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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 424

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

424

CHURCH AND CULTURE

congresspeople our intent to object on religious grounds to the
involuntary service of women in the military; and be it finally
Resolved, That we memorialize the Synod, in its 2023
convention, to publicly confess our conscientious objection, prepare
appropriate letters of communication to our nation’s leaders, and
prepare template statements of conscientious/religious objection for
all pastors and congregations to utilize in the event of a national
military draft which would include women.
Southern Illinois District
Ov. 11-30

To Confess and Defend the Church’s Daughters
and the Christian Conscience of All People
Preamble
On July 18, 2022, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and James Inhofe (ROK) filed Senate Bill 4543, “James M. Inhofe National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023,” which includes language
that would require women at the age of 18 to register for the military
draft.
WHEREAS, God has created both male and female in His image,
yet made them individually to be complementary but not identical
to one another (Gen. 2); and
WHEREAS, The Word of God teaches that headship belongs to
man (1 Cor. 11:1–16); and
WHEREAS, God specifically commands husbands to love their
wives as Christ loved the Church and laid down His life for her
(Eph. 5); and
WHEREAS, Men, not women, (1 Peter 3:7; 1 Tim. 5:14; Titus 2:4–
5) are to be required at times to enter combat and risk their lives in
defense of their wives, daughters, family, and country; and
WHEREAS, In December of 2015 the Secretary of Defense lifted
the ban on women serving in frontline combat; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 4543 includes language that would
require women at the age of 18 to register for the military draft
(James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2023, Section 521 (d): Modernization of the Selective Service
System, Expanded Registration to All Americans, S.B. 4543, 117th
Congress [2022]); and
WHEREAS, Such entrance into the draft may mean that our wives,
mothers, daughters, and sisters would be forced to fight in frontline
combat; and
WHEREAS, Because duties of war are given to men (as noted in
the Bible passages referenced above, specifically 1 Peter 3:7; 1 Tim.
5:14; Titus 2:4–5), Christian consciences of both men and women
are rightly burdened by the state requiring daughters and wives to
risk their lives; therefore be it
Resolved, That we object to the mandatory registration of women
into the draft of the United States military; and be it further
Resolved, That we call on our district president to communicate
to Wyoming and Nebraska U.S. Senators and Wyoming and
Nebraska U.S. Representatives our intent to object on religious
grounds to the involuntary service of women in the military; and be
it finally
Resolved, That we memorialize The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod, in its 2023 convention, to confess and defend the

2023 Convention Workbook

right of conscientious objection in the event of a national military
draft which would include women.
Pastors’ Conference
Wyoming District
Ov. 11-31

To Address Violence
WHEREAS, The Lord has created human beings fearfully and
wonderfully (Gen. 1–2; Psalm 139); and
WHEREAS, The Fifth Commandment says, “You shall not
murder,” (Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17; Small Catechism, Fifth
Commandment) since all life belongs to God; and
WHEREAS, Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead
so that we may have life in His name by grace through faith,
delivered through the Means of the Spirit (John 3:16; John 6; Eph.
2:8–10; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Cor. 11); and
WHEREAS, Sinful people continue to reject Christ’s extravagant
grace as violence continues in our land, especially when people use
guns to murder and harm people; and
WHEREAS, Many people have been injured and murdered
recently in schools, parking lots, churches, and stores; and
WHEREAS, Violence is not limited to mass shootings but also
happens daily in our land through domestic violence, suicide,
accidental shootings in the home, stabbings, etc.; and
WHEREAS, Much public debate and discussion have ensued with
various perspectives on issues related to violence and specifically
gun violence; therefore be it
Resolved, That first responders such as law enforcement, peace
officers, mental health workers, and educators be prayerfully
supported and encouraged in every appropriate way in our
neighborhoods and communities; and be it further
Resolved, That the Atlantic District in convention in 2022 decry
gun violence and any violence that harms the lives of our neighbors
as part of our proclamation of the sanctity of human life; and be it
further
Resolved, That the district in convention pray for all who have
been affected by gun violence and any violence that harms the lives
of our neighbors; and be it further
Resolved, That the district in convention strongly urge its
members to steward their citizenship so that responsible action be
taken that limits gun violence and any other violence in our time
and in our land; and be it further
Resolved, That the district in convention direct The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) to provide resources to educate
people and inform the public discourse concerning violence and
especially gun violence; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS work intentionally with civic
authorities and others to prevent further violence in our land; and be
it finally
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the
LCMS for consideration at the 2023 Synod convention.
Atlantic District