seminaries, also reject all organizations,
ideologies, philosophies, movements, petitions, and doctrines that
present the BLM, DEI, or CRT world views, or related antiScriptural world views or doctrines in a positive manner; and be it
further
Resolved, That the congregations of the district be encouraged to
engage members of their communities in conversations that build
unity among all men in light of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ;
and be it further
Resolved, That we commend those within the district who, in the
light of our Lord’s charge known as the “Great Commission,”
intentionally proclaim and work to reach out with the Gospel of
Jesus to all peoples regardless of race, gender, nationality, or
ethnicity with the goal of bringing them into the blessed unity we
have in Christ our Head (Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 2:19–22,
4:25); and be it finally
Resolved, That the district memorialize the Synod as it gathers at
its 2023 convention to do the same.
English District
Ov. 11-12

To Advance Racial Equality
and Great Commission
WHEREAS, The sin of racism being an obstacle to the Great
Commission, it would be irresponsible of us not to examine our
human failings with respect both to the great commandment of love
and the Great Commission to make disciples of all tribes, languages,
and nations through the Gospel and drawing them into the body of
Christ (2 Cor. 19:7; Rom. 2:4; Gal. 2:6; Eph. 6:9; Col. 3:25; 1 Peter
1:17; Matt. 28:19–20; Mark 16:15–16; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8); and
WHEREAS, Martin Luther taught, and we confess, that the Fifth
Commandment, You shall not murder, means 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 many have shamefully
failed to do especially regarding our fellow Americans who are
black and people of other ethnic minority groups (Luke 10:25–37;
Prov. 24:1–2; Eph. 4: 31–32; Matt. 25:42–43; Matt. 5:22; 1 John 4:
19–21; Prov. 31:8–9); and
WHEREAS, We lament the silence of Christians in the face of
slavery in the past and other racial injustices that continue to this
day, such as discrimination in jobs, housing, education, and other
areas, past and present, which cause great suffering to many
Americans and harm our entire nation, which leaves in place
economic and social liabilities that would persist even if racial
prejudice suddenly disappeared; and

413

WHEREAS, Justice, which goes beyond kindness toward others,
is based on laws, institutions, and practices that are fair and just to
all; and
WHEREAS, Many Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)
convention resolutions on the issue of race have asserted the clear
biblical teaching that all humans, 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 lines, and in addressing racial
injustices—offenses that put us in need of God's mercy and call us
to action (Matthew E. Borrasso, “Repentance and Hope: A
Missional Appreciation and Appraisal of LCMS Educational
Institutions for the Training Black Church Workers,” Lutheran
Mission Matters 2(57) [November 2020]: 221–39; Matthew E.
Borrasso, Concordia Selma Closes: Putting the Demise of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Educational Institutions for
Black Ministry in Historical Perspective.); and
WHEREAS, The report of Synod's Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (Racism and the Church: Overcoming the
Idolatry, Feb. 1994) documents a disturbing pattern in the LCMS of
following the path of our surrounding culture regarding slavery and
other racial injustices, thus conforming to the world rather than
being transformed in Christ (Rom. 12:2); and
WHEREAS, Our former policy of having racially segregated
churches and schools resulted in turning people of color and other
ethnic groups away from our church doors and in fewer new
members of color, yet these habits and attitudes of old sins persist,
making our outreach across racial lines more difficult now than it
should be; and
WHEREAS, We give thanks to God for courageous leaders among
us who over the years have overcome racial barriers and do so even
today, we still have much to learn about how to be racially inclusive;
for all of which we seek the grace of God to find more faithful ways
of reflecting God's love and our unity in Christ; and
WHEREAS, To reach deeply into the life of our congregations, a
church-wide campaign that is truly filled with the love and joy of
the Holy Spirit cries out for our response; and
WHEREAS, A Day of Repentance and Prayer for Racial Justice
and Healing could be enhanced with simple but starkly honest
background material, highlighting sins of racism in our nation’s
history, and even in its Christian churches, including our own
LCMS; and
WHEREAS, Such an event should be held Synod-wide urging all
LCMS pastors, congregations, and other affiliates of Synod to
participate perhaps on Life Sunday or another specified date; and
WHEREAS, This event should be a joyous, Spirit-filled day that
can deepen our faith in Christ, empower us to seek justice, and help
us eagerly to welcome people across all racial and ethnic groups
into fellowship with us through our Lord and Savior; therefore be it
Resolved, That by the next LCMS convention, we respectfully
urge the President of Synod and its district presidents to incorporate
within our annual celebration of life an encouraging call to repent
of all sins against the equal value of life created in God’s image,
including, but not limited to, all sins devaluing people due to their
tribe, language, skin color, or people group, urging all LCMS
pastors and congregations and other affiliates of the LCMS to
participate; and be it further

2023 Convention Workbook